Prior to being an elementary, middle and high school, the building in which HTMMA is located in used to be a communication learning facility. It is located in Liberty Station, an old Naval Training Center, now filled with high schools, restaurants, and stores. High Tech Middle Media Arts was built about five years after the original High Tech High.
Overview
High Tech Middle Media arts is one if the four middle schools in the High Tech High system. It is located on the second floor of the HTHMA building. It is connected to Explorer Elementary, and above it is High Tech High Media Arts. Project based learning is the foundation for its curriculum. HTMMA has implemented the High Tech High designing principles into its curriculum. The school serves approximately 330 students with about 16 teachers.
Design principles
This schools design principles are based on four design principles: - Personalization: High Tech Middle Media Arts and other high tech high schools teachers know their students. They connect to students and are committed to a way of teaching that challenges and supports each student. The projects that students partake in at this school help them pursue their passions and the projects also help them reflect on their growth and learning. The schools provide Advisory where a faculty member will meet with groups of students to discuss future plans for school, grades, schoolwork, progress and build communities. - Adult World Connection: At HTMMA they connect with the world beyond our school and homes. HTMMA does this through Internships, field studies, community service, intersession week and projects. Projects here are exhibited often and commonly exhibited at professional places and venues. There are internships where a student will undergo an internship for a workplace of their choosing and will create a project that will benefit and contribute to their learning and workplace. - Common Intellectual Mission: All High Tech High schools are diverse. The school uses a non-selective zip code based lottery for enrollment. - Teacher As Designer: High Tech High Village teachers help create and design curriculums and programs at schools. They have interdisciplinary teams which means two different researchers or teachers combine their disciplines into one. They do this in order to design the course they will teach. During staff meetings they get together and find solutions to school issues. They help in and design what happens around the school.
Intersession
At HTMMA, there is a program called Intersession. A two-week course that offers many different opportunities for students and teachers. Teachers engage students in a topic that they are passionate about. This can include, but is not limited to, international trips, traveling, drama, service learning, art, sports, dance, photography and so much more!
