Middle School Programs
STEAM at the center. Creativity all around. Growth in every direction.
Alta Vista Middle School is alive with energy. Students design, build, perform, travel, and reflect, learning who they are while exploring the world around them in and outside of class through an inquiry lens. Alta Vista Middle School balances the rigor of STEM with the joy of the Arts, the adventure of travel, and the heart of community. Students leave ready to think critically, create boldly, and lead with confidence.
STEM Expos & Engineering Challenges
Science drives curiosity here. Our annual STEM Expo and ongoing engineering challenges push students to test ideas, solve problems, and present real-world solutions. They learn to think like scientists and work like engineers: creative, collaborative, and bold.
Art Bonanzas & Creative Showcases
Three times a year, middle schoolers take the stage and fill the walls with music, theater, and visual art. Art Bonanzas celebrate imagination and give students the confidence to share their creative voices.
J-Term Immersive Learning
Each spring, J-Term takes students off the beaten path. For 10 days, they dive deep into projects of choice—designing escape rooms, dissecting anatomy through art, making cameras, or exploring the food culture of San Francisco. The intensive experience ends with a whole-school expo of discovery and innovation.
Community Meetings
Every week, the whole middle school gathers to learn and laugh together. One week may spotlight a library redesign, another a science demo on sublimation with bubbles and dry ice, another a conversation about kindness. Meetings feature mindful moments, student announcers, and always end with a lighthearted “Minute to Win It” challenge—students versus teachers in a silly contest.
Assessment & Growth
We measure progress with a balance of feedback, evidence, and reflection. Reports highlight growth with clear scales (Mastery, Proficient, Emerging, Novice). In Grades 7–8, letter grades are added to ensure smooth high school transitions.
Landmark Trips
Learning expands beyond campus with signature trips:
6th Grade – Santa Cruz Mountains: Team-building and self-growth in the redwoods.
7th Grade – Monterey: Marine science and environmental exploration.
8th Grade – Seattle: Aeronautics, design, and innovation in a new city.
These journeys build independence, strengthen friendships, and connect lessons to lived experience.
Advisory & SEL
Advisory anchors the day for our students. They find connection, guidance, and a safe space to reflect. Our SEL work builds resilience and empathy, teaching students to know themselves, navigate relationships, and act with integrity in a diverse world.
