The mission of the University Charter Middle School at California State University Channel Islands (UCMS) is to build a learning community for 285 sixth through eighth grade students that focuses on developing critical thinkers who demonstrate mastery of the California content standards in an environment that supports the unique developmental stages of the adolescent child.

UCMS will increase learning opportunities for its students who reflect the ethnic, linguistic, socio-economic, and special needs diversity of California classrooms by using the best and pedagogical and standards-based practices employed by highly qualified teachers and administrators.  These practices will be modeled for student teachers, other credential candidates, and a variety of practitioners through regularly scheduled on-site training and action research in conjunction with CSU Channel Islands.