The North Carolina English Language Arts curriculum for grades 6-8 is written to address the distinctly different educational needs and characteristics of middle school students. Middle school students are responsible for increasingly complex and demanding tasks. Therefore, it is imperative that the middle school English Language Arts curriculum guide students through a sequenced program of study that is clear, focused, and measurable.

The ultimate goal of the middle school English Language Arts curriculum is to foster personal, social, and civic literacy.