Academic work is challenging, and students are encouraged to take pride in high quality work. Students have specialist teachers for science, music, art, woodshop, computers and a homeroom teacher for math, language arts, and social studies.
Social studies provides a theme for much of the work in language arts in the intermediate grades.
Fourth graders focus on California history, fifth graders study American history, and sixth graders delve into ancient civilizations. Core literature selections and research writing activities follow from the social studies curriculum. Sixth graders participate in a three-day outdoor program at Astrocamp in Idylwild. A series of long-term social studies projects and joint activities with the Junior High helps to prepare students for the transition to seventh grade. Traditions developed through the years at Berkeley Hall are important.