CV classes have two co-teachers. That means two full-time co-teachers, not a lead and an associate. We’re committed to providing small group, differentiated instruction to meet our students’ needs, and our teaching model allows us to do that.

We prepare students in a comprehensive way, including developing their executive function skills. These are critical skills that correlate with students’ success in school and life, skills like time management, organization, planning and prioritizing, and goal-directed persistence.

Academic rigor at CV is about challenging students cognitively and giving them opportunities to develop skills, resilience, and grit. Our small group differentiated instruction allows our teachers to challenge and support each student to maximize their growth and development.

Kids need to play. CV students have recess daily (our younger students enjoy it twice a day). It’s not just fun, it’s also an opportunity for students to work on cooperating, sharing, negotiating, and other interpersonal skills.

It’s important for students to have the skills to complete and be responsible for their own work, but in most schools, the amount of homework is excessive and unnecessary. CV students have an age-appropriate amount of homework that helps them develop independence and responsibility without interfering with your family life.

As important as earth, life, and physical science, computer science is an essential part of CV students’ experience in grades 3-8. Coding, programming, robotics, and digital citizenship are the foundation for our program.

Younger students serve in our school community by collecting recycling, distributing lunches, running the school store, and caring for our outdoor spaces.

Students experience a communicative approach that helps them acquire Spanish listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students also explore cultures through exposure to music, art, geography, and history.

We know CV students are going to take tests in high school, college, and beyond, so we help them become good test takers. We don’t create an unnecessary, high-stress testing environment; we help students learn good strategies for testing. We wait until third grade to start working on those skills.

Every Friday morning students and teachers in grades K-8 gather in the gym for a brief assembly. Students have a chance to practice public speaking skills as they highlight important moments from the week and acknowledge one another. Parents are always welcome to attend and many make time each week to connect with the community and see our student body in action.

Travel develops independence, flexibility, and an appreciation for new places (and home!). Field trips and overnight trips for older students create opportunities to learn and grow.

We want parents to be actively involved in and benefit from our community. We provide opportunities for you to be involved as much as you would like, but we understand that working parents may have limited availability. Opportunities are here as parents’ schedules permit, and we’re grateful for their time and talent.

We want you to know how your child is doing. We publish three extensive progress reports during the year, and you’ll also get a brief weekly progress update for your student.

Cliff Valley graduates go on to succeed at excellent independent and public schools. We take time and care with our 8th graders and their parents to make sure they consider all of their options and go on to the right school. See a list of schools.