Why Middle School At Berkeley Hall

 

Aside from the toddler years, sixth to eighth grades are among the most significant formative years for students physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and academically. In the nurturing environment of a small school, teachers know their students and provide them with the tools to navigate the many changes they are facing. Students discover who they want to be by establishing a strong sense of identity and orienting their moral compass. 

 

Studies show that smaller middle schools, particularly those that are part of Kindergarten through 8th grade schools, are especially beneficial for students during this time of their life. Thanks to a number of factors that we’ll outline below, eighth graders graduate with a stronger sense of self, and are therefore more likely to succeed in their high school of choice and beyond. Not only do they choose the correct school, based on their personal interests and goals, they get accepted! 

 

Approximately 90% of Berkeley Hall 8th graders gain entry to their top-choice high school! 

 

When children are placed in a supportive environment, they feel comfortable learning, exploring, and even making mistakes. At Berkeley Hall, we foster a “growth mindset,” which means that our students learn to meet challenges head-on and find a way to work through them, instead of giving up. With a diverse student body, small classes that allow for thoughtful discussion, and teachers always available for them at school, they hear a wider range of perspectives and see the values we teach put into action. This smaller environment, where they feel cared for, nurtured, and challenged, gives them the confidence they need to step into leadership roles.

 

As the oldest students on campus, Middle School students are given exceptional opportunities to gain recognition and respect for their leadership. Rather than struggling for a sense of identity in the shadow of high school students – or emulating overly mature behaviors –  these young adolescents can come into their own at Berkeley Hall. For younger students, the middle-schoolers become wholesome role models during all-school House activities, peer tutoring, and other buddy programs, which create a solid structure for relationships to form and grow. 

 

 

It is critical for both academic and personal growth that students be allowed to explore a number of different activities at school. In a smaller school environment, students are able to try their hand at almost anything they want, which helps them discover new passions! Students are able to explore theater and drama, visual arts, sports, Mock Trial, participate in outdoor learning activities like urban gardening, and more - regardless of prior experience. Providing all of these different options helps children develop their own unique interests and build confident, well-rounded individuals. These many activities also allow further opportunities for them to step into leadership roles and set positive examples for younger students.

 

 

When students graduate Berkeley Hall, they have a solid understanding of their own identity, personal standards, and moral compass and an ability to have resilience in the face of challenges. When students mature and grow in an environment where they are nurtured and cared for, and where there are no limits on who they are or what they can do, they are better able to make healthy, positive decisions. Ultimately, the ability to make positive life decisions will affect them well beyond their high school and college years. This is why it’s so important to not only choose the right Middle School, but to allow students to complete their Middle School experience as the oldest class in a school.  

 

 

It’s common for students to make decisions early on about which High School they would like to attend. However, from our experience as educators, this often changes throughout Middle School. Katie B. (Class of 2018) decided she wanted to attend a certain High School when she was very young. She held on to this goal throughout her years at Berkeley Hall, and almost left in 6th grade to pursue that goal. Luckily, Katie’s family realized that she would be able to attend the school of her choice, even if they waited until 8th grade. This is thanks to Berkeley Hall’s reputation and our relationships with all of the independent and private high schools in the greater Los Angeles area. In 8th grade, with help from her teachers, family, and Berkeley Hall administrators, Katie decided that the school she had wanted to attend for all those years was not the right school for her. 

After realizing that her original choice was not a good fit, Katie set her sights on a new school. Now a junior at her top choice High School, she reflected, “The high school I thought I wanted when I was in 6th grade is not even a high school I applied to once I reached 8th grade! I think it’s helpful to wait until 8th grade to choose a high school, because you know yourself better and can make better decisions about your future... I love my high school and I am so happy I waited until 8th grade so I could choose the right school. It is even better than I imagined it would be!" 

The environment at Berkeley Hall is designed to cultivate and foster confidence and critical thinking to ultimately create self-confident, thoughtful, kind, and intelligent leaders for high school and beyond. Unlike many students who experience the K-12 or 7-12 grade model, Berkeley Hall’s eighth grade graduates experience being “seniors” before they enter high school. They are equipped with a growth mindset and all the personal, academic, and social tools necessary to be a success in high school and beyond.