HEROES Academy - Microschool for Gifted and Talented Students

The HEROES Academy Microschool for Gifted and Talented Students is a small private school that specializes in educating gifted and talented and high ability students.
At HEROES, we work exclusively with gifted and talented students, supporting their social, emotional, and academic needs in a safe learning environment. We provide students with a rigorous curriculum that allows each student to learn at a place and pace best suited for their individual learning needs.
For the 2023-2024 Academic Year, we are accepting a maximum of 8 students. Students will receive a combination of private and small group instruction for math, reading and writing, work collaboratively for engineering, history, and social sciences, and join together across all abilities for academically focused games and social activities.
Our school program meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 AM to 3 PM.
Sample School Day
9 AM – 10 AM
Work independently while instructors meet with each student individually to review short term goals, long term goals, and progress.
10 AM – 11 AM
Small Group Instruction – Laboratory Science
11 AM – 12 PM
Independent Work and Private or Small Group Instruction for Math or Language Arts
12 PM – 1 PM
Lunch and Recess
1 PM – 2 PM
History and Social Sciences
2 PM – 3 PM
Independent Work and Private or Small Group Instruction for Math or Language Arts
Applying to HEROES Academy: Microschool for Gifted and Talented Students
Parents should fill out and submit an application that can be found here. Students must submit qualifying scores from one of the assessments listed below as part of their application. After submitting the application, students must also come in for an academic evaluation. Once the application is received and the academic evaluation has been completed, we will review all of the information and get back to you with an admission decision.
Test | Required Scores |
---|---|
Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children | A minimum standard score of 130 or higher on the General Ability Index (GAI) or Full Scale OR A minimum standard score of 130 on the Nonverbal section AND at least one of the following: Verbal Verbal Comprehension Fluid Reasoning |
CogAT |
An age percentile rank of at least the 90th percentile on both the Verbal and Quantitative
OR A Composite (VQN) in at least the 90th percentile |
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities | A standard score of 130 or higher |
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale | A minimum standard score of 130 or higher on BOTH the Verbal and Nonverbal sections |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this cover my child’s entire education?
When you step outside the traditional school system, you’ll find that you’re afforded a tremendous amount of flexibility. Without the time commitment of a Monday through Friday school day, students have the opportunity to branch out to study and explore a much wider array of subjects, interests, and skills. Want to become a survivalist? A master gymnast? A chef? Build your own computer? Learn to code? The options are limitless, and we can even help you identify mentors, classes, and resources for your child’s specific interests.
We will cover all of their academic requirements including: math, reading, writing, handwriting, history, and laboratory science. We do recommend students find a resource for physical fitness – whether that be gym, yoga, riding bikes around the neighborhood, karate, gymnastics, going for a daily walk, or joining a sports team, the choice is yours.
How can you cover a full year of curriculum in just three days per week?
Students in traditional schools spend an enormous amount of time doing non-learning related activities, taking standardized tests, and waiting while teachers manage behavioral issues in the classroom. Gifted students often spend a good portion (or all) of their school day sitting through lessons on material they’ve already mastered. By starting with a rigorous placement test and constantly reevaluating each student’s level of mastery for each standard, we ensure that your child’s always learning and moving forward. Our small class size allows us to give each student personalized attention. We’ve been teaching our math and language arts classes for ten years, and our students cover 1.5 to 2 years of material in just two hours per week of instructional time.
Will my child have homework?
Students will have minimal homework to complete on the days they are not with us. Students should practice their math facts, complete their daily vocabulary and/or spelling practice, and continue reading books assigned for history and science. Students will have projects that they may choose to work on outside of class, and students are always welcome to do more work at home to move forward in the curriculum at a faster pace if they choose to do so.
What do I do with my child on the other days of the week?
If keeping your child at home on Tuesdays and Thursdays is not feasible, you may benefit from using a nanny, daycare, or babysitter for child care. For a more enriching day, joining a Tuesday/Thursday co-op may provide your child with a secondary setting to make friends and engage in extracurricular activities such as art, gym, music, and more.
The HEROES microschool is for students between the ages of 6 and 10, so what happens when my child gets older?
We are currently enrolling students between the ages of 6 and 10; however, we will carry your child for as many years – and as far ahead academically– as you’d like to keep them in our school. We can – and have – provided curriculum and instruction up through the college level. We can also work with you and your child to arrange credit by exam for higher level courses – students can even earn college credit by for Algebra through Calculus BC! We can help you determine if and when this makes sense for your child.
How much is the tuition for the HEROES Microschool?
The tuition is $15,000 for the entire academic year. We can arrange for tuition to be paid in installments on an as-needed basis.
How does the HEROES Microschool Work? Understanding the Three-Day-Per-Week Schedule
Apply Now! HEROES Microschool — Application Deadline Extended to April 15th The HEROES Academy Microschool for Gifted and Talented Students is a small private school