About Us

At Rockford Middle School-Center for Environmental Studies, we believe in the restorative power of nature to reduce stress, promote inquiry, and ground our teaching and learning in concrete, place based education.

RMS-CES is a safe, healthy environment designed to challenge, engage, and inspire all students.

• Student Council
• WEB (5/8 Mentoring Program)
• Volunteer Club
• Outdoor Club
• Envirothon
• A variety of Middle School Sports Opportunities

To be our best, expect our best; to be inspired daily to become the very best we can be.

Rigor

• Courses are aligned with standards that meet students needs.

Organization

• Academic Planner
• Google Classroom

Skills

• Direct teaching a wide variety of skills that benefit all learners.

It's about all of us all of the time.

Greenhouse Lot

• Community Gardens
• Cultural Ag Practices

Parents as Partners

• We couldn't do this work without the support of of parents and gaurdians.

Rockford Educational Foundation

• Classroom Mini Grants
• Fall Fundraiser
• Media Center Redesign

Care and responsibility with our resources including natural and social environments

Resource Minded

• We directly teach and discuss how resource allocation impact our local and global communities.

Caretakers

• We are mindful to be caretakers of our resources.

Leave No Trace

• We are mindful of how we interact with the nature  and make decisions that lessen on impact on the environment.

All students engage in a rich arts and academics environment and an abundance of extracurricular opportunities.

Programming

• Digital Skills
• Visual Arts
• Band
• Choir
• Environmental Studies
• Minnesota Outdoors
• Spanish 7/8
• Environmental Explorations
• College and Career Pathways
• GPS (Guiding Personal Success)
• Academic Lab

Partnerships

• Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
• Baker Outdoor Learning Center
• Raptor Center
• Deep Portage

Outdoor learning and field experiences: we use our own campus as well as our local river/park to create outdoor spaces to extend "our classroom".

• DNR Approved School Forest
• Restored Prairie
• Rain Gardens
• Snow Gardens
• Greenhouse
• Native American Medicine Garden

RMS-CES Group Tours

All tours start at 3:00 pm. Report to the RMS-CES upon arrival.

• September 15, 2025
• October 1, 2025
• November 13, 2025
• February 18, 2026
• April 30, 2026 (STEM Showcase)
• May 13th, 2026

To apply for your child to attend RMS-CES, complete the Magnet School Application. RMS-CES is a member of the Northwest Suburban Integration School District. To learn more, please visit Northwest Suburban Integration School District. Once admitted to RMS-CES through NWSISD, you will need to enroll in Rockford Area Schools.