Magnet Cluster Program

A Magnet Cluster School is a neighborhood school with a special curricular focus. Teachers in a Magnet Cluster School are innovators, thoughtfully weaving the curricular focus areas into classroom instruction. We began our journey as a Literature and Writing school and later added our current designation as a Technology Magnet Cluster School. All three focus areas are at the heart of the Burley learning experience and are strategically integrated into all grade levels and subjects. The Magnet Cluster Program has helped us develop a unique instructional identity and core classroom practices that make Burley a joyful, enriching place to learn and grow.

Three Strands of our Magnet Cluster Program

Literature

Burley students are readers, and books and classroom libraries are part of our school's identity. Our students develop rich reading lives and read widely across genres, completing many full books every year both independently and in book clubs. Our readers find joy, empathy, meaning, and understanding through diverse, high quality literature.

Writing

Doing the work of real writers strengthens our students' voices, skills, stamina, and confidence. Writing is integrated throughout the learning day and also taught as a standalone subject to focus on the craft and conventions of multiple genres. Students publish and share original work with peers, families, and the school community.

Technology

Technology extends, amplifies, and transforms instruction. Students create a wide range of media, collaborate with others, and present their learning in authentic, creative ways. Technology does not replace literature as the heart of our curriculum; rather, it offers students a new set of tools with which they can explore new ideas -- and express their own.