Academics
Academy Schools serves elementary, middle, and high school students with a diverse range of learning profiles, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, OCD, sensory processing issues, and more.
Academic Approach
Academy Schools is built to serve our students’ needs, while maintaining rigorous academic standards. Our staff build their curricula to not only teach students academic essentials, but also Habits of the Mind, executive functioning, and transferable skills that prepare our students for the future.
We broach our curriculum design with a simple but powerful set of questions:
- What do we want this child to learn?
- How does this child learn best?
- What tools, strategies, relationships, and supports will help this child succeed?
- How can we partner with families to make that success possible?
Genius Hour
Students have two 30-minute blocks during the week to work on a passion project with the goals of presenting to class and bringing change to their community.
“Walk-to” Subjects
Classes for reading and math break out of strict grade level lines, and students are placed in the class that best reflects their strengths and areas of growth.
Specialist Classes
Students choose between electives such as drama, art, journalism, and coding, along with PE and psychology classes for physical and social-emotional learning.
Self-Regulation
Students learn best when they feel safe. Academy Schools keeps an emphasis on teaching executive functioning skills and providing access to a variety of support systems for self-regulation.
Family Collaboration
We work with our families and your ABA, OT, IEP, or other support systems to ensure we are working in conjunction with students’ current developmental plans.
Accessible Curricula
The school does not lower expectations for students. Instead, teachers change the conditions, remove unnecessary barriers, and provide the support students need to engage in challenging, standards-based learning.
Student Support Systems
Students’ emotional well-being, self-regulation skills and safety are extremely important to Academy Schools. We offer a number of support systems and work with students to find what works for them, including:
- Unscheduled class breaks: Students are welcome to excuse themselves from class for breaks as needed
- Sensory support items: Tactile fidgets, oral sensory chews, noise-reducing ear muffs, and other items are available and encouraged
- Galaxy Room: A sensory-friendly room for students to relax and regulate in peace.
- Canine Cuddle Coordinator: Ellie Hobbs is Academy Schools’ resident dog who is often at school and available for cuddles, reading sessions, and walks along school property.
Monthly Field Trips
Field trips offer invaluable hands-on educational experiences, exposure to new interests and potential career paths, practice navigating new spaces and social situations, and more. We aim to offer one field trip a month for all students. We are grateful for our community neighbors who have partnered with and hosted our school.
Our students have visited:
- Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
- The Museum of Flight
- Bellevue College
- Seattle Asian Art Museum
- Seahurst Park
- Highline Performing Arts Center
- And so much more…
“Small classes, guided by excellent teachers, help children to develop a sense of wonder about the world around them. Children who attend [Academy Schools] become life long learners who strive to find their own gifts, encouraged by teachers who nurture self discovery and excellence.”
– B.W., Parent