Departments

The purpose of Social Studies Department courses is to prepare students to do the work of a historian, view the world through an anthropological lens, and understand the complexity of the world. Students work to develop a strong understanding of the past, which in turn allows them to have a better grasp of the society they live in today. Students will develop a strong fund of knowledge, activate schema, and detect patterns across time. Additionally, students will analyze and evaluate primary and secondary sources in order to learn about significant people, and events from a variety of perspectives.

Many of the learning opportunities are designed to give students the skills and content knowledge necessary to be successful in later Humanities courses. By focusing on those aspects of Social Studies that are relevant to today and the future, students will be able to apply the process skills and content they acquire to other courses and life experiences. Social Studies courses at Grauer are discussion-based and Socratic by design so that students voices are heard, and so that students can consider and embrace multiple perspectives on a given topic.

Middle School Courses

• Global Insights 7
• US History 8

To be considered for the University of California, students must complete two units—equivalent to two years—of history/social science, including: one year of world history, cultures and historical geography and one year of U.S. history; or one-half year of U.S. history and one-half year of civics or American government. All UC-approved courses are listed in bold below:

High School Courses

• World Religions
• Psychology*
• World History/Geography
• U.S. History
• U.S. Government/Civics
• Economics*

*Items highlighted in color are UC-approved college preparatory electives. One unit—equivalent to one year—is required.

Check out the website for our department here

Effective language use is at the core of lifelong learning strategies. Likewise, written and spoken language use is closely tied to clarity of thought, essential to success in all professions. To this end, the major objectives of The Grauer School language arts, or English curriculum are threefold:

• to cultivate formal and creative language use in both the written and spoken word,
• to assist students in developing a deep appreciation of great literature, and
• to learn how to integrate language into current and evolving media and multimedia expressive forms.

As students begin to think more abstractly and with increasing foresight, they are given the opportunity to express their thoughts in a variety of ways. Their verbal, social, and thinking skills are supported by participation in small group (Socratic) discussions, dramatic readings, and speech presentations. Students respond to a wealth of literature in writing, orally, and through their own research, and they create their own literature. In seminar-style classes and through engaging project work, students in transition from childhood to adulthood are able to sort through what they may already know and what they will likely need to know to further develop into successful high school and collegiate students.

Middle School Courses

• English 7
• English 8
• English as a Second Language

 

To be considered for the University of California, students must complete four units—equivalent to four years—of college-preparatory English composition and literature, integrating extensive reading, frequent writing, and practice listening and speaking with different audiences. Students may only use 1 year of ESL/ELD English. All UC-approved courses are listed in bold below:

High School Courses

• English 9
• English 10
• English 11: American Literature
• English 12: British Literature
• English as a Second Language
• Creative Writing
• Journalism

Welcome to The Grauer School's Mathematics Department. We strive to help every student feel successful in mathematics by enabling mastery of the problem solving techniques covered in class as well as learning the application of those techniques to new and unique situations. We support our students through every step of the learning process while also keeping them challenged with a dynamic curriculum that currently covers the traditional core sequence of Algebra 1 --> Geometry --> Algebra 2, with many additional class offerings prior to and after this core pathway.

Furthermore, students are encouraged to challenge themselves and push their math knowledge to the limit by taking their class for honors credit, which enables students to dive deeper into each topic and/or complete additional enrichment projects that tie math concepts and topics to the students' area of personal interest and passion.

To be considered for the University of California, students must complete three units—equivalent to three years—of college-preparatory mathematics; with four units being strongly recommended. All UC-approved courses are listed in bold below:

Courses

• Pre-Algebra
• Intro to High School Mathematics
• Algebra I
• Geometry
• Algebra II
• Pre-Calculus
• Calculus
• Calculus 2
• Statistics
• Business Mathematics

Check out the website for our department here

The Science Department at The Grauer School is dedicated to fostering a deep understanding of the natural world by guiding students to think and work like scientists. Our mission is to provide a rigorous and engaging educational experience that meets each student's unique talents and needs. Through inquiry-based learning and hands-on laboratory activities, we aim to develop students' ability to recognize patterns, analyze data, and draw evidence-based conclusions. By integrating practical experimentation with theoretical knowledge, we prepare students to critically evaluate scientific information and understand its impact on the world around them. We strive to make learning science an enjoyable and dynamic process, instilling a lifelong passion for discovery in our students.

At The Grauer School, our Science Department is committed to equipping students with the essential skills and knowledge for success in advanced science courses and beyond. Through a focus on hands-on experiments, critical thinking, and real-world applications, our students develop a robust foundation in scientific inquiry that transcends disciplines and enriches everyday life. The curriculum emphasizes collaborative projects and lab-based investigations, fostering an environment where students engage deeply with the material and refine their problem-solving abilities. These experiences empower students to approach challenges with a scientific mindset, instilling the confidence to explore and critically assess the world around them.

Middle School Courses

• Life Science 7
• Physical Science 8

To be considered for the University of California, students must complete two units—equivalent to two years—of laboratory science are required; with three units being strongly recommended, providing fundamental knowledge in two of the following: biology, chemistry, or physics. All UC-approved courses are listed in bold below:

High School Courses

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Advanced Biology: Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Advanced Biology: Marine Biology
• Physics
• Environmental Science
• Computer Science
• Engineering Design
• Neuroscience
• Robotics

The Grauer School students have a wide choice of languages other than English to study, including: American Sign Language, French, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Additional, student-initiated foreign language clubs spring up from time to time, as well. Although two years of the same language is a University of California expectation, many Grauer students study world languages for three or even four years of high school.

Middle School Courses

• World Language Rotation: A seventh-grade rotation consisting of 9-weeks of American Sign Language, French, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish

High School Courses*

• American Sign Language: 1, 2 and 3
• French: 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Japanese: 1, 2 and 3
• Mandarin Chinese: 1, 2 and 3
• Spanish: 1, 2, 3 and 4

To be considered for the University of California, students must complete two units—equivalent to two years, or through the second level of high school instruction—of the same language other than English with three units recommended. LOTE levels are defined by the number of years of high school instruction (e.g. LOTE 1= 1 year; LOTE 2 = 2 years, etc.) All UC-approved courses are listed in bold above.

Grauer is a place of flourishing arts! Over 90% of our students are enrolled in at least one offering. Through our Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Department, students explore and develop their creativity, confidence, and expressive “voice." Through both sophisticated program options and close personal mentoring, students nurture creativity and skill. VPA students unleash their imaginations, express themselves freely, and reveal themselves through visual forms, dramatic arts, and music.

Many art students also perform in theatrical productions, manage advanced VPA technology, collaborate on set design, learn marketing, and/or integrate music with the school’s performances. There is something for everybody. Grauer graduates have understandably been admitted to some of the nation’s most renowned collegiate VPA programs.

To be considered for the University of California, students must complete one unit—equivalent to one year—chosen from one of the following categories: dance, music, theater, interdisciplinary arts, or visual arts. Two one-semester courses from the same discipline is also acceptable. All UC-approved courses are listed in bold below:

Courses

• Music (Performance)
• Music (Theory)
• Advanced Music
• Recording Arts
• Studio Art
• Advanced Studio Art/Portfolio Development
• Graphic Design
• Photography
• Theater Arts
• Advanced Theater Arts
• Film Studies

For more information about Visual & Performing Arts, click here

At Grauer, a healthy lifestyle is a primary goal. Students are required to take Physical Education (PE) during middle school. We require three years of PE for high school students, which is one more year than is required by the State of California. Fitness at Grauer incorporates extensive health instruction and a full garden/orchard-to-kitchen experience right on our “green” campus.

Physical Education Courses

• Physical Education
• Independent Physical Education (for students enrolled in a competitive outside sports program led by a certified coach or trainer)
• PE: Surf (high school only)
• PE: Tennis (middle school and high school)

For more information about Athletics, click here