Children are far more capable than we’ve ever imagined.

At Joyful Scholars Academy [JSA], we believe children are innately curious, active, and joyful people who, given the right environment, tools, and opportunities, can excel, achieve all they imagine, and change the world. We are a learner-driven, mastery-based academy that serves learners and their families from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade on a part-time or full-time schedule. We are reinventing education, and your family can be a part of it.

Our Promises To You

At Joyful Scholars Academy we believe learning to do, learning to be, and learning to learn are more important than memorization alone.

Studios

We offer collaborative in-person studios for multi-age learners. This flexible approach challenges heroes to have agency over their lives and learning, set meaningful goals, and become experts others can call upon.

Why are you here?

You are a family who believes your child will transform the community and the world for the better. You want to support your child's excitement for learning, for them to always look forward to learning (new or hard things), embrace challenges, and become a courageous leader who dreams big. You're a family who won't settle for mediocrity, doesn't turn away from a challenge, and always aims to improve. You want to provide your child with an educational experience that supports their growth in independent and group learning, critical thinking, and creativity and allows them to grow in their unique gifts. You are a purpose-driven family and cherish your responsibility as a parent. You value giving your child space to learn at their own pace. As a parent, you are excited for them to take ownership and agency over their life and create meaningful goals that propel them to find their calling.

Definitions

The below definitions will help you navigate JSA education philosophy and learning design.

  • JOYFUL [ADJECTIVE]: emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.

  • SCHOLAR [noun] : a learned person

  • ACADEMY: A society of learned persons.

  • SOCRATIC METHOD: a form of cooperative dialogue between individuals based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking.

  • LEARNER-DRIVEN METHOD: The learner-driven approach inspired, equips, and connects young people who embrace a Hero's Journey to make principled decisions towards a more satisfying and fulfilling life.

  • HERO'S JOURNEY: The hero’s journey, simply put, is a character’s evolution. It is their process of embarking on an adventure, facing a challenge, and overcoming it to become a better person—usually improving the greater good along the way too. 'Joseph Campbell'

  • QUEST: A Quest is a 4-7 week series of learning challenges and role plays. It is bound by individual and team-based gamification, a compelling narrative, and ends with a high-stakes Exhibition. Quests are designed to deliver 21st-century “learn to learn” (processes, frameworks, and algorithms), “learn to do,” and “learn to be” skills.

  • GUIDE: A person who is skilled at presenting challenges, incentives, and piquing heroes interests with questions only. Guides DO NOT teach material. Through skilled and intentional questioning, a guide is able to inspire a hero to find an answer and own their learning process.

  • STUDIO: A multi-aged room, a workplace, a study space for learners.