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Our Classes & Programs

Grades TK-2

The Academy of Alameda curates a thoughtful and joyful early education for your child. We offer curricula attuned to our students between transitional kindergarten and second grade, ensuring students build foundational literacy, enjoy their learning environments, and are fully prepared for their social and academic journeys ahead. 

 

Students who join AoA at an early age build trusting relationships with teachers, establish routines that reinforce self-confidence, and provide continuous educational pathways.

TK-2 Curriculum

Students in grades TK-2 learn about English and language arts, math and social sciences, primarily building students’ literacy capacities. AoA students learn Spanish from an early age, starting with two Spanish classes per week beginning in kindergarten, and partake in physical education (PE) and visual and performing arts classes.


AoA offers full-day TK programming and full-time classroom aides for both TK and kindergarten students, and all students in grades TK-2 receive small group, research-based literacy instruction. Thus, AoA students are more likely to confidently read at grade level following early childhood reading practice conducted in small groups.  


AoA’s social justice education focuses on community, advocacy, and multiple perspectives, and is embedded into each grade’s curriculum via an age-appropriate fashion:

  • TK students focus on the social justice elements of “Who Am I,” and “How Can I Take Care of Myself?” 
  • Kindergarten students focus on the social justice elements of “Who Am I” and family. 
  • First grade students focus on the social justice elements of communities, fairness, leadership, and service. 
  • Second grade students focus on the social justice elements of allyship, gender, houselessness, and civil rights heroes. 

Grades 3-5 

At the Academy of Alameda, we set the tone for how your child feels and engages with school to create lifelong learners and critical thinkers. We are intentional in how we set high expectations, teach social justice, and model equity. Our approach provides academic, social, and emotional support to meet the needs of our students. 

 

Ninety-six percent of AoA students in grades 3-5 feel their students hold them to high expectations in class regarding student effort, persistence, and performance. 

 

3-5 Curriculum

AoA students in grades 3-5 are fully prepared for later grades as they begin to rotate core academic classes and learn from a team of teachers across subjects. AoA enables students to build lifelong social and emotional skills through restorative practices, positive reinforcement, accountability strategies, and collaborative problem solving. 


In addition to core academics, students expand their learning through instruction in Spanish and Physical Education, building both creativity and wellness as essential parts of their education.  


Grades 3-5 focus on different factors of social justice (community, advocacy, and multiple perspectives) which are most appropriate to each grade level.


  • Third grade students focus on the social justice elements of personal identity and immigration. 
  • Fourth grade students focus on the social justice elements of native Californians, state history, a great heart, and understanding all sides of a story. 
  • Fifth grade students focus on the social justice elements of changemakers, cultures in conflict, and leaders of social change.

Grades 6-8 

The Academy of Alameda ensures every grade 6-8 student is known, supported, and seen. Students engage in a rigorous curriculum that focuses on social justice, advocacy, and multiple perspectives with an emphasis on high school success through advanced math preparation, financial literacy, elective choices (band, orchestra, arts, tech, Spanish), and a robust social-justice focused curriculum.  

 

AoA enables its students to build lifelong social and emotional skills through restorative practices, positive reinforcement, accountability strategies, and collaborative problem solving.  Teacher and staff targeted interventions ensure every learner has the tools and time to succeed.

6-8 Curriculum 


All students in grades 6-8 take five core classes – English, math, social studies, science and physical education – and choose one elective. Specialized electives in technology, band, orchestra, and the arts ensure AoA students graduate as well-rounded community members. 


AoA’s unique advanced math pathway (AMP) guarantees algebra for students prepared to stretch their thinking, enabling them to take calculus at participating high schools. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year.  Advanced Spanish courses will be also offered all grade 6-8 students as an elective option, financial literacy curriculum will be folded into math courses and students will have the opportunities to talk two electives. AoA students will be empowered to connect mathematics to history, personal finance, and their future economic well-being. 


AoA’s social justice education in grades 6-8 focuses on community, advocacy, and multiple perspectives, and is embedded differently at each grade level to match age-appropriate content.

  • Sixth grade students focus on the social justice elements of identity, safety, and belonging. 
  • Seventh grade students focus on the social justice elements of tolerance, acceptance, gender, and identity. 
  • Eighth grade students focus on the social justice elements of gender, identity, social movements, and environmental justice. 

AoA students can enjoy both classroom instruction and downtime, creating successful and engaged student-led lunchtime clubs alongside teacher sponsors. School leaders and staff honor its students in grades 6-8 who exemplify school values at monthly assemblies.


Specialized Electives and Athletics

AoA is home to an award-winning band program which consistently scores Excellent, Superior, and Unanimous Superior ratings from the California Music Educators Association. The band’s outstanding performance has earned it opportunities to perform as cast members at Disneyland and perform at an NBA Golden State Warriors basketball game. 


AoA students in grades 6-8 can try out for volleyball, basketball, and/or track and field teams through the Alameda Education Foundation, allowing students to have a higher probability of making teams and the ability to compete against Alameda district schools.


These enrichment opportunities make AoA a strong choice for families seeking a charter school in Alameda that values arts, athletics, and whole-child development.