The Peak School

Programs: The academic environment at the peak school is challenging, thought provoking, engaging, and authentic. We aim to prepare students to think critically to analyze information, to communicate clearly, and to question themselves and others. Our dynamic faculty pushes students to consider knowledge in new ways and to reach beyond the usual in their demonstrations of concept mastery. At peak, we accomplish this goal in four primary ways: essential questions. Each year, the peak school's curriculum is guided by one central question. This question unites the disciplines, providing a framework for students to understand concepts across mutiple subject areas. Immersion projects. Students complete in-depth research, technology, portfolio, or service learning projects at three distinct points in their peak school career, earning their movement from one division to the next. These projects encourage intellectual risk-taking, project management, and strength in communication skills. Integrated teaching. At the middle-school level, the peak school teachers use critical thought through multi-subject teaching in their area of expertise. Students spend longer periods of time in each class. Students are evaluated by the entire faculty across the learning areas, rather than in each class. Division learning: at the peak school, we understand that students' personal development affects their learning and that students cannot always be broken up chronologically in a way that is most effective for their academic growth. Students at the peak school move through three divisions, allowing them to spend more or less time on specific concepts as needed.