Photo Credit: Deanna Shipman Photography
About Us
Innovators For An Evolving World
East Bay Innovation Academy is a tuition-free public charter middle school serving grades 6-8 in Oakland. Since opening in 2014, EBIA has centered its program on active learning and strong relationships. Students are challenged academically while belonging to a community that knows and supports them.
Our Mission
EBIA prepares a diverse group of students to be successful in college and to be thoughtful, engaged citizens who are leaders and innovators in a 21st century global world.
Our mission is intentionally ambitious. We want EBIA graduates to leave middle school with strong academic foundations and confidence in their ability to learn. They should have experience solving unfamiliar problems, working across differences, and reflecting on the kind of innovator and community member they want to become.
What Guides Us
Learning by Doing, Belonging by Design
Together, these ideas describe both our destination and our approach. We prepare students for an evolving world by giving them meaningful opportunities to practice the work of innovators now. Students ask questions, investigate, design, calculate, build, write, create, revise, collaborate, advocate, and communicate.
Why Middle School
Middle school is not simply a bridge between two other stages of education. Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade are years of rapid academic, social, and personal growth. Students are developing independence, stronger opinions, new interests, deeper friendships, and a clearer sense of who they are.
EBIA is focused entirely on these three years. Every major part of the school is designed around middle school students. That includes our schedule, curriculum, advisory model, intervention and enrichment, athletics, arts, Science Olympiad, school play, afterschool program, clubs, culture systems, and student leadership opportunities.
What Makes EBIA Distinctive
A Distinctive Middle School Model
EBIA’s approach combines active learning, strong relationships, responsive academic support, and meaningful student ownership. Explore Our Approach for how these pieces work together across the school.
Room To Discover
Middle school should give students room to discover new interests and strengths. EBIA offers opportunities across academics, athletics, STEM, arts, performance, afterschool, leadership, and student-created clubs.
At EBIA, being an innovator is not a label reserved for one type of student. It is a habit of mind: notice, question, imagine, try, learn, improve, and contribute.
What Families Can Expect
Families can expect a school that communicates clearly, holds students to high expectations, responds when students need help, and creates multiple ways for students to find success and connection.
Families receive regular communication through ParentSquare, progress reports and report cards, conferences, school events, and direct outreach from teachers or support staff when a student needs additional attention.