2026-27 School Year

• Grades 3-8: Full Time (4 days per week) - $1750 per month (August – May)

• Grades 3-8: Hybrid Option (2-3 days per week) - $1250 per month (August-May)

• Grades 9-12: $2,000 per month (August – May) - Full Time

• More information on costs is on our webpage here - https://www.thegiftedcollective.com/micro-enrollment-25

Most of our families use the ESA Class Wallet system. We can directly invoice for a payment through the system for tuition and other costs or provide receipts for reimbursement for other purchases.

We're happy to work with families to accommodate travel and can provide hybrid scheduling as needed. A lot of learning happens outside the classroom, and we'd love to help make that work for your family.

Technology, thoughtfully applied, is a valuable tool for supporting children's learning. However, research is beginning to suggest that extended screen time can be detrimental to child development, and we've seen this borne out in many schools that rely heavily on it. For this reason, we intentionally limit technology use during the school day.

Laptops and iPads are used primarily for research, allowing students to explore topics of personal interest and prepare presentations to share with their peers throughout the year. Technology is also used selectively for periodic assessments and assigned math practice through IXL, both kept to a limited, purposeful role within our broader curriculum.

As children get older, we do incorporate more technologies such as high school coursework for our middle schoolers and our high school program is a hybrid partnership with ASU to deliver robust content.

We have different enrichment opportunities and clubs that are open to a wider range of children. Specifically are fun Fridays as well as Saturday events and some summer programs start at age 5.

For our microschool, we make exceptions for children under age 7 if: 1. They are working above grade level specifically fluently reading 2. They can focus on tasks independently 3. They can hang with older, well-behaved children.

We have a shared courtyard where we do some activities, though it isn't a playground. Students take structured and unstructured breaks inside throughout the day — we have plenty of room inside and actively encourage movement and brain breaks. Our school hours are also intentionally short (roughly 9:30 AM–2:30 PM), leaving plenty of time for outdoor activities beyond the school day.

• We do have our general rules and policies linked here.

• The gifted microschool has two very small classes. We focus on building relationships with the students and having reasonable expectations. We do not have a long list of classroom rules, instead we rely on relationships, respecting everyone, having discussions, being open to questions, as well as building consensus and understanding. 

• We know we can all have a bad day from time to time and we will support students with their feelings and emotions. That said, threatening or bullying behavior as well as classroom disruptions that stop others from learning cannot be tolerated.

We work hard to keep our classroom a place where every child feels safe, respected, and able to focus. Kindness is non-negotiable — we do not tolerate meanness, rudeness, or bullying of any kind.

We also know every child has hard days. When a student struggles, we work with them on coping skills, taking breaks, and making better choices, and we partner closely with parents along the way. Because we are a very small school, there are limits to what we can support: we don't have the staffing for one-on-one behavioral support or therapeutic intervention, and we can't allow ongoing disruption that takes learning time away from other students, or any behavior that makes others feel unsafe. In those cases, we may determine our program isn't the right fit, and the student will not be able to continue.

We know most schools have a statement like this — the difference is that our Head of School follows through. Protecting our climate is how we serve our niche: gifted and neurodiverse children who thrive in a small, understanding community of kind learners.

All students share one class but move between smaller groups throughout the day. Groups are typically based on skill needs, a specific standard being learned, or shared interests and projects — rather than strictly by age or grade. We find that multi age structures really benefit gifted children.

Each child is provided a narrative report card at the end of the school year as well as if they leave the school before the school year ends. These report cards explain what standards students have mastered, what areas the students excel in as well as what areas the students may need additional support in. Our report cards show the best picture of each child and where they are at at the time they are created. Our goal is to make sure parents and future educators have a good understanding of the child and their needs. The Gifted Collective hires state certified teachers and teaches the state standards just as any public school in Arizona is required to do.

We do not have a set curriculum. No one boxed curriculum can meet all of the needs of any group of students. Our teachers are able to use whatever curriculum is the best fit for your child to master each of the Arizona State Standards. Because of this, we generally build our own curriculum. We create our own and source from all over the country, so it is tailored and flexible to meet each child’s needs.

• We do not have a set curriculum for social and emotional support. Our definition or understanding of social and emotional is getting to know each individual child and supporting the whole child beyond the academics. As our teachers and staff get to know each child they are able to use a variety of resources to best meet their needs. In general the teachers have discussion time each day and work with the students in groups and individually to work through their emotions, understand and support each other, learn executive functioning skills, and in general just be ready to learn. Our teachers are Leader in Me Lighthouse trained, so we do incorporate many of those strategies also.

• Individualized learning based on gifted educational strategies

• Certified, gifted-trained teachers

• Instruction based on Arizona State Standards

• Flexibility and the focus on the whole child

• Small, multi-age classrooms

• A community based on kindness and respect. We do not tolerate, bullying, meanness, or consistent classroom disruptions

• School starts at 9:30 AM

  • Please bring your child into the lobby/bookstore each day and sign them in. (This is also a great time to let us know how your child's morning is going.)

  • No Rush Morning Drop Off Window is 9:20 AM-9:40 AM - Students have independent work time to prepare for the day as the teachers prepare. Instruction will start at 9:40 AM. This means families do not have to rush to get to school at a set time. It also allows those students who need a bit more time to settle in and prepare for the day to do so.

• School Ends at 2:30 PM

  • Please pick up your child from the lobby/bookstore each day.

  • The students will be ready for pick up promptly at 2:30 PM. If you are unable to make it in time, please let us know. If you are more than 10 minutes late, we may have to charge supervision fees. 

• If someone else is picking up your child, please make sure they are listed with us ahead of time.

• Yes. They can be scheduled as needed.

• We have after school clubs and classes beginning in September.

• These will require an additional fee, but families with children in our microschool will receive a discount

• Students are welcome to bring their cellphones to school; however, they need to be on silent and kept in their backpacks unless they are being used for a project or activity.

• If you need to reach the teacher, your child, or the front desk, you are able to call, email, or text the office. Teachers are also available on ClassDojo for general communications.

• To limit distractions we also do not allow smart watches or similar communication devices in the classrooms.

Yes. Classroom and office cameras are part of our commitment to keeping every child safe and our facility secure. Here's how we use them:

• Cameras record video only — never audio — so classroom conversations stay private.

• Footage is used solely for safety and security. It is never shared outside our staff, except with law enforcement if ever required.

• Recordings are automatically deleted after 30 days.

Many parents tell us they appreciate the added peace of mind, especially in a small school setting.

Email us for a tour and/or chat, then apply - https://www.thegiftedcollective.com/course-catalog/p/microschool-step-1-application-fee-k2be5-74gmh