Aurora School: Academic Excellence & Social-Emotional Learning for K-8

Aurora School is currently accepting applications for our K-5 Lower School and 6-8 Middle School. We have in-person tour dates posted on our website, and can schedule information sessions at your convenience. We'll be hosting an Open House on our Upper Rockridge campus on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Please lisa [at] auroraschool.org (contact our Admissions Director Lisa Piccione) for more information.

We're a progressive K-8 school where teachers foster academic strength and the ability to solve problems with a focus on social justice. Social-emotional learning is essential to our curriculum, with an emphasis on self-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Each of our Lower School classrooms combines two grades: K/1, 2/3, and 4/5 students share learning spaces for and have the same teacher for two years. In Middle School they share the same team of guides. At all levels certain subjects are taught by grade level, and our curricula are rotated so that lessons aren't repeated. Our community of students, parents and staff practice empathy, kindness, and inclusivity and move through the world with positive intention.

Established in 1988, we have an optimal 1:8 teacher/student ratios and one of the largest libraries of any East Bay independent school. An Aurora education is grounded in STEM and humanities, along with programs in math, academic advisory, library, Spanish, art, band, woodworking, and physical education. All of this happens in the indoor and outdoor spaces of our lovely, historic campus located in Upper Rockridge, off Highways 24 and 13. 

Our middle school curriculum features six-week Quests in humanities and STEM which begin with essential questions like, “How can we prevent and respond to discrimination?” or “How can the study of nature inform robotics?” Integral to their studies is the design thinking process, collaborative working skills, and the  creation of culminating projects including activism, art, robotics, novel writing, podcasts, and presentations. They have daily Advisory to provide a safe space to share their feelings, and are given opportunities to serve as mentors for K-5 students.

Flexible tuition is available.

If you’d like to learn more about Aurora School and what we can offer your child, visit auroraschool.org, or contact admissions [at] auroraschool.org (admissions[at]auroraschool[dot]org) to schedule an information session or campus tour for our Lower or Middle School.