This article offers an overview of the framework that Sampson County Public Schools (North Carolina) used to critically reflect on the current state of their middle grades schools. The article also highlights the changes that resulted from the district-wide analysis and the ways in which these changes led to a significant increase in the academic achievement of middle grades students. The results indicated that data-driven, student-centered middle grades schools that focus on improving instruction and teaching the whole child can produce positive results for students, teachers, administrators, families, and the community. (Contains 4 figures.)