We are characterized by the three R's:
- Rigorous instruction that challenges students with high expectations.
- Relevant curriculum that motivates students by giving them the opportunity to apply classroom course work to real world experience (i.e., internships in 11th and 12th grade).
- Meaningful relationships to ensure that a caring adult is involved with every young person's learning experience and to enable teachers to personalize learning based on a student's unique needs.
To fulfill our mission, we employ the following instructional strategies:
- College preparatory courses: Impact Academy graduates meet or exceed all California state standards for high school graduation, as well as requirements for entrance into UC/CSU. They demonstrate mastery and growth through standardized testing and performance assessments. Integration of arts and technology, and powerful use of project-based learning dramatically increases relevance of the curriculum for students.
- Small and personalized learning environment: All aspects of the school reflect a personalized environment where students are well known, individual student preferences are honored, and close communication and mentoring characterize student-teacher relationships. Research shows that smaller schools allow students and teachers to develop intensive, long-term relationships that enable better conditions for teaching and learning. Impact Academy has no more than 420 students, and individual classes have fewer than 25. An advisory program with a ratio of 20:1 ensures that students have a caring adult who knows them well, communicates with their family, and will guide student progress throughout the four years of high school.
- Direct and inquiry-based instruction: Teachers use both methods. Direct instruction strategies include lectures, explanations and demonstrations through which students acquire concepts and information, learn to take notes, ask questions, and clarify ideas. Inquiry-based instruction strategies involve asking students to define problems, pursue information, pose and test hypotheses, draw inferences for themselves, and defend their thinking.
- Integrated curriculum and thematic studies: To facilitate deep learning and connections across subjects (e.g., history, literature, science, mathematics, and digital media) teachers integrate themes and concepts in designing classes. The core curriculum for grades 9/10 and for 11/12 is integrated.
- Project-based instruction: Projects create opportunities to apply learning to complex problems as well as to develop products that require written and oral expression, extended research, analysis and synthesis of information, planning, perseverance, and organization—all skills that are needed for success in college and the world beyond. Projects also link the curriculum content with students' real world experiences, making learning relevant and valuable to their lives outside of school.
- Art: Art is an essential element in students' experiences at Impact Academy. All students have multiple art electives throughout their high school career, ranging from drama, dance, and drawing to filmmaking and photography. Well-crafted arts experiences produce positive academic and social effects including increased creativity, more student engagement, better attendance, higher-order thinking skills, positive school climate, and key habits of mind (e.g., persevering, self-initiation, collaboration, leadership). Impact Academy is proud of our exceptional after-school drama ensemble. Our drama students perform two major productions each year, which are always sold out!
- Technology: All students master fundamental technological tools and develop technological proficiency in word processing, graphic design, spreadsheets, slide presentation, web site design, and Internet research. The ratio of students to computers is 2:1.
- Leadership Skills: Students develop the following leadership skills. These skills are explicitly taught and regularly assessed through exhibitions and classroom behavior.
• public speaking,
• project management
• facilitation
• collaboration.
- Assessment: Student progress is assessed in a variety of ways including portfolios, projects, and exhibitions, as well as state-required standardized tests. Impact Academy assessments explicitly address state standards, leadership skills, and essential habits of mind.
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