School FAQs

• What is a charter school?

  Charter schools are public schools created by a group of parents, teachers or community leaders who see an educational need in their community and want to meet that need. Like other public schools, charter schools serve students in grades kindergarten through the 12th grade. Excelsior Academy serves grades kindergarten through 8th grade. 

• How does Excelsior Academy differ from a traditional public school?

  Excelsior Academy functions as its own district and reports directly to the Utah State Office of Education. We are academically rigorous with a highly structured learning environment. Students are placed in ability groups that meet their academic level in reading, math, and spelling/writing. Our teachers utilize the Direct Instruction teaching model. Students take the standardized tests as mandated by the state. Our elementary is grades K-5, and our middle school is 6-8 grades.

• What curriculum does the school use?

  Our school uses the Core Knowledge curriculum for science, language arts, and social studies. We currently use Ready Math as our leveled math curriculum and  Reading Mastery Transformations for our leveled reading classes. We also use Spalding Spelling and 95%. Middle school uses enVision Mathematics in the 6-8 grade general education math classes.  

• What qualifications do teachers have?

  Teachers are certified as required by the state's standards.

• Is there tuition?

  No. Charter schools are public schools that receive funding from the state and are funded in the same way as traditional neighborhood public schools. There is no tuition.

• Does Excelsior Academy provide transportation?

  No. Excelsior Academy families are responsible for most transportation that takes place. Exceptions would be field trips. Administration encourages families to form a carpool with other Excelsior families to help with daily transportation.

• My student is in the lottery, what are his/her chances?

  Students are accepted into Excelsior Academy through a lottery. All applications are held in a general applicant pool until there is a vacancy. There is no way to know what the chances are of a student being drawn in a lottery.

• Is Excelsior Academy equipped to handle children with special needs?

  Excelsior has the capability of teaching students with special needs. In fact we are happy to do everything we can to assist them. We are required to meet IEP's per state guidelines, and employ certified teachers, to ensure the best quality instruction and mentoring for your child.
  
  

• One student was accepted into Excelsior, but my other student was placed on a sibling waitlist. What does this mean for my other student?

  Students on the sibling waitlist are given priority over students still in the general applicant pool.
  
  

• What can I do to guarantee my child a spot at Excelsior Academy?

  There is no way to guarantee enrollment at Excelsior Academy.