Academics at Orinda Academy

We know that the best learning begins with a safe environment where students feel seen, respected, and valued for their individual perspectives and talents.

Keeping our enrollment size small fosters an inclusive community where students can develop strong relationships with their peers and their teachers. Here, they are known and appreciated as a whole person, not just a classmate or student.

Strong student-teacher relationships help students take risks both academically and socially, and can lead to greater social-emotional development. We encourage students to collaborate with their peers, understand and advocate for themselves as learners, and cultivate both their creative and critical thinking skills.

 

Students studying Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” on an outing with English teacher, Peter Hicks, to see the 2025 film of the same name. This created an opportunity for a lively discussion and debate afterwards.

Students in Charlie Cottril’s geometry class experiment with how geometry can be used for real-world building and problem solving.

 

We understand that each student learns differently.

With small class sizes and a dedicated team of educators, Orinda Academy fosters a supportive atmosphere where students with diverse learning styles feel valued and empowered to overcome obstacles. 

Our dedicated support staff,—including our Director of Student Services, Learning Specialist, and Emotional Wellness Counselor—work together to help every student succeed and, when indicated, create learning support plans that accommodate different learning styles.

This personalized attention provides for academic growth, strong student-teacher relationships, and emotional well-being for our students.

We believe that learning:

  • can challenge and inspire

  • can happen anywhere and everywhere

  • should not be “one size fits all”

  • should be accessible to all learners, including gifted, neurodiverse, and twice-exceptional students

We commit to:

  • building community, knowing it is essential to emotional and academic growth

  • valuing input from our families to create lasting partnerships

  • setting our students on a path for lifelong learning

Orinda Academy’s experienced faculty are dedicated to helping OA students thrive inside and outside of the classroom.

With a 7:1 student-teacher ratio, OA teachers are able to form deep connections with their students. Core class sizes range from 5 - 13 students, allowing teachers to take a personalized approach to each student’s learning.

Course offerings at Orinda Academy

  • The following are offered at OA:

    • 8th grade Humanities

    • *World History, including Honors

    • *U.S. History, including Honors

    • Economics

    • Civics

    *indicates required courses for graduation

  • Courses offered:

    • 8th grade English

    • *English I

    • *English II, including Honors

    • *English III, including Honors

    • American Literature, including Honors

    • *Advanced Composition, including Honors

    • Writing as Craft

    • Modern Communication

    *indicates required courses for graduation

  • Three years of math is required for graduation. Orinda Academy offers:

    • *Algebra I

    • *Geometry, including Honors

    • *Algebra II

    • Pre-calculus, including Honors

    • Calculus, including Honors and AP

    • Statistics

    *indicates required courses for graduation

  • Two years of lab science are required for graduation. The following are offered at OA:

    • 8th grade Environmental Science

    • Conceptual Physics

    • Biology, including Honors

    • Chemistry, including Honors

    • Anatomy and Physiology

    • Physics, including Honors

    • Forensic Science

    • Astronomy

  • Two years in a single concentration is required for graduation. Orinda Academy offers:

    • Spanish I

    • Spanish II

    • Spanish III, including Honors

    • Spanish IV, including Honors

    • American Sign Language, levels I - IV

    • Mandarin I & II

  • One full year of a VPA course is required for graduation. Courses offered:

    • Music History

    • Music Composition

    • Music Performance

    • Stage Band

    • Audio Engineering

    • Cinema Arts (filmmaking)

    • Fashion and Costume Design

    • Digital Photography

    • *Landscape, Nature, and Travel Photography

    • Digital Illustration

    • Animation

    • Introduction to Art Methods

    • Studio Art

    • Art Practice Studio Intensive

    *indicates the class is only available during the summer.

  • The following courses are offered as UC “G” electives:

    • Computer Science

    • Freshman Seminar

    • Senior Seminar

    • College Advising