Polaris K-12 School is a School of Choice within the ASD and is open to students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Our program emphasizes the individualization of student learning, prioritizing hands-on, real-world, and problem-based investigations. Our program is characterized by curricular innovation and skill development in multi-age classrooms where we rely on students to be self-motivated and self-directed learners. We encourage interested applicants to consider the degree of student responsibility and family involvement that this type of program will require. It is also important for potential students to consider their interest in attending a school with both elementary and secondary students fully integrated into the learning environment.

As an ASD School of Choice, Polaris differs in educational philosophy, grade level organization, student evaluation, curriculum, instructional methods, and student involvement. 

Our instructional methods focus on experiential learning which emphasizes the use of hands-on teaching practices, forming and testing hypotheses, engaging in enriching field trip opportunities,  and classroom visits by a variety of community stakeholders.  Students are active participants in creating a rigorous curriculum that exposes them to 21st-century skills, traditional academic standards, and developing civic responsibilities and policies while also meeting their personal educational interests.

While not every student enters our program with a desire to be politically, academically, and socially involved in all aspects of our community, that is our goal for our students and we, as the experienced educators in the building, will help guide them there over time. Generally, students who do well within our program are compassionate and empathetic to the feelings and needs of others; able to set goals and find ways to attain them; able to take responsibility for their learning; creative; self-disciplined and determined; able to recognize and build on personal strengths, and learn anything they want to learn.

We encourage anyone interested in our program to attend a school tour scheduled on the first three Fridays of February. More information can be found on our website.