Why a Middle School?
Born from a vision of educational excellence, Bayhill began its journey in 2007 when parents from the Raskob School in Oakland sought to create a college preparatory high school where every student could thrive and reach their full potential. Since then, Bayhill has earned its reputation as the best alternative high school in the East Bay, consistently recognized for its excellence and boasting a strong track record of graduates who have gone on to succeed in college and their chosen careers.
In response to our community’s evolving needs, particularly following the closure of the Raskob School in 2022, Bayhill is expanding its mission. We’re proud to announce our new middle school program, launching in the 2025-26 school year with grades 7 and 8. This natural evolution allows us to provide our specialized, proven approach to education to younger students, creating a stronger foundation for their academic journey.
Academic Excellence Meets Individual Growth
Our rich, interconnected curriculum brings subjects to life through hands-on, engaging activities that spark curiosity and deep understanding. Students benefit from daily skill-building sessions tailored to their unique learning profile, supported by evidence-based reading, writing, comprehension, and executive functioning practices.
Beyond the Classroom
We believe in nurturing the whole child. Through our social-emotional learning, students develop crucial life skills like self-advocacy and effective communication. Our diverse electives – from traditional arts and music to 3D printing and culinary arts – allow students to explore their passions and discover new talents.
A Community That Cares
Small class sizes ensure that every student receives the attention they deserve from our highly qualified teachers. Our peer mentoring program creates meaningful connections across grade levels, while our community life includes clubs, assemblies, and sports programs. Through project-based learning with real-world applications, students see the immediate relevance of their education.
A Place where you truly belong
Our inclusive community focuses on helping students build connections with their peers and develop lifelong friendships. Long after graduation, Bayhill students remain friends and maintain connections with teachers.
Middle School Academics
Focused Skills Building – Students receive 45 minutes of daily focused skill-building time to improve areas of challenge.
- Structured Literacy – For students struggling with reading skills Bayhill uses diagnostic assessments to inform instruction. We utilize an Orton-Gillingham approach to reading, spelling, writing, and comprehension. Students receive small group and individual instruction focused on systematically building mastery in phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, fluency, and comprehension. Students also engage in word study developing their knowledge of Greek & Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
- Learning Strategies – for students not receiving structured literacy instruction, Focused Skill Building time personalizes instruction to build skills in vocabulary, comprehension, cognitive processing, study skills, and executive functioning.
English Language Arts – using a literature-based approach with connections to math, science, and history, students analyze text and systematically master writing skills from sentences to essays. Our teachers thoughtfully curate literature selections with a lens of equity and inclusivity.
History – Bayhill’s history curriculum follows a two-year cycle that begins with the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, and the Scientific Revolution highlighting cultural and scientific developments across the globe. Year two students study the birth of our nation through the Civil War. Students trace how America grew into a rich industrial nation of immigrants who contributed to the American ideal and the belief in individual rights and liberty.
Science – Following the Next Generation Science Standards, students engage in a two-year cycle that covers physical and life sciences, as well as ecology and engineering. Students learn to think like scientists through an inquiry project-based approach that uses the vast resources of the Bay Area including museums, exhibits, speakers, and more.
Math – The math skills of middle school students range from those who struggle to those who excel. We meet our students where they are, offering a range of approaches from remedial to accelerated. Students needing more skill-building focus on mastery of numeracy and conceptual modeling, while others who excel may join high school students for Algebra. In all aspects, we aim to apply math to real-world problems.
Electives – students have an opportunity to choose electives in technology and the arts. Selections include Art, music, 3D printing, coding, robotics, and culinary arts. At Bayhill we encourage exploration of new skills and ideas as students discover hidden talents and interests.
Physical Education – Daily physical activity is essential to the health of every child.
Advisory – This weekly meeting allows students to set personal goals, share accomplishments, and build social-emotional skills.
Want to learn more? Sign up for an informational session.