Gantry Academy is a K-12, STEAM+, Learner-Centered educational offering created in response to the rapidly shifting global education trends (ie. whole-child development, natural learning, experiential learning).  Locally it appears our school systems have gone backwards with regard to how children develop by focusing funding exclusively on a high stakes testing culture, which reduces children to data points rather than engaging them in their education.

According to the IDRA's latest attrition study, at least 20% of Texas students do not graduate. The United States's graduation rate is so low, it is tied for 17th out of 22 countries, per the OECD's 2006 analysis. By offering individualized, technology-savvy education that includes life skills and whole-child development, Gantry Academy prepares children to succeed at life.

Gantry Academy exists to allow each child to pursue education at their own pace, in their own direction, while preparing them to create their own success in the world. To elaborate, we support each child with an individualized, holistic approach to education with the Gantry Method: STEAM+. The Plus is interpersonal social skill development utilizing teamwork on STEAM projects integrated by topic / across themes.

Gantry Academy is a secular, STEAM+ private elementary school, open year-round. We do not observe religious holidays.

• Maximum of 18:2 student/teacher ratio with two fully qualified teachers per class/group/cohort
• 4 units of 10 weeks each with integrated subjects with limited, meaningful homework
• 1-3 week break camps between units

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Our updated core curriculum for the new millennium is delivered using integrated, multi-disciplinary curriculum and innovative techniques

• Multi-lingual Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Science
• Technology Literacy

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Our programs aggregate global models for best practices such as

• Teamwork and investigation over memorization
• Project portfolio review with parents each unit
• 15 minutes of unstructured play hourly
• Authentic assessments not standardized tests
• Multi-aged, Learner-Centered Education

Robust extended curriculum for the whole child: Martial Arts ✿ Culinary Arts ✿ Drama ✿ Music ✿ Meditation ✿ Yoga ✿ Robotics ✿ Coding ✿ Finances ✿ Agriculture ✿ Mentorship programs for all students and teachers ✿ community involvement ✿ good citizenship ✿ volunteering

The Gantry Method: A fluid methodology created with the express purpose of providing an individualized approach for everyone. We draw from Natural Learning, Learner-Centered Education, and Project Based Learning to give each learner the autonomy to direct and achieve their own goals.

STEAM+ is another aspect of our educational difference that is focused on pro-social behavior (the plus) within the Science and Technology framework of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics).

We emphasize teamwork, investigation, and critical thinking, which are skills that major employers have consistently stated are crucial when hiring new employees.

Authentic assessment allows each learner to demonstrate their progression toward mastery of skills and provides them immediate feedback, which can be incorporated into upcoming projects.

The key element required to create our Gantry Academy is the ideal physical environment. The holistic development of a child includes not just the ability to step outside of the classroom to garden and enjoy a minimum of one hour of unstructured play throughout the day, but also to see sunlight from inside the classroom, breathe fresh air, and generally feel at home with nature even while developing scientific and technological awareness.

We are currently at the stage where we need to put the deposit down on our location in Round Rock. So, we are asking for this initial $10k in order to make sure that the perfect location within 4 miles of downtown Round Rock is ours to begin prepping for launching this fall!

The more successful this campaign is, the more confident we will be in offering multiple scholarships from Day 1 to our community's dedicated yet under-resourced families. Gantry Academy is completely tuition-funded. There are currently no corporate sponsors or special-interest groups involved. Although this is a privately held company, all profit will be routed back into the school to continuously develop programming, staff salaries, and scholarships.