Albany Middle School - Albany, CA

Albany Middle School is an extremely diverse school in an East Bay community of one square mile. Based on state testing and local assessments, Albany Middle School's students perform at high standards, but this doesn't slow our staff down from continuing to strive to better meet the needs of all of our students. Teachers are collaborating more than ever, sharing unit overviews, great lessons, and best practices. Departments have agreed on essential standards which guide the curriculum, interventions, and extensions in the classrooms. Our school has made a remarkable transition in embracing Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards. As an example, if you were to walk into one of our math classrooms, you would find students in groups actively engaged in discussion about how best to solve a math challenge and why. Students across the different subjects are pushed to challenge their thinking to gain a deep understanding on the material.

Albany Middle School staff understands the importance of a positive school climate, of students' feeling a sense of connectedness and belonging, and opportunities to explore their own interests outside of the classroom. Albany Middle School is rich with school climate programs that work in partnership with students to create an inclusive peer culture. Teachers run a wide range of clubs where students can develop new skills and make new social connections. But perhaps even more important, in the classroom, teachers take the time to teach both schoolwide and department-based lessons that address social-emotional learning and develop cultural competencies. This type of wrap-around approach is evident in students' experiences on our campus.