Middle Country Central School District’s Revolutionary Capstone Project Program

Middle Country Central School District’s Capstone Project Program is a unique program that challenges its students to complete regular research projects throughout their educational journey in the District.

“The Capstone Project Program empowers students to become independent critical thinkers and versatile, multiskilled students,” said Dr. Roberta Gerold, Superintendent of Schools. “The program first started in the 2014-2015 school year when we freshened up our STEM education and inquiry learning initiatives. This led to the creation of committees to examine and revamp our curriculum, focusing on creative problem-solving and research skills, with real-world connections to science and math.”

As of 2024, the Middle Country Central School District will be the only district across Long Island that requires the completion of a Capstone Project for graduation. Elementary school students are introduced to research skills adapted from the Big6 Research Model, a process leading students through six fundamental steps to answer information-based questions. Students will be taken through a series of structured activities and lessons leading to the selection of an information problem and the identification of reliable resources necessary to create a final project.

“Before the Capstone Project, I didn’t even know what a bibliography was, but now I know how to write one for both a website and a book,” said Katelyn Treharne, Holbrook Road Elementary School student. “My Capstone will be a 13-page report and the creation of a presentation on a trifold board!”

At the Middle School level, eighth-grade students are required to complete two Capstone experiences, one involving scientific research in connection with their living environment lab, and a second Capstone project involving humanities research adapted from the National History Day model. 

In high school, students are given independence to determine their own culminating Capstone experience. Students have the option to demonstrate their research skills by developing a research project in conjunction with an extracurricular activity.  They have to select a completely independent topic to research under the guidance of a Capstone advisor or librarian and engage in a project outside of school where they can exercise their research skills under the supervision of a community-based mentor.

“The Capstone Project is a unique opportunity for each student in our District to explore, examine, and research a topic that they are passionate about,” said Robert Feeney, Middle Country School District Board of Education Vice President. “The skills acquired throughout the process will strengthen their success in all their classes and may even set the course of their future career path.”