Our Academic Philosophy
At School of the Madeleine, academic excellence and character development go hand in hand. Our curriculum challenges every student while providing the support they need to succeed. With a student-teacher ratio near 10:1, and a partner-teacher model in grades 3 through 5, we differentiate instruction and regularly assess progress to meet each learner where they are.
Our graduates go on to the Bay Area's top high schools and universities, prepared not just academically, but as grounded, capable young people ready for the next chapter.
Transitional Kindergarten
Learning that starts with curiosity
Our Transitional Kindergarten program is a joyful, nurturing bridge between preschool and kindergarten. Rooted in Montessori principles and an emergent, project-based curriculum, it encourages curiosity, creativity, and agency. Learning is woven together through hands-on experiences, songs, games, and seasonal themes.
Through role play, stories, and collaborative work, children build confidence, independence, and self-regulation as members of a classroom community. A balance of small-group work, individual lessons, and free-choice time lets each child grow at their own pace while strengthening foundational academic, fine motor, and relationship skills.
The best way to understand TK is to see it. Visit the classroom on a campus tour.
Learning Through Service
Service is one of the four Dominican pillars at the heart of a Madeleine education. From the earliest grades, students are taught that learning and giving back go hand in hand, whether through choir service projects, community outreach, or the values woven into every classroom.
Students participate in grade-appropriate service projects throughout the school year, developing empathy, leadership, and a sense of responsibility that carries well beyond graduation.
Where Our Graduates Go
Schools our 8th grade graduates have attended in the past 5 years
Saint Mary's College High School
Bishop O'Dowd High School
De La Salle High School
Head-Royce
Carondelet High School
College Preparatory School
Salesian College Preparatory
Berkeley High School
El Cerrito High School
Albany High School
Our graduates are well-prepared for success at top high schools across the Bay Area, whether they choose Catholic, independent, or public schools.
