My City School Expansion
4th - 5th grade for the
2026 - 2027 School Year
Beginning in the 2026–27 academic year, My City School is expanding to include a 4th & 5th grade Lower School program at our Cabrillo St. location.
For more than 14 years, My City School has helped students with diverse learning needs build confidence, close skill gaps, and launch successfully into strong high school programs. Our track record reflects what we have always believed: when students receive the right support, they can achieve at high levels and thrive academically.
Fourth and fifth grade are a critical developmental window when students make major gains in reading comprehension (where they move from learning to read, ending in third grade), to reading to learn, writing organization, math reasoning, independence, and executive functioning. Providing the right support and embedding interventions during these years gives students the skills and confidence they need to enter middle school ready to thrive.
At My City School, we believe every student deserves access to grade-level content, regardless of their current reading, writing, or math level. Students should not be excluded from rich ideas, rigorous learning, or meaningful classroom experiences because they need remediation. Instead, they need skilled instruction that builds foundational skills while keeping them engaged in age-appropriate academics.
Our strengths-based, STEM program at My City School has been a standout example of this philosophy in action. Through inquiry-based learning, our four pillars of instruction, and embedded remediation within the classroom setting, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, academic resilience, and core skills simultaneously. The results of this accelerated learning model have been transformative for students who previously struggled in traditional environments, leaving MCS knowing what their strengths are and advocating for themselves. Additionally, over the last ten years, this approach has been successfully embedded into our Individualized Summer Program, where we serve younger and older students.
Both our Lower School and Middle School programs are designed as transition programs—providing targeted support, accelerated growth, and a clear pathway back to general education settings or into advanced academic environments when students are ready.
My City School exists to ensure that learning differences never define a student’s future. Curious to learn more about this Breakthrough School...contact us.
For more than 14 years, My City School has helped students with diverse learning needs build confidence, close skill gaps, and launch successfully into strong high school programs. Our track record reflects what we have always believed: when students receive the right support, they can achieve at high levels and thrive academically.
Fourth and fifth grade are a critical developmental window when students make major gains in reading comprehension (where they move from learning to read, ending in third grade), to reading to learn, writing organization, math reasoning, independence, and executive functioning. Providing the right support and embedding interventions during these years gives students the skills and confidence they need to enter middle school ready to thrive.
At My City School, we believe every student deserves access to grade-level content, regardless of their current reading, writing, or math level. Students should not be excluded from rich ideas, rigorous learning, or meaningful classroom experiences because they need remediation. Instead, they need skilled instruction that builds foundational skills while keeping them engaged in age-appropriate academics.
Our strengths-based, STEM program at My City School has been a standout example of this philosophy in action. Through inquiry-based learning, our four pillars of instruction, and embedded remediation within the classroom setting, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, academic resilience, and core skills simultaneously. The results of this accelerated learning model have been transformative for students who previously struggled in traditional environments, leaving MCS knowing what their strengths are and advocating for themselves. Additionally, over the last ten years, this approach has been successfully embedded into our Individualized Summer Program, where we serve younger and older students.
Both our Lower School and Middle School programs are designed as transition programs—providing targeted support, accelerated growth, and a clear pathway back to general education settings or into advanced academic environments when students are ready.
My City School exists to ensure that learning differences never define a student’s future. Curious to learn more about this Breakthrough School...contact us.
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Grades 4 - 5 Program Highlights
A foundation of community, where authentic understanding
and friendships are fostered
Learning that starts with discovery, hands-on, visuals,
and layers in verbal expression, and indivudalized output
Rigorous, grade-level access for all learners
Small class size with individualised support, and
Explicit instruction for foundations
STEM & Inquiry-Based Learning to develop and deepen critical thinking skills
Nature and the outdoors - an applied understanding of
Environmental Neuroscience
Executive Function, Visual Processing, gross and fine motor skill practice,
with brain-based embedded supports
and friendships are fostered
Learning that starts with discovery, hands-on, visuals,
and layers in verbal expression, and indivudalized output
Rigorous, grade-level access for all learners
Small class size with individualised support, and
Explicit instruction for foundations
STEM & Inquiry-Based Learning to develop and deepen critical thinking skills
Nature and the outdoors - an applied understanding of
Environmental Neuroscience
Executive Function, Visual Processing, gross and fine motor skill practice,
with brain-based embedded supports
About Our Academics:
Reading: Our 4th & 5th grade will have dedicated remediation 4x per week, M - TH. In addition, our English classes will also include Structured Word Inquiry, a structured literacy class, and writing.
Writing: We take time to focus on the foundations of sentence to paragraph writing, using descriptive language. Writing goals include opinion pieces, informative/explanatory texts, and narratives (real and imagined).
Math: Focuses on allowing students more time to develop number sense while stepping into foundational concepts that prepare them for middle school.
Science: 4th & 5th grade science helps students think and work like scientists through hands-on investigation, problem-solving, and real-world application. Students learn how to ask questions, design investigations, analyze evidence, and explain scientific phenomena. We cover the topics of Life, earth/space, physical sciences, and engineering design.
Social Studies: 4th grade Explores geography and combines California history, economy, and government. Students study how California developed from early Native societies to the modern state. 5th grade shifts to United States history from early Indigenous civilizations through the founding of the nation.
Gardening: Environmental neuroscience studies continue to show how important time in nature is for the developing brain, increasing attention, regulation, and cognitive uptake. Through regular play and exploration in Golden Gate Park, along with our bi-weekly gardening class, students will learn in environments that support both academic growth and overall well-being.
Art: Art explores multiple media, including perspective drawing, painting, watercolors, papier-mâché, abstract, and observational drawing to build both technical skill and creative confidence. Projects are designed to help students create artwork that tells a story, blending imagination with intentional composition and visual expression.
PE: Our 4th & 5th grade Physical Education program builds coordination, motor skills, movement knowledge, physical fitness, and social-emotional growth through engaging, developmentally aligned activities. Students learn how to participate confidently in games, practice good sportsmanship, show respect for one another, and experience the joy of teamwork and shared accomplishment. Through bilateral and cross-body movement, taekwondo, yoga, rock climbing, and more, students strengthen both body and mind while developing lifelong healthy habits.
Reading: Our 4th & 5th grade will have dedicated remediation 4x per week, M - TH. In addition, our English classes will also include Structured Word Inquiry, a structured literacy class, and writing.
Writing: We take time to focus on the foundations of sentence to paragraph writing, using descriptive language. Writing goals include opinion pieces, informative/explanatory texts, and narratives (real and imagined).
Math: Focuses on allowing students more time to develop number sense while stepping into foundational concepts that prepare them for middle school.
Science: 4th & 5th grade science helps students think and work like scientists through hands-on investigation, problem-solving, and real-world application. Students learn how to ask questions, design investigations, analyze evidence, and explain scientific phenomena. We cover the topics of Life, earth/space, physical sciences, and engineering design.
Social Studies: 4th grade Explores geography and combines California history, economy, and government. Students study how California developed from early Native societies to the modern state. 5th grade shifts to United States history from early Indigenous civilizations through the founding of the nation.
Gardening: Environmental neuroscience studies continue to show how important time in nature is for the developing brain, increasing attention, regulation, and cognitive uptake. Through regular play and exploration in Golden Gate Park, along with our bi-weekly gardening class, students will learn in environments that support both academic growth and overall well-being.
Art: Art explores multiple media, including perspective drawing, painting, watercolors, papier-mâché, abstract, and observational drawing to build both technical skill and creative confidence. Projects are designed to help students create artwork that tells a story, blending imagination with intentional composition and visual expression.
PE: Our 4th & 5th grade Physical Education program builds coordination, motor skills, movement knowledge, physical fitness, and social-emotional growth through engaging, developmentally aligned activities. Students learn how to participate confidently in games, practice good sportsmanship, show respect for one another, and experience the joy of teamwork and shared accomplishment. Through bilateral and cross-body movement, taekwondo, yoga, rock climbing, and more, students strengthen both body and mind while developing lifelong healthy habits.
A 5th Grade Parent Review:
"Our 5th grader started at the MCS summer tutoring program. During each week of tutoring, he became more confident in reading and math, as well as feeling happier and more at ease in general. This transformation extended beyond the classroom and into his worldview. In the span of 4 weeks, he went from resisting school to talking about what he might want to be “when he grew up,” and contemplating what college he might want to attend, and making friends.
Throughout the year, we have watched him relax into all aspects of the learning environment at MCS. He has tapped into his love of learning as he learns to use the tools offered at school. His reading, writing, creativity, math, executive function, and critical thinking have all noticeably improved. He can advocate for himself so that he can spend more time learning and less time worrying about if he is doing “it right”.
The combination of the small teacher-to-student ratio, the emphasis on students finding their “superpowers”, the extensive scaffolding in the learning, and the thorough communication between teachers and parents has been a fantastic experience and has made a meaningful positive impact on our entire family."
"Our 5th grader started at the MCS summer tutoring program. During each week of tutoring, he became more confident in reading and math, as well as feeling happier and more at ease in general. This transformation extended beyond the classroom and into his worldview. In the span of 4 weeks, he went from resisting school to talking about what he might want to be “when he grew up,” and contemplating what college he might want to attend, and making friends.
Throughout the year, we have watched him relax into all aspects of the learning environment at MCS. He has tapped into his love of learning as he learns to use the tools offered at school. His reading, writing, creativity, math, executive function, and critical thinking have all noticeably improved. He can advocate for himself so that he can spend more time learning and less time worrying about if he is doing “it right”.
The combination of the small teacher-to-student ratio, the emphasis on students finding their “superpowers”, the extensive scaffolding in the learning, and the thorough communication between teachers and parents has been a fantastic experience and has made a meaningful positive impact on our entire family."
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4-5th Grade Location:
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We are currently offering rolling admissions for the 2026 -2027 school year. Contact us today to help give your child the right steps to prepare for middle school.