Financial Aid and Scholarships are available for the 2024-25 school year.
Day School for Boys Grades 3-8
Academic rigor pairs with music studies to give boys a whole-brain education — and we channel boy energy into a force for excellence!
PBA’s academic curriculum includes math, science, history, English, Spanish, humanities, art, creative writing and physical education. Our special units for 2023-24 include Climate Science, Economics and Game Theory.
Our student-teacher ratio is 1:6 per cohort, with classes capped at 12 students per grade. Individual attention allows each boy to reach his full academic potential.
Our boys graduate to top Bay Area high schools — they are distinguished by their accomplishments and life experience gained at PBA.
Boy Learning Extends Beyond Pencil and Paper
Grow intellectual curiosity outside the classroom! To fit the strengths and needs of boys, we provide hands-on projects, group work and creative activities that enhance classroom learning and reinforce teamwork.
Day School Music Education
PBA is more than learning to sing! With 15 hours of weekly music instruction, our day school boys master vocal technique, music theory and performance skills. We study the structure and history for a wide scope of musical traditions. Most importantly, boys graduate from PBA with a lifelong familiarity and appreciation for music.
Expert music instructors at Pacific Boychoir Academy are recognized leaders in vocal pedagogy and childhood education. With specific mentorship for each chorister, we will teach your boy what he needs to know!
Our proprietary music theory curriculum develops skilled musicianship. Boys develop memory for rhythmic and harmonic patterns. They become fluent readers of notated music and develop advanced sight-reading skills.
Our Philosophy
We reach significant milestones together.
We believe that boys are capable of much more than is assumed possible for their age. They are eager for real-world accomplishment and opportunities to grow. We inspire them by providing challenging but achievable goals.
Their response to our approach is life-changing. Their middle school years turn into a period of high purpose. They pursue academics seriously. They mature personally. We develop confident, engaged young men who are capable of achieving extraordinary outcomes.
Exceptional Opportunities For Growth
- Performance Collaborations with professional powerhouses.
- Domestic and International Tours – travel experiences that inform not only their view of the world but that of themselves as competent, confident, global citizens.
- Performance opportunities on the world stage- at professional sporting events, community & government events
- Studio and Commercial recording opportunities
- Retreats and Camps
A Reputation For Excellence
Pacific Boychoir Academy has developed a reputation for excellence in performance and education. PBA does not aim to prepare boys to be professional musicians, though their training will set them well on their way should they choose that path. Rather, PBA’s success with singing helps teach the same qualities one looks for in an academic setting:
- Realization of each boy’s potential
- Cultivation of responsibility & teamwork
- Developing the mind & body
- The value of commitment
These are the things that a boy learns as part of a professional choir. The integration of musical and academic achievement gives each boy a complete education he cannot get anywhere else.
Diversity
PBA boys value diversity and difference. We are not affiliated with any church, ethnic group, or specific geographic area. We seek out boys of all ethnic, economic, and geographic backgrounds. PBA is a diverse place with students from different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Boys learn from each other and prepare for lives in an increasingly diverse and global society.
Faculty
Faculty members offer boys the encouragement, creativity, inspiration, and one-on-one attention they need. In addition to a best-for-boys learning approach, students at PBA receive guidance and mentoring at a crucial point in their education.
Academic Curriculum
Integrating Music Education with Elementary and Middle School
The Pacific Boychoir offers English Language Arts, History, Math, Science, Spanish, Art, and Physical Education alongside a comprehensive music program.
Humanities
Our English Language Arts and History courses leverage the Great Minds curriculum to inspire student dialogue, life-long readers, and deep understanding. Wit & Wisdom® is a comprehensive English language arts curriculum crafted to help students build the knowledge and skills they need to be confident readers, exceptional writers, and effective communicators.
Students engage with complex, grade-level books, from the classics to newer works of literature. These texts are used at every turn to help students master essential ELA and social studies skills. Students dig deep into each module’s theme, exploring literacy, informational, historical, and fine arts genres to create layers of knowledge that they will build on across lessons. Students learn cause and effect, power and structure, government and war, land and geography, and chronological timelines as parts of history and society. Primary and secondary sources are used to dive into perspective and interpretation of historical experience. Students also explore point of view and question what makes a source reliable. Students learn to express their own ideas clearly, distinctly, and confidently. The teaching curriculum integrates the Common Core State Standards for Literacy.
Math
At Pacific Boychoir Academy our objective is to support the development of our students, so that they understand the why as well as the how. We utilize the Great Minds math program designed to ensure that students move beyond rote memorization to build enduring math knowledge through the intentional integration of digital resources and a focused approach to encouraging student discourse.
Eureka Math²™ includes consistent math models, rigor to support the productive struggle, and coherence across lessons, modules, and grades. The curriculum includes a high level of flexibility, accessibility, and visibility into student understanding to make math instruction exponentially more teachable and engaging. The program is designed to help students establish a foundational understanding of mathematics (the why) rather than only relying on procedural skills (the how), to better prepare them for high school, college, and beyond. Teachers and parents will see students strengthening reasoning and critical-thinking skills that students can apply to solve real-world problems and ready to master high school level math. The teaching curriculum integrates the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.
Science
Pacific Boychoir Academy’s science curriculum aims to inspire intellectual curiosity while teaching the scientific method through hands-on laboratory experiences and project-based learning. Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) are the key ideas in science that have broad importance within and across multiple science and engineering disciplines. These core ideas build on each other as students progress through grade levels and span into the following four domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering, Technology, and Applied Science (ETS).
Students receive theoretical knowledge alongside hands-on experience that leans on an inquiry-based approach. Energy, climate change, and environment play a role in our scientific studies school wide. Ethics and society’s role in science are integral aspects of the curriculum. Students and teachers work collaboratively in our Living Lab, as they develop their curiosity and experiences as scientists. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are integrated within the curriculum.
Spanish
At Pacific Boychoir Academy, Spanish language learning begins in third grade and continues through middle school. During the elementary years at PBA, the Spanish courses are immersion-based with aims to engage students in the learning process through the use of stories, songs, and art. By immersing themselves in the language and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries, students will develop a love for learning Spanish and gain confidence in their language acquisition skills.
The objectives of the course are to foster a love for learning Spanish and to build confidence in language acquisition skills. In middle school, the Spanish courses are designed to teach speaking, reading, and writing of Spanish. They also expand the student’s understanding of the culture and experiences of Spanish-speaking communities. Grammar lessons and vocabulary development are integrated into daily lessons. PBA students often place into Spanish II when they get to high school. This teaching curriculum supports the World Languages Framework and content standards.
Art
Art at Pacific Boychoir Academy focuses on various materials and art forms that students learn and practice, as well as art history. Throughout the year, students learn about the lives, work, inspiration, and artistic contributions of famous masters and modern working artists. After learning about these influential artists students are responsible for art projects inspired by their work. Students explore the relations between their own art creation practice and those of historical significance.
Additionally, students practice mindfulness with art by doing short projects intended to help students focus their minds, find peace and relaxation, and center themselves through art. During these art mindfulness activities, students are encouraged to focus on the process instead of the end product. Value and importance is placed on the experience of creating and the moment of creation. The art classroom is a place to explore, discover, collaborate, convert mistakes into purpose, and learn to present one’s work. The art curriculum integrates the California Arts Standards for Visual Arts.
Physical Education
Physical education (PE) at Pacific Boychoir Academy is designed to guide our students into being a physically active person for their lifetimes. Students participate in both individualized instruction and cooperative learning opportunities in regards to active games, sports, exercise, stretches, and healthy habits. PBA students focus on social emotional development during PE by practicing expression, clear communication, respect and sportsmanship, and celebration of oneself and the team.
By following all the proper procedures, instructions and expectations, students will be able to participate effectively as positive team players, critical and independent thinkers, problem-solvers and active life-long learners. The PE curriculum integrates the California Physical Education Framework Standards.