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EXPLORE ACADEMY

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Explore Academy

One student, infinite possibilities

- Explore Academy schools are independently governed, college preparatory, tuition-free, public charter schools -

Choice-Based Learning

Each course is offered to students through a different variation or approach. We call these variations our "flavors" and it is through these flavors choices that students choose the manner in which they learn the content.
Put simply, a flavor is a different thematic version of a course, taught with a different approach/focus and through a different lens. No matter which flavor a student chooses to cover a given set of standards, they will be covering the same content as other flavors of the same course. How they learn the content will be different.
All courses, from grades K to 12 are taught through various flavors.
At full enrollment, each Explore Academy campus offers hundreds of flavor options from which students can choose, ensuring that every student's pathway will be unique and that no two students ever share the same educational experience based on the flavor choices they make.

Our Vision

The curricular approach and educational philosophy employed at Explore Academy is based on three core ideals:

- Choice-Based Learning: selectivity and student choice for all classes to promote both a customized and individualized form of education
- Mastery-Based Learning: increased student accountability using a standards-driven system in course design and academic reporting
- College Preparation: advanced areas of study through the implementation of a curriculum which increasingly resembles and simulates college academics in structure, rigor, and content

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Majors

Similar to college, Explore Academy students will have the option to major in an area of study. Beginning in as early as 10th grade, students may start coursework among different majors. This provides students the chance to explore a multitude of areas of study without having to commit. Students can elect to focus on one area to a greater depth or try a variety of flavored seminars within different disciplines.
Students who prefer to try many things can complete the "Explorer" major, which represents a wide variety of major subject areas without a specific focus.
Common majors found at Explore Academy include: business, art, psychology, medicine, journalism, computer science, sociology, engineering, art, law, forensics, film, drama, robotics, political science, creative writing, and more!

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Flavors Everywhere!

Explore Academy offers hundreds of exciting flavors to students for every grade from K to 12!
Each campus releases a new course catalog each spring/summer to show students the flavor offerings for the coming year. Flavor sets will be unique to each campus as they are generated from the creativity of our teachers!
Once our registration windows open, students select their flavors for each seminar in their upcoming grade level.
For students in grades K-7, the school builds each student's schedule from the flavors they choose.
For students in grades 8-12, students build their schedules using our credit analysis tool to complete all credits required for graduation.
With each flavor they choose, their educational path diverges from that of other students and the curriculum they build for themselves becomes more and more unique and individualized, driven by their own interests and passion!
This is the power of the Explore Academy model!

Seminar-Based Learning

Given the flavored-focus of our instruction, Explore Academy courses are called seminars.
Our seminars are aligned with specific academic standards and are defined by four essential components:
- Focus: A emphasis of the instructional topic taught in a creative manner (the flavor)
- Shorter duration: students cover the standards in smaller, more "bite-size" chunks. Seminar length is based on age: K-1 (year-long), grades 2-3 (semester), grades 4-7 (quarter / 44 days), grades 8-12 (month / 22 days)
- Smaller groups: seminars run with fewer students to allow for more individualized attention and greater interaction among students and teachers
- Student-driven: seminars require students to be active learners within the process. As such, Explore Academy students should be driving the learning process by actively engaging in the content

Flavors Example

Example for Grades K-5
For a Grade 3/4 STEM seminar covering waves, flavors students could choose from:
Flavor 1: Spy Kids [Theme: Puzzles, Problem-Solving, and Espionage]
Flavor 2: Disaster Strikes! [Theme: Natural Disasters and Human Impact]

Example for Grades 6-12
Let's take a sample physics course covering Newton's Laws, forces, and motion. Four flavors that students could choose from are:
Flavor 1: Take Me Out to the Ballgame [Theme: Sports]
Flavor 2: Three, Two, One - Blastoff! [Theme: Space]
Flavor 3: A Day at the Park [Theme: Thrill Rides]
Flavor 4: Hulk Smash! [Theme: Movies/Comics]
All flavors described above represent different versions of the same seminar.

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College Preparation

The nature of Explore Academy's curriculum provides a logical focus on preparation for college. The higher standard of mastery requires students to demonstrate comprehensive understanding before moving to higher levels of study within a given area, ensuring that there are no gaps in understanding.
The focus of the majors program, which students can enter as early as 10th grade, provides student both insight and experience in various career pathways prior to stepping foot on a college campus.
The program's soft skill-building programs prepare students for the management of college-level academics, from requiring students to plan and configure their own schedules, managing time out of class to study during their flex periods, and learning from their mistakes in preparation for a final demonstration of understanding,

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Mastery-Based Learning

Explore Academy seminars operate differently than most traditional courses.
First, they are standards-based so students know the exact learning expectations set forth before them.
Second, each standard is evaluated on the student's ability to demonstrate mastery of that standard. Within this framework, the work students perform is done to show where they are in the mastery of the specific standards. Work is not graded on completeness.
Third, the seminar itself functions as an ongoing feedback mechanism where students are constantly receiving feedback from their teachers on where they are in the process of mastery of each standard. Students have the flexibility to struggle and work through challenging concepts on their way to mastery with the freedom to fail forward within the seminar without consequence. Final mastery is measured at the conclusion of the seminar.
For grades 8-12 (high school), students must show a final level of mastery of 80% or better to earn credit.

Independent Schools

Albuquerque, NM (ABQ)
Apply Now (Gr K-12)

Las Vegas, NV (LVS)
Apply Now (Gr 6-12)

Las Cruces, NM (LCS)
Apply Now (Gr K-12)

Santa Fe, NM (SFE)
TBD (Gr K-12)

Rio Rancho, NM (RIO)
Apply Now (Gr K-8) (Gr K-12)

Peoria, AZ (PEO)
Apply Now (Gr K-9) (Gr K-12)

Interested in starting an Explore Academy near you? Email us!

History

Justin Baiardo is the founder and visionary behind the Explore Academy model. As a secondary science teacher, he became fascinated by the power of choice in the learning process and the educational success it can produce.

In August, 2014, Mr. Baiardo, along with his team of talented and experienced educators, opened the first Explore Academy campus in Albuquerque, NM.

Since then, the innovative nature of the educational model has inspired educational leaders to adopt this model in their local communities.

One Student, Infinite Possibilities

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