Curriculum & Programs

Curriculum

As an Oakland public school, Peralta’s curriculum framework is based on state standards and district-wide core programs — which our talented and creative teachers adapt to the needs of their students. As an Alameda County Arts Anchor School, Peralta’s teachers and specialists strive to integrate the arts into all aspects of the curriculum. Peralta also pioneered Second Step, a social skills and conflict resolution program now required at all Oakland public schools.

Art

Art is woven throughout the curriculum at Peralta, we consider it the heart and soul of our school. It includes three main elements: weekly art instruction, after-school classes like the ongoing mural project with artist Jamie Morgan and the integrated school-wide Peralta Stewardship Project that cuts across the curriculum. We are lucky to have two grant-funded artists-in-residence, whose teaching goes far beyond paper, scissors and glue (though they use plenty of that, too!). 

Garden 

At Peralta, students learn about a broad range of environmental issues through hands-on, interconnected experiences. These include exploring solar energy through the school’s PG&E-supported photovoltaic panels; practicing waste reduction via the “Green Team” recycling and composting programs in the lunchroom; and learning about nutrition and healthy food systems. Together, these programs reinforce one another, helping students develop a strong sense of environmental stewardship. The school gardens are a fundamental part of the Peralta experience.

Students care for raised garden beds assigned to their classrooms, harvesting the produce and enjoying it themselves. Many discover that vegetables they might refuse at the dinner table taste far better when they’ve grown them with their own hands. Students also engage alongside their families during monthly garden work days, help water and maintain the gardens, and have played an active role in designing all of the school’s garden spaces. This involvement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, encouraging students to protect and nurture the gardens they helped create.

Enrichment

Every week, Peralta students benefit from a selection of enrichment programs— Art, Garden, Library, Physical Education, Technology, and Vocal Music—that support a well-rounded educational experience. While the school district provides some of these offerings, most are funded through the dedicated efforts of the Peralta Parent Teacher Group (PPTG), including fundraising and supplemental public and private grants. Peralta is also proud to partner with several Bay Area Arts organizations.

Garden Days

For the past 20 years, Peralta’s staff and families have worked together to transform the campus into a green oasis. Asphalt has given way to edible gardens, a small amphitheater, a kindergarten play space, and a California native garden. These spaces are more than beautiful—they are living classrooms where students learn about healthy eating, science, and caring for their community.

Once a month, Peralta families come together to tend the gardens—planting, weeding, pruning, or simply connecting with one another. These garden days strengthen our community and help students feel a sense of ownership and pride in their school. Our gardens have even been recognized as local and regional models.

Whether you can join us for the whole morning or just stop by briefly for a cup of coffee, you’re always welcome. Garden Day dates are listed on the Homepage calendar (grid view), with reminders shared through Konstella.

Check out the Garden Committee’s Instagram!