Academics

At SBMS, adolescence is our specialty! We "get" this age. Our well-structured curriculum emphasizes active, individualized student engagement, along with a deep dive into select, relevant, standards-based content. Year after year, our small class sizes and well-connected community allows us to pivot as we differentiate our program to meet the rigorous academic requirements of a rapidly changing world. Take some time to scroll through this page (don't miss the video at the bottom!) and dive into our world of academics.  

    • Our 2019-2020 academic year was full of adventure, challenge, and discovery. Here's a quick glimpse of SBMS's adaptable "Carpe Diem" spirit in action!

Our Promise

During your child’s time at SBMS, they will…
  • Gain an understanding of how they learn, and what they personally need to be a successful student who advocates for themselves.
  • Be seen, heard, recognized and loved by our faculty and staff.
  • Adopt a sense of personal independence and autonomy through the shared experience of adversity, challenge, and inevitable success in our outdoor education expeditions; and bring that confidence back to the classroom. 
  • Leave with an enthusiasm for learning, self-assuredness, commitment to service, compassion, and respect for others.
  • Be solidly prepared to handle the academic challenges of high school.
  • SCOPE & SEQUENCE
    Click here to see our structured four-year curriculum that emphasizes depth, individualization, and engagement. 

    • A brief overview of Marlene Beckerman's 8th Grade History course, HISTORY ALIVE!

Hands-on, project-based learning is one of our specialties! Like our Kiva.org Loans Map and Groovy Africa Geography Song, to name a few! 

    • 7th Grade Catapult Launches

    • “Rogelitos” from Spanish class at our 8th grade Humanities’ night

Critical thinking and problem solving skills are fundamental aspects of our integrated curriculum.

    • 6th graders share their poetry during Writer's Workshop

    • Walk for Water lesson in Human Geography

    • 7th Graders getting creative in Geography with a rap naming all the African countries

    • 6th graders build boats and perform buoyancy tests in preparation for our Academic Fair

Testimonials

"I just want to say thanks to all the eighth-grade teachers and staff, for setting an example of commitment and consistency, for rising to the unexpected occasion, for being role models of integrity. 
 
I don't know how this will affect the children in the long run, but I do know right now that my child is experiencing the benefits of a caring community of educators. And that could be the basis for making this radical episode one of growth instead of despondency."
      

 - Parent of 8th grade student 
"Just want to appreciate you for everything you do for the kids. My child is having his best academic year yet, despite the crisis, and I want to give you all the credit. As a teacher, I know how hard it is these days when most of the fun parts of "school" are missing. But I am so grateful for your efforts to keep them thinking, creating, and connecting."

 - Parent of 8th grade student
"We are realizing is that the mystery of what we couldn't quite put our finger on when we toured the school...the "kool-aid" that we thought everyone had consumed...is really a gumbo mix of everyone who touches our children's heart in a year at SBMS. It is a wild mix of care, compassion, learning, a lot of laughing, and an opening to the discovery of our children's true selves. What an unexpected gift to receive as a teenager. Even more so of a parent of a child becoming an adult. This community has earned our most true form of trust as parents...to join in the care and soul-feeding of our children. On a diet of truth, grit, and authenticity, we have witnessed a phenomenon that we just couldn't help but share and pay gratitude for all you have all done this year for our daughters.
So fast forward 10 months...when we hold both of our daughters on the day that academic classes end in 7th grade and find ourselves comforting them when they have cried their way through each of their last classes of Spanish, Science, English, Human Geography and Math, you know that you have found a place of magic and that your kids have come through the other side of their 7th-grade year way more than fine. You all made the magic."

 - Parent of two 7th grade students 

    • Welcome to Santa Barbara Middle School. Get to know us better! Here is a sample of a typical day at SBMS.

Santa Barbara Middle School cultivates in our students passion for life and life-long learning, a deep sense of trust in themselves, strength and courage to succeed at life's challenges, and compassion and respect for others.
Santa Barbara Middle School ● 1321 Alameda Padre Serra ● Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Tel: 805-682-2989 ● office@sbms.org