Central Middle School provides instruction for all of Eden Prairie's seventh and eighth graders. Each grade is divided into teams of about 175 kids. Each team has its own core teaching staff so the students in each team spend most of their days together. The goal of this method is to make the transition to middle school less intimidating for the children. Students can also participate in an increased array of co-curricular activities in areas such as sports, music and clubs. Joe Epping is the principal of Central Middle School.