Preparing with Purpose

Compass is the arc of our wellness and belonging courses—outside the core academic program—which support students’ learning and emotional needs throughout their high school journey.

The multi-year arc of the curriculum blends themes of personal decision-making, individual and interpersonal health, and social justice education. Over the course of four years, students are introduced to concepts that will help them navigate their lives with purpose by making meaning of themselves, their relationship with others, and their place in the larger community. Senior projects are the capstone of four years of Compass curriculum. These culminating projects are grounded in students’ personal values and engage with an area of social, environmental, or civic change. Students build a deeper understanding of their topic within the context of their community, practice taking initiative, and cultivate their ideas from concept to implementation.

CONNECTIONS & ADVISING PROGRAM (CAP)

The Connections and Advising Program (CAP) supports all ninth grade students as they transition to high school through weekly small-group sessions led by faculty advisors and senior mentors. In addition to academic advising and fostering group connections, CAP emphasizes the transition to high school, the development of good work habits, and social-emotional growth. CAP groups create a sense of belonging through innovative learning experiences, nurturing meaningful connections, and guiding students to navigate life with purpose. These groups also explore ethical questions, self-care, service in the community, and the best ways to cultivate and maintain relationships.

Students in tenth through twelfth grade are grouped in advisories where they remain through graduation. These advising meetings offer opportunities for students to share advice, participate in small-group check-ins, play games, discuss course selections, and support one another. Students also meet one-on-one with their advisor throughout the school year.

Wellness & Belonging

Wellness & Belonging is a program for ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders that begins by examining systems of oppression as they intersect with race, class, gender, and sexuality. Through education on mental, physical, and sexual health, students gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their peers, and their broader communities.

The program explores various historical social justice movements, including those focused on disability, gender, queer, and racial justice, while building their capacity for social action and change. The course employs diverse learning modalities such as case studies, activities, videos, and group discussions to enhance understanding of wellness within both the self and the larger community.

PURPOSE & PATHWAYS

Beginning in the spring of eleventh grade, students enroll in a weekly class led by the College Counseling Office. The College Counseling process is an opportunity for students to learn more about themselves as thinkers, community members, and young adults as they prepare for life after College Prep. The process is individualized and student driven. Students start by reflecting on their values, considering the communities they belong to, and identifying elements that are important to them in a learning environment.

College counselors guide students through the search process, crafting a list of schools and post-high school opportunities that match each student’s strengths, goals, and interests. Students research colleges, learn about the application process, and participate in self-reflective exercises that lay the foundation for writing a personal statement. Application support includes training on how to ask for recommendations, preparing for interviews, and crafting essays. This individualized work in a supportive setting allows time for each student to thoughtfully reflect on their growth as learners and community members as they consider their post-high school journey.

SENIOR PROJECT PATHWAYS

Working individually or in small groups, twelfth graders complete a Senior Project that focuses on an area of civic, social, or environmental change. Through working collaboratively on interdisciplinary projects, students hone their skills in community outreach, interviewing experts, project planning, teamwork, and responding to feedback. There are three pathways to fulfill the year-long Senior Project Requirement:

List of 3 items.

Independent Projects

The Social Impact Practicum is a product-driven, workshop-based class. In the first semester, students work in teams to research, interview experts, and integrate their ideas about a topic that matters to them. The teams launch their projects in the second semester and present their findings to the school community at the end of the semester.
Partners Teaching Fellowship

The Partners Teaching Fellowship is a year-long program that prepares a cohort of twelfth graders to facilitate a 10-week STEAM course for Oakland public middle school students. The students study principles of culturally responsive teaching, best practices for lesson planning, and issues of educational equity within the public school system. During the spring semester, the students lead weekly workshops and mentor middle school students.
Social Impact Practicum

The third option for twelfth graders is an independent project in an area they are passionate about or that expands on an existing commitment. With the guidance of their faculty advisor, these students use a weekly block to plan and implement self-directed, impact-focused projects aimed at strengthening their personal values and connection to their communities.