A Clear, Structured Path—Intentionally Built
for Advanced Learners & Successful Outcomes
At Apogee, our curriculum is the complete system that guides what students learn, how they learn it, and how mastery is demonstrated.
Students engage in a structured academic program that includes mathematics, language arts, science, social studies, and other core subjects while developing critical thinking skills and progressing based on ability rather than age or grade level. In addition, all students participate in our Neuroscience Program, where they learn how their brain works and how to manage focus, emotion, and behavior effectively.
This ensures curriculum is academically rigorous, appropriately challenging, and sensitive to their emotional needs every day. Unlike traditional schools, Apogee aims to have no academic ceiling. It’s common for a student to work 4-5 grade levels ahead in one subject and only 1-2 grade levels ahead on other subjects.
Apogee’s curriculum is designed for students who:
- Demonstrate clear indicators of giftedness or advanced learning ability
- Benefit from accelerated or non-standard pacing
- Can engage in independent or semi-independent academic work
- Thrive in a structured, intellectually focused environment
Our curriculum is based on the Indiana Academic Standards which prescribes what skills a student should have mastery of by subject at each grade level. We create a Personalized Learning Plan for each student to appropriately place them in ideal groupings to fit their zone of proximal development.
Our students take Indiana’s standardized assessments for accountability. We also voluntarily use the NWEA test to track student growth and achievement. Our test scores are regularly the highest in the state, and that is solid evidence that our program and curriculum is effectively preparing our students for the future.
At Apogee, outcomes matter, so our curriculum is intentionally designed to guide each student to reach their highest potential. That’s the definition of “apogee”.
Apogee uses these trusted brands of curriculum, then individualizes based on the strengths & needs of our students.
How Learning Progresses
Traditional schools advance students by age. Apogee advances students by mastery.
- Students move forward when they demonstrate true understanding
- Advanced learners are not artificially capped by grade-level limits
- Gaps are addressed directly rather than passed over
This creates a learning environment where students can move faster, deeper, or more deliberately as needed.
Mathematics Curriculum
Core Mathematics Curriculum
Apogee School uses both Beast Academy and AoPS for our core mathematics curriculum.
Beast Academy and AoPS is specifically designed for accelerated, gifted, and high-ability math students. Developed by Art of Problem Solving (AoPS), it uses a rigorous, conceptual, and comic-book-style format to challenge young mathematicians, providing less repetition and more complex, logic-driven problems than traditional curricula.
Key aspects of Beast Academy for gifted learners include:
Rigorous Problem Solving: It focuses on deep understanding over rote memorization, building skills in mathematical reasoning, counting, and probability.
Engaging Format: The curriculum uses comic books and stories to guide students through challenging topics, making high-level math engaging.
Flexibility: It offers both physical books and an online program that allows for self-paced learning, which is often preferred for gifted students
Reading Curriculum
Core Reading Curriculum
Apogee School uses a combination of the most effective reading curricula backed by the science of reading for high-ability, gifted, and twice exceptional learners to form foundational reading skills. Not any one curriculum is an out-of-the-box fit for every student, so a multi-dimensional strategy is required.
All grades utilize novel studies for a deeper understanding of rhetorical devices and themes in literature. These studies are accompanied by exercises in vocabulary and grammar including Wordly Wise and Mrs. Wordsmith.
| Grade Levels | Academic Goals | Curricula |
|---|---|---|
K-2 | Students will develop phonemic awareness, an understanding of phonics, and reading comprehension equivalent to their current reading level or above. Students graduating 2nd grade will be able to read chapter books of at least a 3rd grade level. Students identified for dyslexia or reading disabilities will be offered in-class intervention and after school tutoring through the Orton-Gillingham program until the child is reaching grade level achievement or above.
| Novel Studies Mrs. Wordsmith |
3-4 | Students will continue developing reading comprehension and fluency at grade reading level or above. Students will increase vocabulary and their ability to read aloud in groups. Students will pass the ILEARN exam. By the time students graduate 4th grade, they will be reading novels at a 5th grade level or above. Orton-Gillingham tutoring will be arranged as needed for students who need additional support.
| Novel Studies Scholastic Success |
5-6 | Students will continue developing reading comprehension and fluency at grade reading level or above. Students will continue practicing reading independently. By the time students graduate 6th grade, they will be reading novels at a 7th grade level or above. | Novel Studies Worldly Wise- EPS School Specialty |
7-9 | Students will continue developing reading comprehension and fluency at grade reading level or above. Students will continue practicing reading independently and analyzing texts for figurative language and overarching themes. By the time students graduate 9th grade, they will be reading novels at a 10th grade level or above.
| Novel Studies |
Remediation
Though the majority of students come to our school with basic reading skills, and we have a 100% IREAD pass rate, we do serve students whose talents lie in other areas, such as math and science, and students with dyslexia who may require additional reading support. For students in grades K-4 who fit this description, we recommend additional Orton Gillingham tutoring with one of our OG certified instructors. We utilize Orton-Gillingham based publications (e.g., Totem and Talisaman series by Phonics Books) and resources to support these learners in advancing their reading abilities. Should you feel your child need access to this support, please reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher or the school principal for assistance.
Should you require additional information on our reading and language arts curriculum, please contact our principal, Dr. Green, at cgreen@apogeeschool.org.
