K-9 Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed to foster academic excellence, practical skills, and moral character in a nurturing, low-tech environment, tailored to individual abilities rather than age.

Our curriculum is based on the Core Knowledge curriculum and is finding great success as measured both by standardized tests and by the students' enjoyment of learning.

Our K-9 curriculum includes:

In addition to the core subjects, all of our K-9 students learn Spanish and French, and at least one musical instrument (violin/piano/guitar).

For music, kindergartners typically learn violin only. First to third graders typically do both violin and piano. Starting in fourth grade students usually select one instrument to focus on.

We also stress the healthy child, providing our students with ample time for physical activity and allowing only healthy foods for lunch.

Our elementary is a no-tech school, ensuring more human interaction and eye contact. Our middle school is a low-tech school. Middle schoolers learn Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and typing.

We easily cover the full curriculum required by the state because of the low student/teacher ratio and the parent involvement. At 8 to 1 you get more done! As for parent involvement, it is one of the best indicators of student success, at any school. At Atlas, our teachers send parents the lesson plans and homework for the following week, every Thursday. We consider parents to be our co-teachers!

We integrate project-based learning to foster creativity and confidence. Each year, elementary and middle school students complete at least three projects on science or social studies topics, choosing their specific focus within a teacher-assigned theme. Students present using display boards, live animals, experiments, or models, honing public speaking skills. Even the shyest students gain confidence through these engaging presentations. Starting in grade 4, students write accompanying reports: printed in grades 4-5, then transitioning to cursive, and finally to typing.

Our vibrant school events enrich student learning and creativity. These include a Thanksgiving presentation, a wax museum, a school-wide fair (science/geography/math), an author's celebration, a poetry teahouse, a Middle School dance, and our cherished Spring and Winter concerts. Our after-school extracurricular activities, which vary annually, enrich student experiences. This year, we’re excited to offer weekly art and PE classes.

Enjoy these photos from our last geography fair.