Mission: At Cowherd Middle School, it is our mission to create life-long learners who have the skills to succeed.  Instruction will be delivered with high expectations through a rigorous and relevant curriculum, provided in a safe and nurturing learning environment for students and staff.

Cowherd Middle School opened its doors to middle school students in the Fall of 1992. There were about 40 staff members at that time. During that first year, there were about 540 students. This was the first year that the District included grades 6-8 in one building! The 7th and 8th grade students were housed in the west end of the building and 6th graders were housed in the far east end of the building. When it opened, CMS did not have a dress code!

Today, CMS has 998 students and about 110 staff members (and a dress code!). The 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students share hallways in Small Learning Communities, allowing their teachers to be in Professional Learning Communities. Cowherd students enjoy a variety of athletics and activities. We are proud to be a school committed to ongoing positive change!

Cowherd Middle School is named after Henry W. Cowherd, a lifelong Auroran who attended East Side schools. He is a 1945 graduate of East High School. The motto of the Class of ’45 was “Time brings all things.” This class motto was prophetic for our school’s namesake! Prior to his retirement, Mr. Cowherd experienced success in the business world. Mr. Cowherd was a great supporter of our East High Tomcats and Cougars! Go Cougars!

Academic Offerings

Cowherd Middle School offers general education classes, classes for bilingual students, and special education classes.  In addition students are offered a full set of Encore classes including, in quarter rotations, Art, General Music, Drama, Family and Consumer Sciences. Some students do not take the quarter rotation classes and instead take Band, Choir, Spanish or Reading Intervention classes.  Cowherd Middle School has an up-to-date Library Media Center, 2 computer labs, 2 science labs, 2 gyms and a fitness room.

Vision

The goal of school is to provide students with the skills to be effective and productive members of the community, through relevant curriculum and responsiveness to social and emotional needs.

We believe that children learn best when they feel connected to and supported within their learning environment.

We believe that all children need to know how to be problem solvers.  To accomplish this, students need to understand their own learning preferences and the skills of self-advocacy.

We believe that subject matter should be consistent, sequential and student-centered. Curriculum should be delivered in a safe, healthy, and engaging learning environment.

We believe that learning should be judged by student growth.  Assessment can be formal and informal and should include portfolios, teacher observation, and individual progress monitoring.

We believe that teachers should collaborate with parents, the community, and with colleagues to provide dynamic, student-centered instruction that holds learners accountable.

We believe that when working with children, adults must be flexible, caring, engaging, and have high expectations.