Martin Luther King Middle School
Jason Lustig, Principal
Agatha Greeley, School Secretary
1781 Rose Street
Berkeley, CA 94703
Phone: (510) 644-6280
John Alford-Leaks, Coordinator
Berkeley LEARNS After School Program
Phone: (510) 883-6511
- King PTA
- School Accountability Report Cards 2007-08 - Spanish version is available
- School Accountability Report Card 2006-07
- API Report
- STAR Results
- Facilities
School Information
"King school is truly flourishing, and in so many ways!" A King teacher pauses as she and her students harvest kale and lettuce in King's nationally renowned Edible Schoolyard. The project, inspired by Chez Panisse founder Alice Waters, began at King in 1996.
Now King students work with a Schoolyard staff that includes a gardener, administrator and chef. In the two-acre garden students study plant cultivation as a science and learn to regard the earth as a friend. A new dining commons, planned for completion in fall 2005, will further enhance the idea that nutrition and health are important aspects of the education of every student.
Principal Jason Lustig believes that teachers are the reason behind King's success. "This school has an exceptional group of teachers who have worked together to receive major state grants in English, math, science, environmental education, and technology," says the Principal. "I can't tell you how much time they have spent reviewing and developing curriculum, and evaluating school programs to make them better. These are teachers who choose to work with this age group. There is real commitment here."
That commitment shows in the high academic standards and equally high teacher morale. Teachers challenge their students with rigorous, creative and relevant projects throughout the year.
Teaching literacy skills is an important part of the middle school curriculum. An innovative program helps students gain writing experience. The Writer's Room project pairs students with specially-trained community volunteers. Writer's Room volunteers guide the students through the steps of organizing, composing, revising, and proofreading a composition.
Children who arrive in Berkeley from another country are placed at King for middle school. Principal Lustig notes, "A really effective ELL program awaits those students at King." His instructional team is focusing on optimizing limited resources so that all students have optimum access to support.
There are a variety of extracurricular activities as well. The Extended Day Program includes intramural and competitive sports, theatre activities, photography, an African-American Alliance organization, dance classes, an Outdoor Adventure Club, video classes, Girl Talk, Homework Club, and other activities.
The spacious King campus provides ample room for student activity. A baseball field and quarter-mile track are on campus, as well as the Edible Schoolyard. A sense of welcome greets visitors and students as they enter the school, past the striking student murals and breathtaking mass of flowers that fill the courtyard garden. The message resonates in the vibrant colors: King is a great place to be.