Why SAA?
Public schools are subject to restrictive state and federal laws, numerous regulations and limited funding for programs outside of the required curriculum. Fine arts and gifted programming are the first programs to be cut when school districts are facing tough financial times. Science & Arts Academy emphasizes higher cognitive processing, creative thinking, and problem solving. Let's compare SAA to the typical public school.
| Science & Arts Academy | Typical Public School |
|---|---|
| Small Class Size - focus is on small group instruction. Class sizes not to exceed eight students for preschool, 12 students for junior and senior kindergarten, 14 students for lower school, and 16 students for middle school. | Larger Classes - average 21-22 students for elementary school, 21-30 students for middle school, depending on your district. (*2008 Illinois State Board of Education District Report Cards) |
| Program is designed to fit the unique needs of all our gifted students. | Student is fortunate to fit into an available program if one exists. |
| Socially, children thrive being among a larger group of gifted peers. | Fitting in and finding friends can be difficult. |
| Teachers are trained in gifted and work with gifted students all day, everyday. | There is no state requirement for gifted training in public school systems even if the teacher is designated to work in a gifted program. |
| Focus is on engaging gifted children and meeting their need for depth and breadth of curriculum. | Focus is on meeting standardized testing goals. Smart kids usually are the last to get attention from a teacher in a classroom. |
| Students are ability grouped separately for math and language arts to optimize the learning environment. | Differentiation is extremely difficult due to large class sizes; meeting minimum state performance goals is a priority. |
| SAA chooses to participate in more meaningful testing. | State mandated tests. |
| Emphasis on Fine Arts - drama, chorus, music theory, and art starting in kindergarten. Preschoolers participate in music & art. | Limited Fine Arts offerings. Drama is typically not offered as an optional class until high school. |
| Encouragement to participate in History Fairs, Science Fairs, Science Olympiad, Geography Bees, Future Problem Solving, Destination Imagination, etc. | Possibility of some of these offerings. |
| Foreign language begins in kindergarten. | Foreign language typically is not offered until middle school. |
| Access to science labs starting in first grade; exposure to science starting in preschool. | Lab work typically not available until middle school. Science curriculum is limited in elementary schools. |
| Teachers and students have established relationships and have time to really know each other over years of working together. Time in class for in-depth discussion. | Middle school - Teachers have limited time to get to know students personally. Elementary school - Teacher relationships are not designed to span more than one school year. |
| Courses on philosophy, logic, problem solving, and the affective needs of a gifted child. | These are not offered as courses in public schools. |