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New Applicant FAQ's
Discover the Sage Academy Difference: Your Child's Journey Begins Here!
Program & Logestics
What programs does Sage Academy offer?
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Spark (Pre-K & Kindergarten)
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Discovery (Elementary)
Our studios serve learners in small, mixed-age environments that encourage independence, curiosity, and collaboration. Middle and high school programs are part of our long-term vision.
Families are drawn to Sage Academy for many reasons, including:
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Reliable, year-round continuous care
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A learner-driven educational model
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Montessori-inspired practices
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A strong emphasis on outdoor time
Our programs are intentionally designed to meet learners where they are while fostering independence and responsibility.
What does the school calendar look like?
Sage Academy operates on an 11-month program schedule.
Instead of a long summer break, the calendar includes short, thoughtfully placed breaks throughout the year. These breaks allow learners to rest and reset without the long reacclimation period that often comes with extended time away from school.
This rhythm supports both working families and young learners who thrive on consistency and routine.
No teachers? No grades? No homework? How does that work?
Teachers
Socratic Guides
It is important to understand that in a learner-driven environment like Sage Academy, there is no direct instruction from Guides. Here's a great excerpt from the original Acton campus' blog on that topic if you want more insight.
Grades
Badges that Demonstrate Mastery
Once learners enter our Elementary program, we move beyond traditional grades. Because we use modern, game-based learning platforms, families can see real-time progress—including the specific skills their learner is currently working on or has mastered, as well as their progress toward completing their Badge Plan.
Homework
Time to nurture relationships, hobbies, interests and passions:
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At our academy, we believe in giving learners time to relax, recharge, and pursue their passions outside of the classroom. That's why we have a no homework policy. We want our learners to have quality time with their families and the freedom to work on projects outside of the studio if they choose to do so.
What is a studio?
Think of a Studio as the classroom of a one-room school house. We like to think of it as a learning "habitat" for learners of multiple ages and skill levels where they can work for focused period of individual flow or purposeful collaboration.
What are Badges?
Badges measure excellence. Learners earn a badge after completing a series of challenges that demonstrate true mastery of a skill or concept.
Rather than a single test or assignment, badges require learners to apply what they’ve learned in multiple ways. Each badge marks a meaningful milestone and contributes to their overall Badge Plan.
Frequently asked questions
What are core skills?
“Core Skills” refers to the foundational skills of Reading, Writing and Math. We set aside time each day in our Daily Schedule setting SMART Goals to focus on tackling challenges and earning Badges in each of these areas.
How does your "Learning Design" (aka Curriculum) work?
At Sage Academy, we believe in a learner-driven environment we often describe as “learning untethered.” Our Guides—the equivalent of traditional teachers—do not act as a bottleneck that moves learners along a rigid, state-prescribed timeline. Instead, learners are supported in developing skills and mastery at a pace that fits them.
Spark (Pre-K–Kinder) focuses on building the foundations of independence, curiosity, and a love of learning. Through hands-on exploration, practical life activities, and plenty of outdoor time, young learners develop the confidence and habits that prepare them for deeper academic work. Our Kinder studio, immersed in the primary studio, begins their core skills journey with Learning Sprints, short, focused experiences that introduce essential concepts in a playful, engaging way.
In Discovery (Elementary), learners take greater ownership of their learning. In a mixed-age studio, they work through challenges, collaborate with peers, and pursue mastery at their own pace while mentoring—and being mentored by—others.
Our learning design is organized around Badges, which represent meaningful milestones in skill mastery. Each badge requires learners to complete a series of challenges that demonstrate real understanding, rather than simply earning a grade on a single assignment.
How do I know my learner is ready for a learner-driven environment like Sage Academy?
At Sage Academy, we prioritize self-directed learning, which sets us apart from other institutions. Before inviting young learners to join our community, we look for certain prerequisites that suggest our learning environment would be a good fit for your child.
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Exhibits a positive attitude about learning in general
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Participates willingly in classroom activities
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Follows simple oral directions
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Actively engages in their own learning and is generally curious
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Displays the following social and emotional skills most of the time.
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Makes friends and plays cooperatively
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Shows empathy
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Manages strong feelings like frustration and disappointment without becoming aggressive or withdrawn
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Separates from parent without distress
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Engages in an activity for at least 15 minutes
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Possesses basic communication skills
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Is physically self-reliant
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Reading fluently or on their way there.
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Follow basic written and oral instructions.
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Able to engage and participate in a 15-minute discussion with peers.
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Can set, remember, and pursue a goal for 30 minutes or more.
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Works well with peers by respecting their space and goals.
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Takes responsibility for actions and choices.
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Can operate a laptop or has basic introduction. The younger learners will learn quickly from their peers.
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Finished Spark Badge Plan and is prepared for a more academically-challenging environment
What if my learner seems “behind” compared to traditional school expectations?
This is a common question, especially for families exploring a non-traditional approach like Sage Academy.
The short answer: nothing.
Here’s the longer answer:
As a parent, it’s your right and responsibility to decide how best to support your learner. That might include setting boundaries or incentives around learning goals, arranging after-school tutoring, or exploring extra-curricular opportunities. We respect these parenting choices and encourage you to establish the social contracts that make sense for your family.
At Sage Academy, our Badge Plan equips learners with the skills they need to thrive in the Discovery Studio. Badge categories include Leadership, Communication, Safety, Writing, Reading, and Math. A key milestone is the ability to independently read simple Challenges and focus on a goal for at least 30 minutes, which typically emerges sometime after age seven—though it varies for each learner.
For ages 7–10, state-prescribed benchmarks in math and language arts don’t really apply until learners engage with game-based platforms like Khan Academy or IXL. These platforms track mastery of specific skills, identify areas that need practice, and align closely with state standards, making it easy to see where a learner might fall relative to a traditional grade level.
At Sage Academy, we don’t focus on age-based grade levels. Instead, we ask:
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What are your learner’s goals?
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Are they working hard?
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Are they making progress toward their goals?
In this framework, being “behind” doesn’t mean a learner is behind a grade—it means they’re not on track with their individual goals. If extra effort or additional support is needed—such as accommodations for a learning difference—we provide guidance and resources to help them succeed.
How do you ensure learners get a balanced academic experience?
At Sage Academy, we aim to provide a well-rounded academic experience while recognizing that deep learning is often uneven—learners naturally develop stronger interests in some areas.
To support balance, our approach includes:
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Diverse activities and projects that touch on multiple subjects and skills.
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Collaborative learning, where learners share knowledge and discover new areas of interest through peers.
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Over time, learners often gravitate toward a balanced skill set on their own, exploring passions while building competence in a variety of areas. As a parent, you may encounter moments of uncertainty—but we’re here to guide and support both you and your learner along the journey.
Moving along the Journey Map requires work in all Core Skills subject areas.
Gamification of Curriculum
Focused work sprints may be baked into the Daily Schedule from time to time—one hour on core skills using adaptive software on laptops, or another hour in a hands-on work cycle exploring materials “off the shelf,” are great examples of this.
What do focused work sprints look like?
We provide learners with a "running partner" to keep them accountable for progress towards their learning goals. They must complete badge requirements in all areas of study before they can level up.
Peer Accountability
The desire to tackle learning challenges presented in the Quest format can often motivate learners to acquire new skills.
Gamification of Curriculum
We encourage our young learners to embrace challenges. We provide them with frameworks like the Challenge Doughnut and foster a Growth Mindset to help them navigate discomfort while mastering new skills they might otherwise avoid.
Growth Mindset
As a parent, you have the right to establish boundaries and guidelines that encourage your learner to focus on areas they may be avoiding, and we fully support your efforts in this regard.
Parenting Decisions
Top Reasons Parent Choose Sage
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It is important that your child learns to be a curious, independent lifelong learner.
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You are afraid that that light in your child's eyes will be extinguished in a traditional school setting.
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Equipping your child with 21st century skills is more important to you than grades and standardized testing.
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You believe all young people deserve the chance to find a calling that will change the world.
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You are ready to join a Tribe of like-minded parents who want to empower their children to take charge of their own education.