It’s cool to be curious here—to ask the uncommon questions and dream up new solutions.
Middle School is a critical developmental stage in a student’s educational journey. That’s why we have smaller classes, connected faculty and staff, and a magical, kind environment to nurture a learning that emphasizes critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. We encourage learning that takes our students out of their comfort zone and into new spheres of knowledge. That’s how we build critical muscle for what comes next: Upper School.
This is how we learn. What starts in our Middle School helps sustain skills and knowledge to learn on for a lifetime. The Athenian experiential approach to education starts in grade 6, enhancing every facet of English, social studies, science, world language, math, and art. Add in Focus Day field trips and overnight class trips to DC (8th grade), Central Coast (7th grade), and the Santa Cruz Mountains (6th grade), and the learning is boundless.
An Athenian education encourages exploration in all different directions—and that’s the point. Outside the core academics, students get to go further by choosing from a suite of electives that inspire them to think bigger and to wander. From leadership and robotics to newspaper and team sports, plus time spent in the Carter Innovation Studio, it’s all there to keep them growing.
The power of Focus Days.
Once a week, the entire Middle School steps out of the block schedule for a daylong interdisciplinary learning adventure known as a Focus Day. Coordinated with classroom lessons, it’s a chance for students to explore, connect and lean into out-of-the-ordinary learning.
Support that goes the distance.
Our guidance is boundless here at the base of Mt. Diablo. From small group advisory to a dedicated counselor and a learning support specialist, we are here to help every student build their confidence and skills while ensuring a sense of belonging. Classes open to the “Peanut,” a grassy turf patch where students take breaks and engage in outdoor learning. It is also a place for students to connect with their teachers outside of class.
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Curriculum Overview by Grade
Sixth grade at Athenian is all about transition, exploration, and connection. As students adjust to a rotating schedule with multiple teachers, they begin developing the organizational and self-advocacy skills that set the foundation for middle school success. Just as important, we focus on building strong relationships and a sense of belonging—ensuring that each of our youngest Owls feels seen, supported, and part of something special. Through engaging projects, hands-on learning, and Focus Days that bring classroom content to life, sixth graders discover new ways of thinking, learning, and connecting with the world around them.
- Subjects include: art, earth science, fundamentals of society in history (Africa, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific Rim), PE, and English. 6th graders are placed in their language and math classes based upon their skill entering Athenian.
- Key Focus Days include: Brain Day, Island Day, Spartan Day, and an overnight trip on Mt. Diablo.
- Class Trip: Two-night overnight in the Santa Cruz mountains.
In seventh grade, students navigate important physical, social, and academic growth. At Athenian, we meet this moment with intentional support and dynamic learning opportunities. Through collaborative projects and deep dives on experiential Focus Days, students build confidence, connect with peers, and engage meaningfully with the world around them. As they begin to take greater ownership of their learning, seventh graders grow into themselves—emerging with a stronger sense of identity, voice, and purpose.
- Subjects include: life science, foundations of rights and the rule of law in history (West Asia to Europe), PE, and English. 7th graders go to the next level in their math and language classes. They also have choice in the art for the year: theater, visual art, or music.
- Key Focus Days: Panathenaea Day, Risky Business Day, International Cultures Day, and a grade-wide performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
- Class Trip: Three-night overnight trip to Big Sur.
Eighth grade at Athenian is a dynamic and memorable year where students rise to meet higher academic expectations while continuing to grow as individuals and community members. With an increased focus on critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving, students sharpen the skills they’ll carry into high school and beyond. What makes this learning come alive are the powerful connections to Focus Days—some of the most iconic in the Middle School experience—where curriculum and real-world inquiry intersect in meaningful, often unforgettable ways. Each eighth-grade student takes the stage to deliver a five-minute speech to the entire middle school community, offering a heartfelt reflection on a moment, person, or experience that has shaped their journey and helped them become who they are today. The year builds toward the eighth grade class trip, a culminating adventure that brings learning, leadership, and lasting friendships together. It’s a year filled with intention, challenge, and plenty of joy.
- Subjects include: chemistry and physics in science, American history, PE, and English. 8th graders go to the next level in their math and language classes. They also have choice in their art for the year: theater, visual art, or music for the year.
- Key Focus Days: Mock Congress Day, Chef’s Table, Pool Volume Day, and Newtonian Olympics Day.
- Class Trip: Four-night overnight trip to Washington, D.C.
In the Middle School, we offer three levels of three different languages and we offer four math courses. Students are placed based upon an assessment as they enter.
| World Languages |
| - Chinese (1A, 1B. 1C) |
| - French (1A, 1B. 1C) |
| - Spanish (1A, 1B. 1C) |
| Mathematics |
| - Math 6 |
| - Pre-Algebra |
| - Algebra |
| - Geometry |
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