Academics ATI Virtual School
The ATI Curriculum
The ATI curriculum is rooted in thought and industry
Montessori emphasized that teens should do real work: not just in school, but fully in the world. At ATI, we remove the artificial barrier between the vocational and the avocational; what's required for class and what's chosen for life. Our students integrate their passions with their studies, unlocking their potential to:
Montessori emphasized that teens should do real work: not just in school, but fully in the world. At ATI, we remove the artificial barrier between the vocational and the avocational; what's required for class and what's chosen for life. Our students integrate their passions with their studies, unlocking their potential to:
The ATI Curricular Tree
A student’s experience at ATI grows like the roots of a tree: the first quarter is spent exploring the foundations of knowledge. These roots grow into a strong trunk of core subject courses, including math,science, literature, and history. Each course opens up branches for deeper exploration, and as students gain mastery over core curriculum they start branching off into individualized learning and real-world opportunities.
A student’s experience at ATI grows like the roots of a tree: the first quarter is spent exploring the foundations of knowledge. These roots grow into a strong trunk of core subject courses, including math,science, literature, and history. Each course opens up branches for deeper exploration, and as students gain mastery over core curriculum they start branching off into individualized learning and real-world opportunities.
The Roots: Foundations Quarter
Create a culture of work
Students join ATI from varied backgrounds, and may or may not be prepared for a self-directed learning approach. The foundations courses are a period to determine how much structure an individual student might need to begin their journey at ATI.
Students join ATI from varied backgrounds, and may or may not be prepared for a self-directed learning approach. The foundations courses are a period to determine how much structure an individual student might need to begin their journey at ATI.
Create motivation and engagement with material
Students often come to ATI with a very specific view of “school.” They may find some or all areas of curriculum boring, or inaccessible to them (the student who declares: “I can’t do math!”). The foundation courses are designed to showcase the “why” of each discipline. Why does history matter? Why is math exciting? And to do this in a way that is very different from prior experiences in a classroom.
Students often come to ATI with a very specific view of “school.” They may find some or all areas of curriculum boring, or inaccessible to them (the student who declares: “I can’t do math!”). The foundation courses are designed to showcase the “why” of each discipline. Why does history matter? Why is math exciting? And to do this in a way that is very different from prior experiences in a classroom.
Set students on a path towards independent inquiry
In order to guide students within a curricular tree with so many options, we need a comprehensive assessment of each student’s current knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
This includes content knowledge as well as social and emotional skills. Rather than a one-day standardized test, we spend the entire first quarter getting to know each student holistically, to ensure that they enter the program with full visibility.
In order to guide students within a curricular tree with so many options, we need a comprehensive assessment of each student’s current knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
This includes content knowledge as well as social and emotional skills. Rather than a one-day standardized test, we spend the entire first quarter getting to know each student holistically, to ensure that they enter the program with full visibility.
Sample Virtual Middle School Schedule - Eastern Time
Sample Virtual Middle School Schedule - Pacific Time
The Branches: Optional Courses
Opportunities to Explore
Elective Courses
Entrepreneurship
Internships
ATI Virtual School Teaching Staff
Our Team
MS Math Guide (East)
Summer Evans
MS Math Guide (East)
MS Science Guide (East)
Jeremy Beach
MS Science Guide (East)
MS Humanities Guide (East)
Hannah Woznuck
MS Humanities Guide (East)
MSHumanities Guide (West)
Jennifer Albrecht-Ayala
MSHumanities Guide (West)
MS Science Guide (West) and Learning Specialist (MS & HS)
Barbara Knight
MS Science Guide (West) and Learning Specialist (MS & HS)
HS World & U.S.History Guide
Andrea LejaMeyer
HS World & U.S.History Guide
HS Algebra I & II Guide16
Mary Donovan
HS Algebra I & II Guide16
ATI College Counselor
Sharon Cravanas
ATI College Counselor
World Language Guide (MS & HS)
Michele Widd
World Language Guide (MS & HS)
World Languages Guide (MS & HS)
Sol Morgan
World Languages Guide (MS & HS)
Coaching at ATI
Adolescence is a period of intense physical and emotional growth for middle and high school students. Students have the ability to set their own goals, sometimes for the first time, and to explore their own values, and control their own schedules—and these tasks are challenging at any age! While the increasing independence and freedom is both desirable and necessary, it requires support and planning.
Every student at ATI is paired with a coach, a supportive guide who serves as thought partner and mentor. The coach’s role, over the course of the school years, is to make herself obsolete: as the student gains the social, emotional, and cognitive skills to enable her to serve as her own coach going forward. This is not a tutor or a guidance counselor; the coach is a powerful and unique partner to help each student unlock his or her full potential.
Adolescence is a period of intense physical and emotional growth for middle and high school students. Students have the ability to set their own goals, sometimes for the first time, and to explore their own values, and control their own schedules—and these tasks are challenging at any age! While the increasing independence and freedom is both desirable and necessary, it requires support and planning.
Every student at ATI is paired with a coach, a supportive guide who serves as thought partner and mentor. The coach’s role, over the course of the school years, is to make herself obsolete: as the student gains the social, emotional, and cognitive skills to enable her to serve as her own coach going forward. This is not a tutor or a guidance counselor; the coach is a powerful and unique partner to help each student unlock his or her full potential.
Planning for College and Career Development
ATI Virtual School’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.
ATI Virtual School’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.
Student Outcomes
Many of our high school 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:
Many of our high school 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:
ATI Virtual School Academics FAQs
What parents are saying about academics
From our Blog
Why do we study history?
- montessori education
Why Do We Study Literature?
How do grades work at ATI?
- mastery-based assessment
- montessori education
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.