This booklet is written for middle school students and their parents. It provides information about middle schools in Virginia, and includes suggestions about how parents may help their children during the middle school years. Chapter 1, "Starting Middle Schools," begins with a section on getting acquainted with middle school, discussing student responsibilities, homeroom classes, studying and homework, extracurricular activities, and other facts. It also discusses what middle school students are like--their physical, social, and emotional changes; need for independence; and adjustment. Finally, it lists and describes the subjects in the middle school curriculum. Chapter 2 describes special programs and activities in middle school: guidance and counseling, talented and gifted programs, summer school, career education, the testing program, handicapped student programs, school social work/visiting teacher program, school psychology program, homebound and hospital programs, library media programs, the school nurse program, and extracurricular activities. Chapter 3, directed to students, discusses learning more about oneself and careers, and chapter 4, directed to parents, discusses how parents may help their middle school children. Information is provided on early adolescence, parent-child relationships, communicating with children, using logical and natural consequences, encouraging independence, helping children to develop responsibility and to succeed, coping with mistakes and failures, holding family meetings, recognizing children's efforts and accomplishments, and getting help when problems arise. Other Virginia publications in this series are listed. (TE)