Well in elementary school, for recess you are able to have fun and run around, but in middle school, you don't really get recess, you only get lunchtime. In elementary school, your grades don't matter as much as they do in middle school. In middle school, it is really important to get good grades. In elementary school, if you misbehave in any way, you will only get a warning, but in middle school, it's automatic detention or a trip to the principal's office. In elementary school, the school day ends earlier than in middle school, (for example, elementary school would normally end at 2:30 - 3:00, but middle school would normally end at 3:30 - 4:30).