The Eugene A. Tighe Middle School community, faculty, staff, and parents are committed to excellence in education. It is our mission to create a safe and orderly educational environment, which cultivates student empowerment, affiliation, and achievement. Moreover, we recognize the importance in providing opportunities for our students to be heard. Consequently, we expect each student to become a responsible citizen in our local, national, and global society. We acknowledge the diverse learning styles of our students and pledge to provide enriched opportunities, which takes into account the students' culture, language, and ability. Ultimately, it is our vision to encourage students to become a community of life-long learners.

The Eugene A. Tighe Middle School is situated on Essex and Amherst Avenues in Margate City, New Jersey. It is one of three schools in the Margate Public City School District featuring a dedicated, caring staff and a supportive community. What makes the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School unique is its small school "neighborhood" atmosphere affording the students an optimal educational setting. We truly believe "Smaller is Better".

The Eugene A. Tighe Middle School welcomes an enrollment of approximately 220 students each school day housed in grades six through eight. Students enjoy a curriculum-rich environment featuring a literature-based program complimenting a full array of activities in reading, writing, and spelling. In the area of Mathematics instruction students may be placed in pre - algebra, algebra or advanced algebra classes affording a place for every students' mathematical needs. Our Social Studies curriculum emphasizes students becoming citizens of the world both socially and politically. Science instruction is centered on a strong kinesthetic approach incorporating "manipulatives" and computer technology. It is not unusual for students to experience a walk through the Star Lab Planetarium, embellish math and reading skills while working on specialized instructional software, complete a research project, create a power point presentation, e-mail their principal, and/or encounter the power of the internet within a weeks time.

Along with academic endeavors, Eugene A. Tighe Middle teachers competently attend to the social and emotional growth of each student. Peer Mediation, co-curricular activities, interscholastic sports, and a variety of clubs have been incorporated to enhance the student needs of affiliation, empowerment, achievement, and to be heard. Additionally, the Tighe faculty continually strives to meet the challenges of the state mandated core curriculum content standards. This challenge is primarily met through the incorporation of the latest brain research, creating student performance tasks, and developing lessons and units that advocate the integration of core subjects and computer technology. Accordingly, students consistently achieve proficient and advanced proficiency levels on the NJ ASK test and perform above average on standardized tests administered by the district. Consequently, the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School exemplifies the essence of education in fostering a community of life long learners.

The Eugene A. Tighe Middle community is actively involved with the school. Parents frequently visit Eugene A. Tighe Middle School throughout the day, working as volunteers, participating in school wide activities, and assisting with special PTO projects and fundraisers. Our annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser is one such example enjoyed by the entire Margate community. Monthly newsletters, notes home from the teachers and e-mail provide for a continual wave of communication to the community. Moreover, Tighe Middle School enjoys a positive and collaborative relationship with the Margate Public Schools' recreation department. This enables students, parents, and community members of all ages to benefit from a wide variety of programs including sports, field trips, educational classes and recreational activities. The Tighe School Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art facility that is available not only for award winning school plays but for a wide array of community events as well.

Parents, staff and students agree that the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School is a wonderful place to learn. The "personal touch" is our motto. Just as parents know their children, so, too, the teachers at Eugene A. Tighe Middle know their students. "Smaller is truly better!"