The 6–8 curriculum builds upon the foundation established in the Lower School, allowing students greater independence. Students move from a single-teacher classroom structure to a multi-classroom, multi-teacher model and join an advisory with a dedicated faculty advisor and a small group of their peers (who stay together throughout their Middle School journey). Our substantive elective program includes classes such as Debate, Robotics, and Dance. Passionate teachers build skill-developing curriculum around emerging technology, current world issues, and even pop culture. Electives are sometimes taught on the Lafayette campus by Upper School teachers, allowing Middle-Schoolers an enriching and unique academic experience.

Additional hallmark features of our Middle School program include:

Maker Space
Working closely with our Technology Integration Specialist, Middle-Schoolers are able to make the most of our indoor/outdoor Maker Space on the Hiller campus, located next to the Hiller Garden with plenty of room for spreading out to develop and test their own creative ideas. With 3–D printers or even just simple cardboard and dowels, students realize that they have problem-solving skills and design capabilities that can make a real-world impact.

Outdoor Education
Cultivating a deep sense of appreciation for the natural world is a major component of Bentley's Middle School program and strongly connected to our curricular focus on wellness, with students making consistent and intentional trips to breathtaking parks and preserves around California during their Middle School tenure. One of the most beloved camping experiences among Bentley Middle-Schoolers' are the annual May trips to Salt Point State Park (6th grade), Calaveras Big Trees State Park (7th grade), and River Ranch Campground (8th grade). These experiences give our students to relax, connect with one another, and celebrate another year together.

Learning Support Services
The Learning Support Services team helps students do their best learning as they develop the confidence to plan, organize, self-advocate, and match tools and techniques with their individual learning styles, strengths, and challenges. As a result, students are able to demonstrate their knowledge of academic material at a developmentally appropriate level. Additionally, the Learning Support Services team aids teachers in their understanding of research-based teaching strategies and learning accommodations.