Academics
PROGRAMS / Middle SChool
Clubs & Extracurriculars
Life at Grace doesn’t end at dismissal. From competitive athletics to student-run clubs, performing ensembles to service projects, the opportunities available to students reflect the breadth and richness of the middle school program.
Middle school students choose from a wide and ever-evolving range of clubs that span the arts, publishing, current events, coding, and more. Clubs enable students to interact across grades, build new relationships, and pursue areas of genuine interest alongside peers who share them. Current offerings include Debate, Python Coding, the online newspaper The Eye, Global Exchange, Current Events, Watercolors, Entrepreneurship, Makerspace, Earth Defense Team, Pop Band, Chess, Student Council, Student Ambassadors, Math Club, and a range of affinity and alliance spaces—dedicated communities that provide opportunities for students to engage in conversations around identity, helping them to better understand themselves and their peers.
A member of the New York City Athletic League (NYCAL), Grace has fielded competitive middle school teams for more than 50 years, reflecting the school’s deep and longstanding commitment to athletics as an essential part of a student’s development. Interscholastic competition begins in fifth grade, led by coaches who work to develop each student athlete’s skills, nurture their love of the game, and help them balance the demands of sport with those of academic life. Players take on leadership roles, develop strategy, and compete in exciting interscholastic games across a full range of sports. Grace’s storied athletic history includes 12 undefeated seasons, and each program provides a strong foundation for students who go on to compete at the Junior Varsity and Varsity levels in the high school.
Signature competitions include the GCS Invitational for middle school boys and girls basketball, the Town Basketball Tournament, and the Middle School Track and Field team’s participation in the New York City Gotham Games. Sports offered include cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, baseball, and track and field.
The Grace After School Program (GASP) runs Monday through Friday from dismissal until 5:30 p.m. and offers a wide range of programs that reflect the intellectual and creative ambition of the Middle School itself. Class offerings span coding and app development, graphic design, architecture, robotics, and mathematics enrichment alongside more analogue pursuits like knitting and drawing. A drop-in Learning Lab provides structured academic support in small groups for students who want additional help with mathematics, reading, writing, and organization. A light snack is provided each day.
The habits students build beyond the classroom—learning what it means to be part of an ensemble, to lead a club, to compete with integrity—support their development as learners, collaborators, and people.
