To many, high school is a distant and shrouded endeavor. High school classes are at a much quicker pace than any of the middle school classes. With demanding material, stricter grading, and, not to mention, an extra period before lunch and the loss of recess, the heightened intellectual pressure and compressed schedule that high school could place on the Class of 2030 is definitely a new challenge.
However, in a survey designed to understand high school readiness through self-assessment, distributed to the current 8th-grade class, 40 students responded: 11 said they were extremely confident, 17 said they were confident, 10 said they were somewhat confident, and a meager 2 said they were not confident at all.
With the majority of students, representing 95 percent of the surveyed students, expressing confidence in high school readiness, it is a clear indicator that the students are highly focused on their studies, and the teachers and the middle school administration have effectively prepped the Class of 2030 for high school.
One 8th-grade student, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that he was extremely confident that he would succeed in the Upper School.
“What I [have] learn[ed] for the rest of the year will be great preparation for high school. I definitely think that I should be prepared for high school by the end of the year from my standpoint.”
He continued to add that the eighth-grade teachers are doing an excellent job.
“[The teachers] push us to get better every day, and they focus on us getting the material and staying on track to learn everything we need to know for high school.”
Another 8th-grade student, who also wishes to remain anonymous, felt less resolute about high school. He said that he struggled to understand a newly-taught concept in one of his classes.
However, feeling challenged in the process of learning is a positive thing.
“There has to be some discomfort in learning or you’re not growing,” said Middle School Principal Kendra Sue Finch. “Just like if you’re an athlete . . . If you’re on a new workout, and you’re not sore after you do that workout, did you really get better?”
She explained that the Middle School administration presented an effective education that pushed students to grow, but not overwhelming them and making them anxious.
Proper challenge leads to growth. However, be assured that if you are struggling in any of the classes, you are not going to be left behind.
Finch added that teachers could help students in a variety of ways, including attending tutorials and study hall almost every day. During this time, students can meet with their teachers and get extra help.
In the 2026-2027 school year, Mount Pisgah’s Class of 2030 will enter ninth grade, ready to apply what they have mastered in the Middle School.
With steady teacher guidance and unfaltering administrative support, they are well prepared to meet and exceed the challenges of the Upper School.
