Get to Know Us

CMS Building PhotoCentral Middle School is situated on approximately 30 acres of land in the center of Dover, DE. We are truly in “the heart” of Dover. When the original building was erected in 1923, it housed all of the students in the Dover School District from grades one through twelve. In 1999, Central Middle School celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.

Major renovations to the CMS building took place in 1985 and 2004. In 2009, CMS opened with a newly renovated auditorium and a new gymnasium.

Central Middle School enrolls approximately 1000 students in grades 7 and 8. Our students are divided into smaller house teams- essentially creating schools within a school. Each team consists of an English/ language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and possibly a special education teacher.

CMS has one of the largest middle school marching bands in the area with nearly 100 members. The choral program is also popular with almost 50 members. Our two-year Spanish program allow students to earn one high school foreign language credit and students also have the opportunity to earn high school credit in Honors Algebra I. The Gifted and Talented program offers an extension of the curriculum to approximately 175 identified gifted and talented students. Central also works to incorporate opportunities to learn outside of the classroom by traveling to local museums and points of interest that are aligned with the curriculum. Since 2000, students have also participated in a cultural program exchange with schools of Iwanuma City, Miyagi, Japan.

CMS offers a rigorous curriculum that is aligned with common core state standards. CMS is a fully inclusive school with curricula designed to meet the needs of diverse student populations. Teachers use research-based materials and strategies to enhance skills in all content areas. CMS has implemented an instructional focus to strategically improve teaching and learning. A coordinated school wide effort is under way to have all CMS students show growth in the ability to use critical thinking strategies to communicate effectively across all curricular areas as measured by the SBAC and curricular assessments. The collaboration of school based professional learning communities helps us to work together to meet the needs of all students. The goal is to target every student, every class, every day.

We have an amazing Career Technical Education Department that includes Exploring Health Sciences (Nursing), Exploring Business, Exploring AgriScience, Family Consumer Science, and Project Lead the Way. We also offer courses in Art, Health, Physical Education, Guitar, Keyboarding, Jobs for Delaware Graduates, and Musical Theater.

We have a very successful 21st Century after-school program called CMS S.W.A.G. (Students with Amazing Goals) and offer 3 seasons of sports in which we pride ourselves. We also have many after school activities, sports, and clubs so that all students can find a place to participate at CMS. We encourage all of our students to “get involved” and find a place at CMS.
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