Learning Environment

The Academy’s staff is fully committed to providing a safe, caring, and intellectually and socio-emotionally effective learning environment.

Students learn best when they are connected to caring adults and students, feel physically and emotionally safe, are challenged academically and socially, understand how what they are learning connects to their lives, and experience joy.

The Academy’s diverse student body provides students an even more enriching experience as students gain the confidence, tools, and cultural competency skills to interact with students from backgrounds who are different than their own.

Social Justice

In addition to providing our students with an excellent academic education, we also believe that it is essential to equip them with a strong understanding of social justice and equity principles so that they can fully participate in a diverse democracy.

That understanding is enhanced by a curricular approach that emphasizes multiple stories and diverse perspectives, that helps students build a strong sense of their identity and a deep appreciation of diversity in all of its forms, and by giving students personal experiences both in and out of the classroom setting.

The Academy of Alameda’s diverse population and corresponding academic and social justice learning program provides students with unique opportunities to learn about and from cultures that are different from their own.

These ongoing powerful learning experiences, which; are enhanced by a strong academic program and a commitment to connect to our students and their families, is what makes The Academy’s program unique from all other schools in Alameda.

Family Involvement

At the heart of our work with students and families are the relationships we build.

We recognize that not all families have been welcomed into their child’s school community and that in most schools family involvement has been narrowly defined.

The Academy of Alameda is committed to redefining what family involvement looks like so that families feel:

That they are welcome
when they step foot on campus.
That they and their children are known.
That the relationships they build with staff and each other are meaningful.
That their ideas and input
are valued and respected.
That there are many different opportunities and many ways to be involved – both in the home and at school.

Key Principles

The mission and educational program of The Academy is based upon
four key, research-based beliefs about how to effectively educate students for the 21st century.

1. Academic Foundation
A solid educational foundation in literacy, numeracy, and  technology is critical to prepare students for success in school as well as participation in our knowledge based economy.

2. Engaged Students
In order for deep understanding to occur, students must be behaviorally, intellectually, and emotionally engaged and clearly see how what they learning connects to their lives.

3. Multiple Pathways to Success
Because students come to The Academy with different needs and at different academic levels, we believe that it is critical that there be multiple pathways for them to succeed.

4. High Expectations
Students learn best when all members of their school community—staff, students, and families—are held to high expectations.