School profile

Hidden Valley MS

Hidden Valley Middle School's learner centered redesign journey began in 2024 through the launch of a microschool, with the support of Learner-Centered Collaborative.

Grades 6–8Escondido, CaliforniaLeaders of Escondido

How Hidden Valley redesigned

A school designed around voice and choice.

Hidden Valley's Microschool became an innovation hub — testing student-centered practices in packs before scaling them school-wide.

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The context

School Redesign Story

Hidden Valley Middle School's learner centered redesign journey began in 2024 through the launch of a microschool, with the support of Learner-Centered Collaborative. What began as a microschool has now grown into a schoolwide approach to learning for all students in grades 6 through 8. Through Advisory, Wellness, authentic learning, student goal setting, reflection, and shared leadership, learner centered practices are intentionally embedded across the Hidden Valley experience. Students are empowered to understand themselves as learners, take ownership of their academic and personal growth, build meaningful relationships, and connect their learning to their future. At Hidden Valley, redesign is no longer something we are working to scale. It is how we do school.

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Hidden Valley Middle School

00 / Design element

Clear Identity

Hidden Valley Middle School (HVMS) is a collaborative and empowering learning community built on belonging, innovation, and shared leadership. Our vision comes to life through a schoolwide commitment to personalized, authentic, competency based, and equitable learning. Students and adults share ownership of our community, united by the belief that Every Panther Learns, Leads, and Belongs.

01 / Design element

Small Learning Communities

Every student in grades 6 through 8 participates in Advisory and Wellness, creating consistent opportunities for connection, belonging, goal setting, and reflection. Students explore their strengths and interests through RIASEC and, every six weeks, develop academic and social emotional SMART goals with their Wellness teacher. Regular check-ins with teachers and our support team of counselors and MTSS help students monitor their progress and ensure that every Panther is known, supported, and growing.

“Each day begins and ends with connection.”
“Each day begins and ends with connection.”
A Hidden Valley Middle School student giving a thumbs up next to a chemical reaction demonstration poster

02 / Design element

Real-World Learning

At HVMS, students engage in authentic learning experiences that connect academic content to meaningful questions, real world problems, future pathways, and our community. Through inquiry-based thematic units with cross-curricular Project-Based Learning units , career exploration, and authentic audiences, students apply their learning while developing the critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem solving skills they will need beyond the classroom.

03 / Design element

Performance Assessment of Whole-Learner Outcomes

Students curate portfolios throughout the year that include learning artifacts, reflections, SMART goal progress, and evidence connected to the EUSD Learner Profile. Their six week academic and social emotional goal cycles provide ongoing opportunities to reflect on growth and identify next steps. Students use this evidence in presentations and end of year experiences to communicate who they are as learners, how they have grown, and where they are going next.

The EUSD Learner Profile wheel: Empowered Learner, Empathetic Collaborator, Ethical Scholar, Effective Communicator, Critical Thinker, and Creative Problem Solver

04 / Design element

Teacher Collaboration

HVMS educators collaborate across grade levels and content areas to create connected, engaging learning experiences for students. Through dedicated collaboration and planning, teachers examine student evidence, develop common learning experiences, strengthen instructional practice, and connect academic learning with Advisory, Wellness, portfolios, and schoolwide priorities. This shared responsibility ensures that learning remains cohesive and centered on the whole learner.

“Through distributed leadership, teachers, students, and families co-create a culture of voice, choice, and purpose.”
“Through distributed leadership, teachers, students, and families co-create a culture of voice, choice, and purpose.”
A Hidden Valley Middle School student reviewing her digital portfolio on a tablet

05 / Design element

Distributed Leadership

Leadership is a shared practice at HVMS. Students develop voice, ownership, and leadership through Advisory, Wellness, WEB ("Where Everybody Belongs" mentorship program pairing 8th and incoming 6th graders), authentic learning experiences, presentations, and opportunities to contribute to their school community. Teachers and staff also lead through collaborative teams, shared decision making, and schoolwide improvement. Together, students and adults create a culture where everyone has both the opportunity and responsibility to lead.

More Resources

Continue exploring the ideas and examples behind this structure.

Hidden Valley Middle SchoolEUSD Learner Profile