Why Did You Start The Hope Academy?
We are here to support parents that want to give their child an academically rigorous education without compromising their Christian faith. We guide them to develop critical-thinking skills by teaching our students how to think rather than what to think. In a largely “unplugged” environment, we have discussions about God’s objective truth and how that truth applies to every aspect of their lives and the world around them. Away from worldly distraction such as video games, social media, and partisan politics, our learners discover how to have meaningful discussions and think critically about issues brought to their attention.
Are You a Private School?
No, we are more similar to a microschool, which is somewhere between a homeschool and a private school. All our students are considered homeschoolers.
What is a Microschool?
Microschooling has been described as a modern-day one-room schoolhouse that offers several benefits to students and parents, such as:
Is Hope Academy Affiliated with a specific denomination?
No! The Hope Academy is interdenominational. We are open to all denominations and faiths.
Are You Affiliated with Local Churches?
Yes, we are affiliated with Johnson Lane Baptist Church and are seeking affiliations with many more!
Who Owns The Hope Academy?
Technically no one, as a non-profit has no “owners,” only “members.” The Hope Academy is a Private Education Association (PEA) and 508(c)(1)(a) not-for-profit which can accept tax-deductible donations. Two of WTP’s Trustees manage The Hope Academy: Nikki Godard, Director of the Carson campus, and Emma Turner, Elementary Instructor. Kathryn Kelly, who founded the sister school I·School in 2011, serves as Advisor to The Hope Academy.
What is Unique About a Private Education Association?
As a private and not a public entity, all our families and students are members of our Association. As members, it is constitutionally guaranteed that the Association's students will never be subject to mandatory vaccinations, masking, or tests in, say, a future pandemic/lockdown. The Hope Academy believes it is the family’s right to make decisions about vaccinations, etc. We would lose those protections if we became a private school.
This policy served us well in the COVID lockdown with no lost class or learning time. All our students remained at or above grade level with no loss of learning and graduated on time with no remedial education needed.
What is Your School Year?
The first day of class is the day after Labor Day. Our break schedule is similar to that of the local public schools as many of our students have siblings and friends there. Our doors are open each day from 8 to 4, Monday through Friday, with classes and activities scheduled from 9-4.
What are the Steps to Enroll?
May My Child Participate in Sports at the Local Public School?
Yes, with permission of the public school principal. This is a legal right of all Nevada homeschooled students. The form to fill out and bring to Hope for approval is found here.
Are You Accredited?
No. With half the nation’s graduates from accredited schools requiring either remedial English, math, or both upon entering college, we have decided that accreditation does not signify a student will receive even a basic education before graduation and thus is not an expense we want to undertake. Our sister school, I-School, remains accredited by WASC for grades 4-12 to facilitate transfer of credit to public schools.
What Does It Cost to Attend Hope Academy?
Please see the Tuition page for rates for full-time and part-time (“Build Your Own”) students and classes. You may pay tuition from a 529 Savings Plan. Opportunity Scholarships are not available to homeschooled students and are restricted to students of private schools.
What is Your Policy on Social Media?
Students turn in their phones when they arrive on campus and may use them during lunch. To minimize distractions, there is no use of social media at school. Parents call the front desk if they need to reach a student.
What Do Students Eat for Lunch?
Students bring lunches from home. We encourage families to pack healthy lunches as consuming too much highly processed food and sugar inhibits proper development of their minds and bodies, which leads to a negative effect on learning outcomes and behavior. There is a short list of foods we ask kids to not bring to school, like sugared drinks, packaged desserts, and candy.
Do You Accept “Special Needs” Students?
Yes, if we believe we have the skills necessary to support that student. We do not have the training or resources to deal with all types of special needs, but we have enjoyed considerable success with many students considered “special needs” or “ADHD” in other venues and we would like the chance to work with your situation. Please talk to us about your needs.
What are Badges?
Badges are like the badges scouts earned years ago. Students do a deep dive into a topic of interest, from horsemanship to videography to cooking, public speaking, website design, and dozens of others, working in small groups overseen by an adult or subject matter expert. Badges include a final presentation to the rest of the students to present the knowledge and skills they have learned. The badges are typically a very rewarding part of their educational experience as it allows students to pursue areas of interest in greater depth than they might otherwise have a chance to do.
How is The Hope Academy Related to I·School?
The Hope Academy is the faith-based version of I·School. Founded in 2023, we are starting out Hope Academy with grades K-9, adding on additional years eventually to reach K-12. Going forward, I·School students will be our remote students in grades 9-12 as well as local students whose high school path to graduation typically includes dual credit classes, internships, and other off-campus activities. Those students meet one on one, either on campus or remotely, with their teachers each week.
How Many Students are Enrolled?
We are starting out with 12 full-time K-9 students this fall and another 10 or so part-time students, growing to 30 students by the end of the year. Students may enroll anytime as all students start at their current level of subject mastery. Students proceed from there at a pace that will allow them to finish at or before the end of the school year and move on to the next level.
I·School has ~20 full-time and part-time students, all grades 9-12 in addition to middle-schoolers capable of high-school work. They are mostly competitive athletes working remotely while they travel, train, and compete.
How Did You Choose the Name “The Hope Academy”?
In planning for our new faith-based school, one of the I·School students said she hoped the new microschool would be a “beacon of hope” for others as I·School had been for her, and The Hope Academy was born.
Do You Encourage Family Involvement?
YES! The Hope Academy is very much a reflection of our families’ values, and the more parents can participate, the more rewarding the experience is for the entire family. Participation can include field trips, helping students with badges, fundraising, teaching a workshop or class, and many other areas of involvement.
Where are You Located?
In the summer of 2023, we had the opportunity to purchase the historic Leport-Toupin house at 503 E Telegraph Street in Carson City, about three blocks from the State Capitol. It features about 4,000 square feet of space in the main building and the adjacent Annex, plus a large, fenced-in yard with plenty of trees and space to play. We are delighted to call this our home, and we’d love to give you a tour.
Curriculum
Utilizing methods from Arthur Robinson and Maria Montessori combined with curricula from Well Trained Mind, Charlotte Mason, Robinson, and Hillsdale, we create a truly unique experience for each child as an individual. We can provide access to our specific curriculum resources to families who are looking to expand their academic resources at home while contributing a larger time commitment on campus.
Do you require vaccination records?
No. As a Private Education Association, we have different requirements than public or private schools. We do not ask for vaccination records upon enrollment.
We are here to support parents that want to give their child an academically rigorous education without compromising their Christian faith. We guide them to develop critical-thinking skills by teaching our students how to think rather than what to think. In a largely “unplugged” environment, we have discussions about God’s objective truth and how that truth applies to every aspect of their lives and the world around them. Away from worldly distraction such as video games, social media, and partisan politics, our learners discover how to have meaningful discussions and think critically about issues brought to their attention.
Are You a Private School?
No, we are more similar to a microschool, which is somewhere between a homeschool and a private school. All our students are considered homeschoolers.
What is a Microschool?
Microschooling has been described as a modern-day one-room schoolhouse that offers several benefits to students and parents, such as:
- Safe, energized, social environment: Microschools provide an engaging environment to cultivate a sense of community and a love of learning.
- Flexibility: Microschools allow for more flexibility in scheduling to allow for family travel, competitive sports, and other opportunities.
- Personalized education: Microschools offer personalized and more engaging education that takes into account each child’s unique skills and abilities.
- Cost-effective: Microschools can be more cost-effective than traditional private schools, with annual costs that are often much lower.
- Small class sizes: Microschools typically have small class sizes, which allows for more individual attention and closer adult-child relationships as well as peer-to-peer learning.
Is Hope Academy Affiliated with a specific denomination?
No! The Hope Academy is interdenominational. We are open to all denominations and faiths.
Are You Affiliated with Local Churches?
Yes, we are affiliated with Johnson Lane Baptist Church and are seeking affiliations with many more!
Who Owns The Hope Academy?
Technically no one, as a non-profit has no “owners,” only “members.” The Hope Academy is a Private Education Association (PEA) and 508(c)(1)(a) not-for-profit which can accept tax-deductible donations. Two of WTP’s Trustees manage The Hope Academy: Nikki Godard, Director of the Carson campus, and Emma Turner, Elementary Instructor. Kathryn Kelly, who founded the sister school I·School in 2011, serves as Advisor to The Hope Academy.
What is Unique About a Private Education Association?
As a private and not a public entity, all our families and students are members of our Association. As members, it is constitutionally guaranteed that the Association's students will never be subject to mandatory vaccinations, masking, or tests in, say, a future pandemic/lockdown. The Hope Academy believes it is the family’s right to make decisions about vaccinations, etc. We would lose those protections if we became a private school.
This policy served us well in the COVID lockdown with no lost class or learning time. All our students remained at or above grade level with no loss of learning and graduated on time with no remedial education needed.
What is Your School Year?
The first day of class is the day after Labor Day. Our break schedule is similar to that of the local public schools as many of our students have siblings and friends there. Our doors are open each day from 8 to 4, Monday through Friday, with classes and activities scheduled from 9-4.
What are the Steps to Enroll?
- Talk with one of the Hope Academy administrators about your needs, either by phone or in person.
- Have your student attend Hope for a “shadow day” to see if we are a good fit.
- Meet with us for a longer discussion to get to know your student’s likes, dislikes, needs, and aspirations better, from which we can lay out a unique path to college or career.
- Register to enroll and pay tuition.
- Unenroll from prior school. If unenrolling from a Nevada public school, use this form.
- Meet with staff during the three-month probationary period to make it a successful transition out of government school.
May My Child Participate in Sports at the Local Public School?
Yes, with permission of the public school principal. This is a legal right of all Nevada homeschooled students. The form to fill out and bring to Hope for approval is found here.
Are You Accredited?
No. With half the nation’s graduates from accredited schools requiring either remedial English, math, or both upon entering college, we have decided that accreditation does not signify a student will receive even a basic education before graduation and thus is not an expense we want to undertake. Our sister school, I-School, remains accredited by WASC for grades 4-12 to facilitate transfer of credit to public schools.
What Does It Cost to Attend Hope Academy?
Please see the Tuition page for rates for full-time and part-time (“Build Your Own”) students and classes. You may pay tuition from a 529 Savings Plan. Opportunity Scholarships are not available to homeschooled students and are restricted to students of private schools.
What is Your Policy on Social Media?
Students turn in their phones when they arrive on campus and may use them during lunch. To minimize distractions, there is no use of social media at school. Parents call the front desk if they need to reach a student.
What Do Students Eat for Lunch?
Students bring lunches from home. We encourage families to pack healthy lunches as consuming too much highly processed food and sugar inhibits proper development of their minds and bodies, which leads to a negative effect on learning outcomes and behavior. There is a short list of foods we ask kids to not bring to school, like sugared drinks, packaged desserts, and candy.
Do You Accept “Special Needs” Students?
Yes, if we believe we have the skills necessary to support that student. We do not have the training or resources to deal with all types of special needs, but we have enjoyed considerable success with many students considered “special needs” or “ADHD” in other venues and we would like the chance to work with your situation. Please talk to us about your needs.
What are Badges?
Badges are like the badges scouts earned years ago. Students do a deep dive into a topic of interest, from horsemanship to videography to cooking, public speaking, website design, and dozens of others, working in small groups overseen by an adult or subject matter expert. Badges include a final presentation to the rest of the students to present the knowledge and skills they have learned. The badges are typically a very rewarding part of their educational experience as it allows students to pursue areas of interest in greater depth than they might otherwise have a chance to do.
How is The Hope Academy Related to I·School?
The Hope Academy is the faith-based version of I·School. Founded in 2023, we are starting out Hope Academy with grades K-9, adding on additional years eventually to reach K-12. Going forward, I·School students will be our remote students in grades 9-12 as well as local students whose high school path to graduation typically includes dual credit classes, internships, and other off-campus activities. Those students meet one on one, either on campus or remotely, with their teachers each week.
How Many Students are Enrolled?
We are starting out with 12 full-time K-9 students this fall and another 10 or so part-time students, growing to 30 students by the end of the year. Students may enroll anytime as all students start at their current level of subject mastery. Students proceed from there at a pace that will allow them to finish at or before the end of the school year and move on to the next level.
I·School has ~20 full-time and part-time students, all grades 9-12 in addition to middle-schoolers capable of high-school work. They are mostly competitive athletes working remotely while they travel, train, and compete.
How Did You Choose the Name “The Hope Academy”?
In planning for our new faith-based school, one of the I·School students said she hoped the new microschool would be a “beacon of hope” for others as I·School had been for her, and The Hope Academy was born.
Do You Encourage Family Involvement?
YES! The Hope Academy is very much a reflection of our families’ values, and the more parents can participate, the more rewarding the experience is for the entire family. Participation can include field trips, helping students with badges, fundraising, teaching a workshop or class, and many other areas of involvement.
Where are You Located?
In the summer of 2023, we had the opportunity to purchase the historic Leport-Toupin house at 503 E Telegraph Street in Carson City, about three blocks from the State Capitol. It features about 4,000 square feet of space in the main building and the adjacent Annex, plus a large, fenced-in yard with plenty of trees and space to play. We are delighted to call this our home, and we’d love to give you a tour.
Curriculum
Utilizing methods from Arthur Robinson and Maria Montessori combined with curricula from Well Trained Mind, Charlotte Mason, Robinson, and Hillsdale, we create a truly unique experience for each child as an individual. We can provide access to our specific curriculum resources to families who are looking to expand their academic resources at home while contributing a larger time commitment on campus.
Do you require vaccination records?
No. As a Private Education Association, we have different requirements than public or private schools. We do not ask for vaccination records upon enrollment.