On any given day when you walk through Innovations Academy, a tuition-free K-8 public school in San Diego, you’ll hear the sounds of learning and joy in our halls and classrooms: spirited debates and discussions, laughter among friends, and conversations between students and teachers. You’ll see a community of teachers and learners engaged in active thinking, creating and doing. You’ll undoubtedly notice our structured and engaging middle school environment.
At Innovations Academy, we believe that middle school is more than just a pitstop on the road to adulthood. We see our students thrive with meaningful learning, clear boundaries, exciting opportunities and the space to become the amazing individuals they are meant to be.
Small & Student-Centered
Our intentionally small school is the foundation for one-to-one connection and powerful student support. Students and teachers build trusted relationships that promote positive character and academic growth. We set high, but achievable, expectations for behavior, while also using positive discipline and compassionate guidance when a misstep occurs.
Teachers and staff at Innovations Academy nurture open communication with families about student progress. Our top priority is communicating with parents about how their student is growing. Innovations Academy middle schoolers know they have multiple trusted and caring adults in their corner, cheering them on and guiding them when they need a hand.
Our high academic standards and elective programs support students to find their passions, nurture their strengths and challenge them to try new things. Our curriculum is authentic and relevant, and meets or exceeds California Learning Standards. We prepare our students for their best future with strong STEM classes, arts, Spanish, nature-based studies, and community connections throughout San Diego. We help students find positive ways to express themselves and show the world just how great they are.
Innovations Academy’s student-centered academic program ensures that students receive the instruction needed in core subject areas while also being introduced to abstract problem solving, critical thinking, and organizational skills. 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students at Innovations Academy also enjoy our 2D, 3D and performing arts programs that develop creativity and self-expression through movie making, documentary filming, website design, vlogging, painting, drawing, sculpture,, graphic design, ceramics, debate, reader’s theater, theater production, improvisation and more.
Off Campus Explorations
Field trips are a big part of our middle school tradition at Innovations Academy. A good field trip provides students with firsthand experiences related to the lesson or subject being discussed in class. They provide unique learning opportunities not available within the four walls of a classroom. Given our small and nimble size, it’s easy to take students out into the community to further their studies. 8th graders study astronomy as part of their academic curriculum and spend a night in the desert studying the stars. 6th graders go on a three-day camp and also visit businesses around the neighborhood. In the recent past, we’ve been on a thermal engineering field trip to USS Midway, a Civil War reenactment, the Holocaust museum in Los Angeles, Knott’s Berry Farm, Safari Park, and Finance Park, where students try their hand at finance jobs.
Our 8th graders make the ultimate field trip and visit high schools so they know what to expect as part of our preparation for this big transition. We also have high schools come here and give presentations so students know they have options for their next four years.
Joyful Learning & Community
We enrich the middle school experience with opportunities for leadership and self-expression via clubs, electives, athletics, and planning our school-wide Valentine’s Day Extravaganza. Middle school students can use our campus cafe as a place to independently study, make elaborate heart decorations, and indulge in cafe culture– something very popular for our 6th, 7th and 8th graders.
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is at the heart of everything we do at Innovations Academy and it’s especially important in middle school when everyone is figuring out who they are and the many changes they are experiencing. While we stress high academic excellence, we believe it’s vital to help students develop skills like social awareness, personal responsibility, regulation of emotions, and self-awareness early so they can use these ideas as they grow. SEL works in tandem with our hands-on learning approach which requires students to research, collaborate, use a problem-solving approach and create solutions.
Twice a week middle school students work together on team-building activities, and another couple days are spent discussing SEL topics. 6th, 7th, and 8th graders also have Friday Seminars that could be cooking, short film studies, mentoring younger students, sports-related activities, wood carving, candle dipping, beaded keychains, and strategy board games.
At Innovations Academy, we love the exponential growth that happens in middle school. We give students the space to explore and learn. Join our tuition-free public school and find out what our structured and joyful community can do for your middle schooler. Enrolling now for Fall 2025!
About Innovations Academy:
Innovations Academy is a tuition-free public charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in San Diego, California. Our small school values a hands-on, inquiry-based education with high academic standards using self-expression, compassionate connection, and purposeful learning. Our new modern campus is intentionally designed with curiosity and exploration in mind. Join our innovative school today!