A World of Opportunity for the Future

“Children learn eagerly and well when they have need of the knowledge."
― Caroline Pratt

The world is changing at an unprecedented rate, and many traditional methods of teaching have been unable to provide the necessary skills that students require to keep pace. Last year, a technology survey by CDW-G found that 94 percent of students report that they use technology to complete their homework. Instead of ignoring the ever-increasing list of technologies students can use to complete assignments, we make every effort to embrace them.

Today’s kindergarteners will retire in 2074, and will live in a world much different than our own. Sustainability Manager, Social Media Strategist, User Experience Specialist; these are careers that did not exist a decade ago. New career possibilities require a new array of skills that students must learn. In many ways, the current problems facing public education are systemic. They do not provide students the skills they need to face the challenges of tomorrow but rather focus on the outdated teaching styles of the past.

Education is so much more than just core competencies, although a strong foundation is essential. Effective education must promote critical problem-solving skills and build strong character traits that will benefit students throughout the rest of their lives. They will need to know how to find the information they need and to collaborate with others successfully and respectfully. These are the objectives of 21st century education.

Perhaps the best way to define what 21st century education means is to define the necessary 21st century skills. Critical thinking and problem solving, accessing and analyzing information, entrepreneurism, multi-literacy and global diversity are a few of those skills that best describe the ‘whole’ child approach.

The ‘whole’ child approach uniquely nurtures each student’s academic, emotional, cognitive, physical, cultural, social and creative development. Continuous NWEA testing allows us to customize individualized learning experiences based on the student’s personal best and academic goals.

For the same reason, we offer many extracurricular activities such as sports, community service programs, art, peer-mediation and peer-leadership groups, drama classes, and more. Well-rounded, high quality individuals are what parents expect from the World Academy experience, and that is what students have received for the past 35 years.

We encourage students to try their hands at whatever they find most interesting. Often they are surprised themselves!

We work tirelessly to create an environment where students discover a true love of learning. Our community of parents, teachers, and administrators continue to embrace the values of a well-rounded 21st century education, just as we must in order to prepare students to meet the demands of the ever-changing future.