Academics

Middle School

The middle school years are some of the most formative and dynamic in a child’s life. Students dramatically change—physically, socially, and intellectually—all within a short period of time. An exceptional middle school program supports students in all of these facets and springs from an understanding that all are inextricably connected.

For middle school students, identity is a fundamental concern. They are seeking to understand who they are, who they can become, and how to make sense of the world. Social-emotional learning is central to the Oakwood middle school program. We nurture a student’s ability to reflect on their life and their community, and we guide them to develop cultural competencies and habits of mind that will lead to thoughtful engagement with the community and life-long learning.

In the classroom, trusting teacher-student relationships are at the heart of learning. Teachers know their students and provide an environment in which young people feel comfortable asking questions, taking risks, and making mistakes—all essential components of the most powerful learning experiences. Students are encouraged to discover connections within and across disciplines as a means to think critically, solve problems, create, innovate, and find meaning in the world around them.

Course Descriptions by Academic Department

Department

- Erin Nowak, Middle School Principal

OUR INTEGRATED CURRICULUM

At Oakwood School, our innovative and rigorous curriculum is foundational to teaching and learning. Each day, students move through college preparatory courses that meet high academic standards and inspire students to take charge of their intellectual pursuits.

Oakwood students deeply engage in a relevant and challenging academic curriculum and explore their creativity in a wide array of visual and performing arts. Through our Advisory, physical education, and wellness programs, they further develop skills to understand their changing selves.

2024-2025 Secondary Campus Curriculum Guide (PDF)

The Secondary Campus Transition

Oakwood functions as one K-12 institution on two campuses one mile apart. Since our middle and high school divisions are located separately from the elementary school, all students entering grades 7-12 are essentially “new.” In 7th grade, approximately half of the students are new to Oakwood and come from 30+ schools in the greater Los Angeles area and beyond. In 9th grade, the number of students increases by approximately 20%.

List of 9 items.

7th Grade Seminar

This course focuses on guiding students toward a deeper awareness of how they view the world and how that view has been developing over the years. Students will explore the concept of difference in order to gain knowledge of various perspectives and foster positive
attitudes toward difference.
8th Grade Community Leadership

Community Leadership is where students build the skills and experiences necessary to continue to grow in the civic engagement. Additionally, students will learn the five stages of Service Learning and how to apply them to different social, cultural, and economic issues in their community.
Class Trips
The goal is to encourage socialization and class cohesion while giving students the opportunities to make curricular connections beyond the classroom:
- 7th Grade Trip — Sequoia & Kings Canyon
- 8th Grade Trip — Washington D.C.
Cultivating Belonging
ADVISORY: Advisors serve as a caring guide and support through the academic, social, and emotional landscape of school life. Secondary campus students meet in Advisory twice per week in groups of 12.

WELLNESS: The following programs aim to provide appropriate
support, insight, and strategies to help students succeed
in and out of the classroom:
- School Counseling
- The Academic Resource Center
- Human Development
- Learn more about Student Support at Oakwood here
AFFINITY GROUPS: Affinity Groups provide a space for people who have an identifier in common (e.g. race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, family status, etc.) and can speak to the experience of being a member of a group from the “I” perspective. Current student affinity groups:
- Adopted Affinity Group
- RepresentAsian (Asian, Asian Pacific Islander Affinity Group)
- BMORE (Black/Brown Men at Oakwood Representing Excellence)
- CAAMASO (Connecting African, African American, and Multiracial African American Students at Oakwood)
- DIVAS (Daughters for Inclusive Values and Social Justice) of Color
- Jewish Affinity Group
- Greater Middle Eastern Affinity Group
- Multiracial Affinity Group
- Somos Unidos (LatinX Affinity Group)
- Learn more about DEI&B at Oakwood here
ALLIANCE GROUPS: Alliance Groups bring together people who have common commitments to an identifier group and are for individuals who identify as members of the group and/or as people
who support and stand in solidarity with that group. This category includes groups such as:
- The Rainbow Alliance
- Gender Equality Coalition
- Oakwood School for Progressive Reform (OSPR)
- Cultural Awareness and Solidarity Alliance (caSa)
- White Anti-Racist Alliance
- Learn more about DEI&B at Oakwood here
CAMPUS EVENTS:
- Arts Festival
- Fall Family Fair
- Halloween Event
- IDEAS Summit
- JustArt/Glove Affair
- Middle School Dance
- Oakwood Olympics
- Spirit Night
- Town Meeting
Discovering Passion
DEBATE: Middle School Debate competes in multiple Parliament Style debate tournaments. This course introduces advanced forms of argumentation including topicality, counterplans, disadvantages, weighing mechanisms, and frameworks.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM: All 7th and 8th grade students enroll in additional electives beyond the array of required courses. Many of the courses revolve around social justice and visual and performing arts and are taught by graduate students from CalArts:
- Coding and Robotics
- Computer Animation
- Fashion Design
- Focusing on Feminism
- Living in Los Angeles: Then and Now
- Musical Theater
- Songwriting and Recording
- Speak Up: Creative Writing and Current Events
STEAM: Students may enroll in STEAM as an elective option beginning in 8th grade. Students are also able to participate in one of the many afterschool STEAM programs such as the JPL Invention Challenge, Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix, and Maker Faire.

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS: We emphasize art as a form of communication within a cultural and historical context, with a strong focus on helping students discover their passion. By mastering technical skills, students can express their unique perspectives, while learning the vocabulary needed to articulate their vision and appreciate the visions of others. Our mission is to foster a lifelong passion for art, seeing it as a powerful means of personal and cultural representation.
Immersion

Oakwood’s Immersion program provides an intense two-week period in the academic year for students to be fully engaged in rich and challenging learning experiences. Immersion courses are experiential—learning is hands-on, exploratory, and unrestricted by the boundaries of the regular classroom. Learn more about Immersion here.
Middle School Research & Media Literacy

This course is specifically designed to equip students with practical strategies, including lateral reading and reverse image searching, all while fostering a sense of healthy skepticism. These tools will not only empower students to critically evaluate information, but will also
help them make informed decisions in our increasingly information-rich environment.
Schedule & Academic Requirements
Oakwood operates on a rotating block schedule with 70-minute classes. These longer periods give students and teachers additional time to build academic skills, explore content in greater depth, and work collaboratively:
- Humanities (2 years) 
- Mathematics (2 years)
- Science (2 years)
- World Language – Spanish, French, Mandarin (2 years)
- Arts (2 years) in: Visual Arts, Performing  Arts, Theatre Arts,
- Music, Dance,
- S.T.E.A.M. 
- Athletics, Physical Education, and Wellness (2 years)
- Visual Arts  CalArts Program (2 years)
- Immersion (2 years)
Transitions & Opportunities

Below are some examples of thoughtfully created programs and curricula to support the transition into middle and high school:

• Spring and Summer Buddy Groups & Activities
• August Orientations & Technology Overviews
• 7th & 12th-grade Buddy Groups for Families
• Human Development/Wellness Courses in grades 7-10
• 50+ Student Clubs
• Affinity Space Gatherings & Potlucks
• The Middle School Digital Device Policy encourages in-person connections
• Town Meeting is a secondary campus tradition run by Student Council which allows the entire student body to connect through guest speakers, performances, and student voices
• After-school activities in athletics, debate, mock trial, Model UN, music, dance, STEAM, theatre tech and much more help foster new connections
• Middle and High School Advisory Groups
• Fall Club Fair
• Spring Middle School Ice Cream Social
• New Family May Orientation
• New Parent/Guardian Social
• New Student Buddy Lunch
• Separate lunch period for Middle and High School Monday–Thursday