Middle School Curriculum
Enhancing learning through Technology
Each of our middle school students are issued a Samsung Chromebook for educational use.
Our students use their assigned chromebooks while at school and at home. Additionally each student keeps their “book” the entire time they are enrolled as a Discovery student.
Discovery has implemented one-to-one computing to further maximize student engagement
in our fast-developing technological world. Using cloud-based collaboration tools like Google Drive and Schoology, and hundreds of web-based academic sources the students are able to save work, and access it on the Google cloud.
More importantly it is not about the device, but about learning opportunities and experiences. Using cloud collaborative tools student’s individual projects can be evaluated by their peers, and these constructive opportunities lead to and create deeper learning. Students have access to textbooks, classroom content and enhance areas of learning through self-directed websites with learning and video tutorials to support learning for all subjects.
Program Offerings
Selectives
Discovery offers a wide variety of classes for the middle school students. The offerings are based on a core set of classes that are important for educational development, while still offering a wide variety of other interest options for the students. The classes are called selectives because the offerings are based on the skill sets of the teachers, parents (professional or hobbyist) and the requests and interests of the students. Offerings have included the following, but in no way are limited to:
Cooking
Dance
Digital Photography
Drama
Gardening
Guitar/Music
Independent Projects
Junior Achievement
Psychology
Public Speaking
Quilting/Knitting
Service Learning
Technology
Total Fitness
Web Design
Yoga
Advisory - All students participate in morning advisory groups. Trained parents and teachers serve as mentors for small groups of students to help monitor each studentâs goals, solve problems, discuss relevant issues, and support one another in their study skills.
Student Government - All of our class levels (Kindergarten through 8th grade) participate in student government. Our middle school students are elected to key positions such as President, Vice President, and School Board Representative. Each (K-8) class has representation giving the students a voice in their school and an opportunity to effect change. All of our 6, 7, & 8th graders are expected to take leadership roles within the Discovery Charter School community and serve as mentors and friends to the younger students.
After School Sports - Every student wishing to participate in the after school sports program may do so. Every student makes the team. Naturally this does not make Discovery Charter Schools an athletic powerhouse. What it does is give students who would naturally not try-out for a team the safety to do so, teaches teamwork and sportsmanship without pressure. Current teams include: Boys Basketball & Soccer, Girls Basketball & Soccer, and Track and Field for all.
High School and Beyond
Discovery graduates attend a variety of private and public high schools throughout the Bay Area such as:
Palo Alto High School
Bellermine Preparatory School
Mid Peninsula High School
Saratoga High School
Los Gatos High School
Notre Dame High School
Santa Clara High School
Lincoln High School
Kings Academy
Prospect High School
St. Lawrence High School
Westmont High School
Morgan Hill High School
Los Altos High School
Summit High School
Milpitas High School
Presentation High School
Morgan Hill High School
Valley Christian High School
Our graduates continue to expand their passions and opportunities in high school:
10% Leadership
40% Gifted
20% attend private or faith based
2% attend an alternative high School
10% Music & Arts
As our alumni continue their educational journey they can be found at a wide variety of institutions (and many more):
UC Davis
Duke
Willamette
West Valley CC
MIT
St. John
Ithaca College
San Jose State
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Santa Clara University
Brown
DeAnza CC
Rhode Island School of Design
NYU
Columbia
Kenyon
Northwestern
San Diego
Harvey Mudd