A curriculum rooted in thought and industry

Deep study of classic texts build a solid foundation of skills and knowledge that enable increasing degrees of independence

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A curriculum rooted in thought and industry

Deep study of classic texts build a solid foundation of skills and knowledge that enable increasing degrees of independence

Find a school

Curriculum overview

Download the full overview below

Browse our program guide

“Education should therefore include the two forms of work, manual and intellectual, for the same person, and thus make it understood by practical experience that these two kinds complete each other and are equally essential to a civilized existence.”

“Education should therefore include the two forms of work, manual and intellectual, for the same person, and thus make it understood by practical experience that these two kinds complete each other and are equally essential to a civilized existence.”

Maria Montessori

Start with a strong foundation: The Roots

You begin at ATI with a Foundation Quarter, taking classes in math, science, literature, history, and communication. These foundations courses:
Spark motivation and engagement
Introduce key skills and a logical framework needed for further study
Enable longitudinal assessment, including diagnostics, self-assessment, and observation to understand the degree of support needed to thrive throughout the year
Build a culture of work, collaboration, and respect that enables open work cycles and independence
Break down pre-conceived notions about school in general or specific subjects (The student who says, "I can't do math!")

You begin at ATI with a Foundation Quarter, taking classes in math, science, literature, history, and communication. These foundations courses:

Spark motivation and engagement
Introduce key skills and a logical framework needed for further study
Enable longitudinal assessment, including diagnostics, self-assessment, and observation to understand the degree of support needed to thrive throughout the year
Build a culture of work, collaboration, and respect that enables open work cycles and independence
Break down pre-conceived notions about school in general or specific subjects (The student who says, "I can't do math!")

Growing strong: The Trunk

Students move into year-long survey courses, covering fundamental topics within each discipline. Trunk courses are interdisciplinary and skills-based. This means, for example, that students can learn how to calculate probabilities when they require that skill to complete a genetics project on inherited traits. These courses share the features that make all our courses unique:
Mixed-age classrooms
Low (1:10) teacher to student ratios
Self-pacing through mastery learning
Interdisciplinary connections explicitly built into the coursework
Real-world applications

Students move into year-long survey courses, covering fundamental topics within each discipline. Trunk courses are interdisciplinary and skills-based. This means, for example, that students can learn how to calculate probabilities when they require that skill to complete a genetics project on inherited traits. These courses share the features that make all our courses unique:

Mixed-age classrooms
Low (1:10) teacher to student ratios
Self-pacing through mastery learning
Interdisciplinary connections explicitly built into the coursework
Real-world applications

Limitless possibilities: The Branches

As students progress, there are more and more branch courses available. These include elective courses (and our electives are anything but typical!), and also adventures in the real world that are connected to educational objectives and become a crucial part of a student's experience.
Drawing, film-making, and sculpting taught by professional working artists
Small group Socratic discussion courses on philosophy, literature, and politics
Internships with a congressman, the local botanical gardens, a non-profit, hospital, or business
And so much more
What will you grow in the branches?

As students progress, there are more and more branch courses available. These include elective courses (and our electives are anything but typical!), and also adventures in the real world that are connected to educational objectives and become a crucial part of a student's experience.

Drawing, film-making, and sculpting taught by professional working artists
Small group Socratic discussion courses on philosophy, literature, and politics
Internships with a congressman, the local botanical gardens, a non-profit, hospital, or business
And so much more

What will you grow in the branches?

Mastery-based learning

**All students can become masters if they are given sufficient time and adequate instruction.**
What does that mean?
Learning should not be time-limited! Some students need more time to reach mastery, some need less. Students pass to new material when they're ready, not because a certain amount of time has passed
Instruction needs to be adequate for YOU, not someone else. That means clear objectives, a variety of learning methods, individualized support, and learner-centered instruction
Mastery is defined! We have clear program-level outcomes, and students track their own progress towards mastering these outcomes
We work with Mastery Transcript Consortium to create a transcript that supports your learning today, and opens doors for you in the future

All students can become masters if they are given sufficient time and adequate instruction.

What does that mean?

Learning should not be time-limited! Some students need more time to reach mastery, some need less. Students pass to new material when they're ready, not because a certain amount of time has passed
Instruction needs to be adequate for YOU, not someone else. That means clear objectives, a variety of learning methods, individualized support, and learner-centered instruction
Mastery is defined! We have clear program-level outcomes, and students track their own progress towards mastering these outcomes

We work with Mastery Transcript Consortium to create a transcript that supports your learning today, and opens doors for you in the future

Browse our program guide

“Teenagers ... are still subjected to the petty threat of "bad marks". On these marks the future of the student depends. So study becomes a heavy and crushing load that burdens the young life, instead of being felt as the privilege of initiation to the knowledge that is the pride of our civilization.”

“Teenagers ... are still subjected to the petty threat of "bad marks". On these marks the future of the student depends. So study becomes a heavy and crushing load that burdens the young life, instead of being felt as the privilege of initiation to the knowledge that is the pride of our civilization.”

Maria Montessori

Experience school on your terms

Join a school community designed to support your education with coaching, small classes, and a commitment to our core values. Engage in deep study and personal exploration as a student at ATI.

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Visit Higher Ground Education to learn more about our mission to make learner-centered education the mainstream.

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A curriculum rooted in thought and industry

A curriculum rooted in thought and industry

Curriculum overview

“Education should therefore include the two forms of work, manual and intellectual, for the same person, and thus make it understood by practical experience that these two kinds complete each other and are equally essential to a civilized existence.”

Start with a strong foundation: The Roots

Growing strong: The Trunk

Limitless possibilities: The Branches

Mastery-based learning

Experience school on your terms

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