Academics

In addition to our innovative mathematics, STEM, literacy programs, social studies, and technology education, the ACDS curriculum features enrichment and elective courses taught by specialist teachers supporting an array of exciting learning opportunities. 

Our rich and extensive academic program, combined with small class sizes and dynamic, caring expert teachers, creates a highly personalized and engaging learning experience for every child at our school. Our goal at ACDS is to ensure that every day, every child is challenged, stimulated, and cared for. That’s our promise to our families.

Through a developmental instructional approach, which is supported by research and endorsed by leading international education experts including Dr. Diane Ravitch, Sir Ken Robinson, Stanford’s Dr. Jo Boaler, and others, our students are inspired to pursue a wide range of academic interests and options beyond our core curriculum. ACDS students become curious, confident, self-directed learners who thrive in a high-opportunity, low-stress campus environment.

The ACDS curriculum itself is designed to exceed state and national academic content-area standards, while affording our teachers considerable flexibility to meet the learning needs of individual children. Teachers are supported by our Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) whose role is to identify and provide ongoing support for students who need more help or more of a challenge. including high-achieving students who require more demanding lesson extensions.