Photo Credit: Catrina Marchetti Photography
Program Model
Academic Program
EBIA is a rigorous, college preparatory school in which students of all previous preparation levels will find success. We have a collaborative model that incorporates technology to engage students in scientific, mathematical, literary, historical, and artistic pursuits. While emphasising inquiry-driven, interdisciplinary, collaborative projects, significant time and resources are invested into programs that develop students’ social-emotional skills and character strengths (described more fully below).
Through blended and project-based learning, our academic program is differentiated and personalized to meet students’ individual needs and interests.
Our model is based upon the following core elements:
Our school reflects our Oakland community and the larger society that our students will someday join. We maintain a common intellectual mission and a full-inclusion model where students of all demographic and educational groups are provided the same college preparatory curriculum, where students work with those that are different from themselves, and where all students are expected upon graduation to enroll in and complete college.
Our high school graduation requirements exceed UC A-G requirements in order to best prepare students for college, career, and a 21st century economy.
Students engage in long-term, “real-world”, collaborative, interdisciplinary, learning experiences that culminate in authentic products. Each year, students participate in a long-term Capstone project which is presented and defended.
EBIA is a leader in collecting, analyzing, presenting, and acting upon rich data with teachers, students, school leaders, and parents to optimize and accelerate learning for all stakeholders.
In order to offer a more personalized and differentiated approach, especially to a diverse group of learners, we incorporate blended learning for literacy and math.
Students at EBIA participate in one-week in-depth intersession programming three times during the school year. These consist of internships, elective courses and service learning. In order to in still our core value of giving back to the community and to ensure authentic real-world experiences, students will also engage in external service-based projects in which they will both help contribute to and improve their community.
EBIA believes that all students learn differently. In order to provide support and a personalized experience, we provide a wide array of supports such as advisory, a full inclusion model, office hours, and credit recovery.
In order to be best prepared to be citizens of a 21st century interconnected world, students will have to be proficient in both academic skills and content, as well as the social-emotional skills of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Students also need to be skilled in restorative practices that help to repair and rebuild relationships and the community.
EBIA faculty have an enormous opportunity to grow as educators in the EBIA model, especially during Intersession, as they have those weeks to focus on developing as professionals, to collaboratively plan lessons, discuss how to support students, analyse student work and data, and make decisions as a faculty.