Who Is a Good Fit?

The Academic Orchard is a college-readiness focused academic program designed for students who thrive in a high-trust, creative and collaborative environment.

A Good Fit

Students who are a good fit for The Academic Orchard generally:

  • Are ready for rigorous academic work and meaningful challenge

  • Can participate safely and appropriately in a small-group environment

  • Can follow classroom expectations with typical teacher support

  • Are curious, engaged, and willing to learn

  • Are willing to build independence and take increasing responsibility for their education

  • Respond well to a high-trust environment where freedom and responsibility go together

  • Benefit from the integration of Montessori materials, manipulatives, models, intentional technology, hands-on learning, and field experiences

  • Can learn through a combination of direct instruction, exploration, discussion, and application

  • Maintain at least 90% attendance

  • Consistently complete at least 75% of assigned work

Our teachers provide instruction to the group and support students within the classroom, but we do not provide individualized instruction, 1:1 academic support, or dedicated aides. Students who require that level of support are not a good fit for our program.

At times, students may also be required to participate in outside tutoring or additional academic support when they are not keeping pace with course expectations.

Not the Right Fit

The Academic Orchard is not the right fit for students who:

  • Require intensive behavioral intervention or therapeutic support

  • Require a dedicated aide or continuous 1:1 academic support

  • Require individualized instruction in order to access the curriculum

  • Consistently struggle to participate safely or appropriately in a group environment

  • Are unable to meet our academic participation expectations

  • Need a highly structured, teacher-directed environment throughout the school day

Regular attendance and academic participation are essential to our model. Students who fall below 90% attendance or 75% work completion will enter our established discipline process, as will students who do not meet our behavioral and community expectations. This process can ultimately result in dismissal.

Our goal is to avoid reaching that point whenever possible. We want to identify fit before enrollment, which is why our admissions process includes an extensive student and parent interview, and we strongly prefer a shadow day before enrollment.

The goal is to make sure each student and family understands our model and that The Academic Orchard is the right environment for the student to succeed.