Celebrating Thurgood Marshall Middle

Thurgood Marshall Middle School: Unlocking Each Student’s Potential for Greatness
Posted on 02/17/2022
Thurgood Marshall school mural

Thurgood Marshall school building

Thurgood Marshall Middle School thrives with a diverse student body of more than 800 students in grades 5-8 who show up every day ready to unlock their own potential, an important part of the Antioch school’s mission.

The team at Marshall describes the school, named after civil rights activist and attorney and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, as a “big school with a small-town feel.”

It’s the “small-town feel” that allows the staff and faculty at Marshall to get to know each student and their own learning preferences and styles.

Through a school-wide approach, Marshall makes sure Every Student is Known through a “3D” focus on Data, Differentiation and Drive.

Teachers and staff have one-on-one talks with all students about their academic goals for the year and their goals for their own careers. From there, teachers guide students to classes and enrichment clubs that support each student’s interests, as well as targeted supports and other academic options that reinforce student growth at all academic levels.

Marshall also splits the school into two smaller schools – one for fifth- and sixth- grade students and a second for seventh- and eighth-graders. With this structure, each smaller school gets its own dean, counselor and assistant principal as well as a full-time social worker and restorative specialist. These smaller learning communities reinforce the idea of individualized student learning and support – ensuring all students have access to adults who know them well and can help them reach their goals.

“The staff at Marshall believes each student has the potential for greatness, and we are committed to working together to unlock it,” says Executive Principal Joseph Gilkes.

Advanced academics programs encourage the students at Marshall to unlock their academic potential. All students are enrolled in the school’s Cambridge program, and all students participate in an annual independent research program.

“Together, the Cambridge curriculum and our research project give students the opportunity to perfect their research, writing and presentation skills before they transition to high school, college and beyond,” Gilkes says. Marshall mural

Visit Marshall 

If you live in the Antioch area and you have not set up a school visit, or if it has been a while, it is time to take a second look. There's visiting and tour information on the Marshall website.

Facts about Marshall

  • Students can take select high school classes for credit.
  • Students in sixth and seventh grade can participate in the Southern Word enrichment program, which uses poetry and other spoken word strategies to help students develop their voices. At the end of the year, students host an open mic/poetry slam night to showcase their work to the school community.
  • The Career Arts programs are popular with students and include a dance studio led by a professional dance instructor who is also a cheerleader with the Tennessee Titans.
  • Students can participate in football, soccer, volleyball, cheerleading, wrestling and basketball in addition to other extracurriculars, like Student Advisory Council and other clubs.
  • Marshall is home to the Mariners, and the school’s colors are purple, black, white and gray.
  • The school motto is “We Are Marshall & We Are Destined for Greatness!”
  • The school’s mission is to unlock potential by working together to create an atmosphere of academic excellence and a culture of support, belonging and growth.
  • Marshall’s vision is to prepare all students to be socially, emotionally and academically ready to thrive and attain their future goals.

Marshall Morning Announcements

Watch Marshall Morning Announcements and more on the school's YouTube channel

 

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