Philosophy of Education

Adolescents, faced with the overwhelming challenge of becoming adults at this difficult time in history, need a new kind of education.  Explorations Academy is committed to providing that education.  The result is young people who possess the ability to direct their own learning, to consciously undertake self-development, to work cooperatively with those of different backgrounds, and to demonstrate ecological and cultural literacy in their actions.  These strengths are central to our progress toward a just, peaceful, and sustainable world.

Explorations Academy uses a small learning community as a medium for instruction.  This approach affirms the value of individuals, and begins to re-establish the compassion and personal responsibility missing in much of our contemporary culture.  Teachers work with students to develop learning targets geared to individual abilities and needs.  A low student-teacher ratio allows us to create an educationally demanding and cooperative atmosphere.

We work to combine academic excellence, experiential education, and interdisciplinary study. We challenge students to reach their potentials and exceed their perceived limits through noncompetitive means.  Explorations Academy students are expected to attain and demonstrate mastery in core academic areas.

Our programs combine active experience with guided reflection and critical analysis.  This approach engages the student in a process of discovery, as opposed to simply providing information.  Students gain knowledge by grappling with issues in their “real world” context, making academics both more rich in substance and more relevant to their lives. Students also gain from the heightened responsibility that this approach requires of them.

Because we pose real world problems to students, our curriculum is also interdisciplinary.  Each course has specific objectives, and each project or outing addresses objectives from several courses.  In this way, we limit arbitrary distinctions, encouraging thorough understanding of the causative factors and the future implications of issues.  This method helps build higher level thinking skills, and students’ “response-ability” to our changing world is increased.

As a school, we take our global responsibility seriously by making our curriculum relevant.  Our curricular themes for each term reflect contemporary issues and build upon traditional academic understanding. We also emphasize personal development, group participation, and community service. By linking experiential and multidisciplinary study with current global issues, we help students to develop clear, informed viewpoints, and to gain a sense of stewardship for the planet.

International study and service expeditions further underscore our belief that global citizenship is a central part of a 21st Century education.  Our students have traveled to Asia, Europe, Africa, Central and South America.  On these expeditions they gain first-hand experience with other cultures, faiths, and worldviews, not just as travelers but as volunteer participants in the society they are visiting.  They gain in character as well as intellect, building flexibility, resilience, compassion, creativity, and maturity.

Our students are college-bound except in certain unique cases.  We make every effort to support our students’ progress toward future academic goals, including entrance into the college of their choice.  College preparation at Explorations involves high academic standards, counseling about college options, maintaining demanding graduation requirements, and helping students prepare for standardized testing.

Explorations Academy provides an excellent and complete educational experience.  Our students gain in areas far beyond academics, while building academic strengths that ensure their success in higher education.  By placing academics in a meaningful, real world context, we help young people with the profound undertaking of becoming adults capable of conscious and responsible action in our changing world.