Academics Overview

Our district’s elementary program is grounded in a strong commitment to providing every child with a high-quality, developmentally appropriate, and engaging educational experience. Our goal is to nurture the whole child—academically, socially, emotionally, and creatively—through a balanced, student-centered approach.

We recognize the importance of early childhood development, especially in our Kindergarten program, which is rooted in a play-based instructional model. Through purposeful play, our youngest learners build critical social, emotional, and academic skills in a joyful and nurturing environment. Play serves as a powerful vehicle for exploration, creativity, and discovery, honoring the developmental needs of young children.

In addition to core academic instruction, students participate in various special area classes, including music, art, physical education, and library. These experiences support creativity, self-expression, physical well-being, and a lifelong love of learning. Special area teachers collaborate closely with classroom educators to ensure a well-rounded and meaningful educational experience.

To support the individual learning journeys of all students, we implement a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). This framework allows us to deliver targeted remediation, reteaching, and enrichment based on each student’s needs. Through data-informed instruction and educator collaboration, we aim to meet students where they are and guide them toward reaching their fullest potential.

Our Language Arts instruction is centered on the principles of Structured Literacy to ensure all students build a strong foundation in reading and writing. This research-based approach emphasizes systematic and explicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Through this comprehensive framework, students develop the skills they need to become confident, capable readers and effective communicators. Instruction is carefully sequenced and intentionally designed to support all learners, including those who may require additional supports. Our goal is to foster a love of reading and empower students with the literacy skills necessary for success in school and beyond.

In mathematics, our instructional focus is on deep conceptual understanding and the development of strong mathematical thinking. Students engage in rich problem-solving experiences that promote reasoning, perseverance, and productive struggle.

Classroom instruction encourages students to explore multiple strategies, explain their thinking, and collaborate with peers. Through discourse and exploration, students build connections between concepts and apply their understanding to real-world contexts. This balanced approach equips learners with both the skills and confidence needed to tackle increasingly complex mathematical challenges.

Our science curriculum is aligned with the Pennsylvania STEELS standards (Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability). Instruction emphasizes inquiry-based learning and hands-on exploration, allowing students to engage deeply with scientific concepts and real-world challenges.

Students participate in experiments, investigations, and collaborative problem-solving activities that encourage curiosity and critical thinking. Whether exploring natural phenomena or engineering creative solutions, students are active participants in constructing their scientific understanding and developing essential skills for the future.

Social Studies instruction in our elementary program is guided by the Pennsylvania Academic Standards and focuses on history, geography, civics, and economics. Our curriculum helps students develop an understanding of their communities, the world around them, and their roles as informed, responsible citizens.

Through the study of history, geography, economics, and civics, students build a foundational understanding of how communities function and change over time. Instruction emphasizes critical thinking, perspective-taking, and the ability to make connections between historical events and everyday life. Students learn about the roles people play in their communities and how they can contribute in thoughtful and responsible ways.

Students at Skyview are grouped into teams. A typical fifth grade student day includes instruction in integrated language arts, math, social studies and science. Fifth graders attend special area classes on a six day cycle. Each team has dedicated "flex" time throughout the six-day cycle to provide the opportunity for extension and supports. 

Our English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum is guided by the Pennsylvania Core Standards. Teachers use a structured literacy approach to instruct and assess students. The ELA curriculum follows a unit structure with opportunities built-in for the study of semantics, syntax, morphology, fluency, text comprehension and written expression. A text series, novels and technology support the daily instruction for students. The goal for ELA in Methacton School District is to help all students develop skills that will be most important as they move on to their post-secondary options. 

The Skyview math curriculum is guided by the Pennsylvania Core Standards for Mathematics. The Standards of Mathematical Practice are infused into daily instruction. These Standards are in place to support students’ skill development with making sense of problems and persevering in solving them; constructing viable arguments and analyzing the reasoning of others; using appropriate tools strategically; looking for and making use of structure; reasoning abstractly and quantitatively; modeling with mathematics; attending to precision; looking for and expressing regularity in repeated reasoning. 

Students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the science concepts and vocabulary from the earth science, life science and physical science units based on the Academic Standards for Science and Technology, Ecology, and Engineering Education (STEELS). Each science lesson is built on the three dimensions—Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs), Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs), and Crosscutting Concepts(CCCs).  Students show their knowledge through asking questions, defining problems, obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information, planning and carrying out investigations using models, using data/evidence to construct explanations, and designing solutions. Our science curriculum utilizes Amplify Science and Mystery Science to provide resources for daily classroom instruction. Both resources are phenomena-based and blends hands-on investigations, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools that are PA standard-aligned.

Our social studies curriculum provides the opportunity for every student to develop as a knowledgeable and responsible citizen. Students demonstrate knowledge and understanding of concepts from the geography, economics, history, and civics and government identified in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards. In 5th grade, students explore American History, gaining an understanding of key events, figures, and ideas that have shaped our nation. The curriculum makes connections to other subject areas, like ELA and science, through hands-on and project-based learning.

The English program at Arcola is aligned with the Pennsylvania Core State Standards. The curriculum program goal is to have students achieve high academic standards in the language arts: reading independently, reading critically, analyzing and responding to literature, writing in various forms for a variety of audiences, producing compositions of high quality, speaking proficiently, and using research skills. Daily lessons focus on students becoming critical thinkers, effective communicators, analytical readers, and informed consumers of media.

The focus of the mathematics courses in grades seven and eight is to provide a cohesive, balanced, student-centered mathematics program aligned to the PA Core standards. This sequential program integrates algebra, geometry, measurement, logical reasoning, probability, statistics, discrete mathematics, and function strands throughout each course. Lessons center on using the Eight Standards of Mathematical Practice to develop procedural fluency and conceptual understanding, while creating an engaging learning experience that can be applied to everyday life. Students will cultivate and expand their skills through practice, inquiry, evaluation, collaboration, and problem solving. These endeavors seek to convey deep, crucial content understanding, so students are challenged at a level that meets their own mathematical needs.

The Arcola science curriculum is aligned to the Pennsylvania Standards for Science, Technology & Engineering, and Environmental Literacy & Sustainability (STEELS). Topics addressed in Grade 7 are Cell Types & Structure, Classification, Biological Organization, Cell Cycle, Types of Reproduction, Genetics, DNA, Cell Processes, Cell Transport, Ecosystem Dynamics, Biodiversity, Natural Selection, Evolution, and Adaptations. Grade 8 topics include Structure and Properties of Matter, Chemical Reactions, Forces and Motion, Types of Interactions, Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer, Wave Properties, and Electromagnetic Radiation. Students are engaged in the nature of science via activities that require reasoning and analysis as they apply knowledge to make predictions, draw inferences, develop models, plan and carry out investigations, analyze data, solve problems, and construct explanations. Students are exposed to hands-on experiences through project based learning, phenomenon-based learning, on-line simulations, and labs. Students also visit the Mallon Planetarium on campus to support and expand their science learning.

The Social Studies program is a comprehensive program which integrates the disciplines of history, geography, economics and citizenship education aligned with the Pennsylvania Common Core Standards. Instruction with our curriculum utilizes critical thinking and inquiry-based learning. Teachers guide students to examine issues, past and present, from a variety of perspectives and resources. They model and encourage the close reading of authentic primary documents. The aim of social studies is the promotion of civic competence—the knowledge, intellectual processes, and democratic dispositions required of students to be active and engaged participants in public life. High expectations for writing and projects demonstrating mastery of identified skills and knowledge are vital to the success of our students.

Technology Education courses provide hands-on learning experiences along with skill development fostering the understanding of technology by the student. Students develop insight and understanding of our technological society and the current emerging trends that will affect them. By practicing a variety of methods and processes, students develop the ability to evaluate the quality of finished products as well as develop work ethics in the timely completion of projects. Beginning in grade 7 students learn the proper use of tools, processes, and resources of technological and industrial systems. Technology Education is an academic setting in which success depends on the application of learned skills, cooperation and the social interaction among students. Students planning careers in engineering, the sciences, management, sales, or general employment can benefit from a series of Technology Education courses. Communication courses and drafting courses are particularly valuable for students considering engineering, graphic design, photography, and architecture.

The Methacton High School campus includes grades 9 through 12 and aims to establish a strong foundation for students as they prepare for life after graduation. During this time, students have numerous opportunities to discover and develop their talents. Individualized schedules are provided to all students that reflect a strong core curriculum with the flexibility to explore various academic and personal interests. Students have the opportunity to attend Northern Montgomery County Technical Career Center to develop occupational and career skills and to prepare students for further education in related fields. The School Counseling staff offers a full range of services to students and families from college and career planning to individual counseling needs. 

All class descriptions can be found in the Program Planning Guide.

Students at Methacton High School have the opportunity to enroll in North Montco Technical Career Center. North Montco Technical Career Center offers 24 programs within seven cluster areas including:  Construction Trades, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Engineering/Manufacturing, Health and Human Services, Power and Transportation, and Visual Communications. 

Visit the North Montco Technical Career Center Website