How will I know if my child is making progress and learning without grades and tests?
Digital Learning Portfolios: We create, develop and assist in maintaining throughout the year — a visible learning story of your child’s critical thinking, communication and collaboration in all areas of learning.
Data tracking: Recording key learning moments over time to visualize growth and inform next steps.
More on this coming soon!
Shared community projects: invites teachers, parents and members of the community to recognize and share in the learning process with kids.
By utilizing both NC Standard Course of Study and NWEA MAP test assessments we can develop a nuanced understanding of your child’s progress that is both transferrable and unique to their individual circumstances, needs and educational journey.
What if my child wants to go to college? Will this kind of individualized learning transfer?
Bridges Academy starts by referring to NC Standard Courses of Study to inform content areas for academics. This allows us to ensure that students are receiving similar courses of study as their public institution counter parts.
We then go beyond this to uncover specific areas of interest for students as well as discover opportunities for overlap in multiple subject areas in project based learning.
Finally, each student at Bridges Academy takes the nationally standardized NWEA MAP Test, which is an adaptive assessment model —untimed, and can be taken over multiple sessions if need be.
While no form of standardized testing is perfect — or a full indication of your child’s capacity for learning — this assessment is successful in moving away from high-pressure testing and pass/fail results. Instead, the MAP test shows where your child is currently at in math and reading, it then offers next steps and informs our decision making for key areas of growth in specific areas.
What about socializing? Will my child have friends?
While Bridges Academy is a small learning community — especially when compared to larger public institutions — we believe that quality over quantity is particularly important when it comes to social interaction and relationship building.
We focus on each person developing their own sense of inner purpose and power in a community where each child feels safe to share who they really are without a need to mask to fit in. The skills of collaboration and communication are embedded in all the work we do together to create a community of belonging where each person is seen as a valued member of the whole.
With that said, we also strive to create opportunities for students to meet and interact with extended members of their local community as well as co-op activities with other small-scale alternative schooling programs.
This year, Bridges Academy is proud to announce a partnership with The Talent School. This provides us with ample opportunity to engage in field trips, community outings and excursions that feature both other students of similar age range and adults in their local communities.
What are the advantages of home or alternative schooling?
Homeschooled students consistently outperform their public school counterparts on standardized tests. Research indicates that they score between 15 to 30 percentile points higher, with SAT averages showcasing a stark contrast: homeschooled students score around 1190 compared to the public school average of 1060. This academic proficiency can be attributed to tailored curriculums and focused one-on-one instruction in homeschooling settings.
Graduation rates among homeschoolers are impressive, with studies suggesting that approximately 67% of them graduate from college, compared to around 59% for public school students. Moreover, homeschooled students have been accepted into colleges and universities at a rate approximately 10% higher than their traditionally schooled peers, reflecting the academic readiness attributed to their unique educational paths.
Research indicates that homeschooled children often fare better in social, emotional, and psychological dimensions as well. Homeschooled students are found to volunteer more frequently, express higher self-esteem, and demonstrate lower levels of depression. Their engagement in community activities enhances their social skills and fosters a sense of responsibility, contributing to their overall well-being.
The comparative success rate of homeschooled versus public school students shows notable differences across multiple academic metrics. In terms of college admission, homeschooled students demonstrate a higher acceptance rate of 87%, whereas public school graduates have a markedly lower rate of 68%. This trend indicates that colleges may favor the independent learning and unique experiences that homeschooled students typically possess.
