The Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program could provide up to $6,500 towards tuition! Learn more
logo

What is ATI?

Schools

Virtual School

Courses

Admissions

Montessori middle school in North Scottsdale

Academy of Thought and Industry North Scottsdale

Discover your individual path to excellence

We are a modern Montessori-inspired middle school in North Scottsdale, AZ delivering a powerful education for independence, to develop curious, self-motivated adolescents who thrive in school and in life. Address: 20624 N 76th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 (in the same building as Guidepost Montessori). Admissions Phone: (480) 473-8474. School Phone: (480) 256-2034. Email: northscottsdale-admissions@thoughtandindustry.com

two students at ati north scottsdale az measuring liquid in measuring cup

Welcome to the future of middle school education!

Middle school at ATI North Scottsdale provides a deliberately planned curriculum: Foundational skills that opens the door to a greater number of possibilities. They understand, apply, and integrate knowledge based on their passions, not just memorize it.

ati north scottsdale students and guide at desk finding angles

What kind of student is a good fit for ATI North Scottsdale?

  • High-achieving students who are looking for an intellectually-challenging school
  • College-bound students looking to get into competitive institutions
  • Ambitious teens looking for a small, private school and a more personalized learning environment
  • Homeschooled or virtual school students looking for more opportunities to socialize and excel
  • Students who are looking for a supportive and accepting community
  • Advanced students looking for a Montessori-inspired middle school
  • Gifted and Talented students looking for an alternative to North Scottsdale public middle school

Why Choose ATI North Scottsdale?

Academic Rigor at ATI North Scottsdale

Academic Rigor for the Real World

Students are challenged and get the preparation they need to be successful in school and life. Our graduates go on to college, create their own companies, and become global citizens.

  • Students do real work in the world
  • They serve as a productive members of the community
  • They realize their natural desire for independence
View Student OutcomesDownload the Program Guide

We foster a love of learning

Learning is a lifelong pursuit, and we help students discover their own love of learning and watch as it motivates them to expand their knowledge.

Read Parent Testimonials
ati north scottsdale students sitting at a table studying

Intentionally Small Classes

AT ATI North Scottsdale, we choose to have small class sizes because we believe that is the best way to give students the personalized attention – through our unique teaching and coaching structure – that they need to grow and explore.

In a small school community, our students learn and practice self-governance, interdependence, and conflict resolution, gaining a sense of ownership and pride for the community around them.

Explore our Campus and Student Life
ati north scottsdale students working at table

Learn by doing, not by lecturing

Our Montessori-inspired learning pairs learning academic foundations with real life skill building. Dr. Montessori emphasized that teens should do real work: not just in school, but fully in the world. At ATI North Scottsdale, we remove the artificial barrier between the vocational and the avocational; what's required for class and what's chosen for life.


View our Curriculum for Middle SchoolLearn more about Montessori Education
two students reading at ATI North Scottsdale

One-on-One Coaching

Every ATI North Scottsdale student is paired with a coach, who meets one-on-one to help define the student's values, set goals, take risks, and chart their own path. The coaching curriculum has been built by educational experts and psychologists to support the process of self-creation that is so fundamental to adolescence. The coaching process emphasizes:

  • Self-worth
  • Self-efficacy
  • Self-creation
Learn more about Coaching

Small school communities, globally connected

ATI North Scottsdale is a tight-knit community that is also connected to a global network, allowing students to learn from industry experts, take part in unique electives, find mentors in your field, and connect with peers around the country and world.

All ATI Schools

Arizona Scholarship Account (ESA)

Thousands of Arizona students in Kindergarten through 12th grade are currently eligible for the state-funded ESA, which awards $4,000 – $6,500 annually per student towards private school tuition, home-based education, and other services.

The Academy of Thought and Industry is approved by the Arizona Department of Education as a vendor for parents with students who qualify for the Empowerment Scholarship Award. If you are eligible for the ESA program, you can use your funds towards tuition for our in-school and virtual school programs.

Learn More about ESA
Accreditation by Cognia and WASC

The Academy of Thought and Industry North Scottsdale has received accreditation by Cognia™ and WASC, the Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the system and all of its domestic and international schools are accredited, and that ATI is recognized across the nation as meeting the Cognia Standards of Quality. ACS WASC accredits elementary and secondary schools; non-degree granting adult schools; and supplementary education programs.

What Parents are Saying

ati north scottsdale students sitting on grass writing in notepads

I feel more supported as a parent than I have ever felt through out my daughter's career as a student. I know I can only being a guiding light in my daughter's life, and it is comforting to find a school that is willing to help shed some extra light for our entire family. I had the extra benefit to sit in a few classes and help out when they needed it, and I was amazed with the students. They had more accountability and responsibility than most of my co-workers. They are respectful, kind, helpful, and very funny!

Rhonda S.

ATI North Scottsdale Parent

ati north scottsdale student sitting in grass smiling

Invest in your child's education! This school is worth every penny. The caring staff, the one on one personal treatment, the education standards all 5 star. I highly suggest this school.

Andrew S.

ATI North Scottsdale Parent

Frequently Asked Questions

We charge tuition on a monthly basis during the 10 months the school year is in session. You can find the monthly price displayed on the tuition rate sheet. You’re also locking in the rates that you see displayed for future years.

NEW! Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program could provide between $4,000 to $6,500 to pay for private school tuition! Most Arizona families are eligible. Learn more.

Learn More about Admissions, Tuition and Financial Aid
list of schools

Student Outcomes

ATI North Scottsdale’s ultimate goal is to create students who thrive: living happy, fulfilled, and productive lives. We work with each student to identify their own values, set specific goals, and learn how to achieve them. This process gives them a sense of accomplishment, and prepares them for a variety of paths in life.


Many of our students choose to pursue higher education, and to date we have a 100% placement rate for college-bound seniors. In addition to their coach and guides, students work with a full-time, licensed college counselor.

Here is where you will find some of our recent ATI graduates:

Meet ATI North Scottsdale's School Leaders and Guides

In Montessori education, a guide is a teacher, but not a teacher in the way that's presented in a traditional school model. A Montessori teacher, or Guide, is a facilitator who journeys alongside students in the process of learning and self-construction and guides them toward their innate human potential.

Our Team

Head of School

Carolyn Burns

Head of School

Middle School Guide

Kara Casillas

Middle School Guide

Ms. Kara is a graduate of Arizona State University with a focus on history and literature. She has a strong professional background in manufacturing, construction, and logistics. She kept in touch with the teaching community throughout her academic and professional career by working at a childcare center with younger children and being in the classroom with older children as a student teacher. As Montessori student herself, Ms. Kara has a deep understanding of Montessori values. Her goal as a teacher is to share these values academically and socially to help guide her students into adulthood. In her spare time, Ms. Kara likes to play fetch with her 3 dogs and play Mario Kart with her family.

Assistant Head of School

Elizabeth Braman

Assistant Head of School

Elizabeth is an experienced educator with a passion for Montessori Philosophy. Since 2012, she has been providing social guidance and academic support to students across the Valley. She spent the last 5 years in leadership positions, where her primary focus has been on developing new, innovative programs and education initiatives. She has worked in a number of non-traditional school environments, and her background includes extensive work with students who have special needs. My experience in education has led me to conclude that the Montessori Method is the best method for students to truly learn. The focus on children as individuals, capable of discovery and self-discipline, is something she has kept at the forefront of her instruction and leadership, and she is ecstatic to contribute to an environment where these values are encouraged.

Start your journey with us

Learn

Learn about ATI by attending one or more of our upcoming events and virtual info sessions

Attend

Consider a attending Shadow Day on campus to experience a day in the life of an ATI student

Apply

Submit your student application to ATI, which includes the option for financial aid (if necessary)

Start

Work with Admissions to prepare for your first day of school! We can't wait to have you join our community
ATI North Scottsdale map location

Take a school tour

ATI North Scottsdale is located at 20624 N 76th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, in the same building as our early years school, Guidepost Montessori. We'd love for you to come and visit!

Attend a program overviewBook a Tour

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.

Learn more about our:

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

Get Started
Fill out the form to learn more about the program, tuition, and availability at your desired campus.