Officials from the Sixth Grade Academy on the campus of Petaluma Junior High School will host an open house for potential students and their families at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 15.

The school, which is housed primarily in two science classrooms on the Bantam Way campus, currently has 59 students in its first year of operation, according to Principal John Lehman.

The school has a particular focus on technology and each student is given an iPad to use during the school year.

About 50 percent of the students come from Petaluma City Schools and the other half come from outside of the district, he said.

Students at the academy share break, lunch and other activities with the seventh and eighth graders on campus, but the bulk of their academics are taught by two teachers. Students do have access to advanced classes, such as math, typically offered to seventh and eighth graders, Lehman said.

The information night will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room on campus, 700 Bantam Way.