Educational Choice
Homeschooling is not new, but it sure isn’t what it used to be! Today we’re so much more connected — to information and people. More than ever, homeschooling can provide the advantage of one-on-one, personalized instruction plus the tools and resources needed for a dynamic educational environment.
In fact, there is so much available, it’s hard to know what programs and tools are the best for your child. That’s why you need to work with a reputable school that knows how to navigate the world of available options. At Cottonwood, we present you with a variety of educational offerings so you can custom fit the curriculum to your child’s interests, learning style, and needs. Each curriculum is fully flexible and individualized. We work closely with parents and families to help you fine-tune the educational curriculum that meets your particular goals.
We offer a variety of educational offerings that include both a TK–12th-grade homeschool pathway and a 9–12th grade, site-based pathway grounded in the Montessori philosophy. We create a safe and supportive environment that allows students to follow their natural curiosity and desire to learn.
Teachers Trained for Homeschool
All our teachers are specially trained, fully credentialed homeschool teachers, and most have homeschooled their own children. They understand firsthand what makes homeschooling such an exceptional approach to education. They work with each individual student to be sure their academic achievement is supported. At the same time, the Cottonwood team of educators offers numerous opportunities to engage with one another — virtually and in person.
Most homeschools include extracurricular activities, but at Cottonwood, we do more than just support academics. We believe in the value of community in your child’s educational development. Every month our supportive community comes together in many different ways to foster positive social and emotional development in addition to academic excellence. The Cottonwood School is Reimagining Community and Reshaping Education for a better tomorrow.
Guiding Principles
The Cottonwood School uses these guiding principles in planning and decision making. They encapsulate what we do and why we do it.
Whole Learner: We believe that each student has an unlimited potential for growth, and we understand that achieving and surpassing academic standards requires addressing the needs of each student as a whole-learner. We nurture social, emotional, and physical wellness, in addition to academic excellence, to maximize your child’s holistic growth and future success.
Choice: We partner with parents to guide and facilitate student learning opportunities and support choice in designing personalized educational plans that respect individual learning styles while addressing state standards.
Diversity: We honor the uniqueness of each person and their diverse experiences and choices. We provide opportunities to lift marginalized voices, celebrate cultures, create space for understanding, and grow through shared experiences.
Community: We create avenues for building authentic relationships through a variety of meaningful community events and programs that support the needs of both students and parents.
Communication: We are committed to cultivating a climate of trust and transparency with clear communication and an opportunity for all voices to be heard and represented.
The Cottonwood School Vision
At the Cottonwood School, we envision a world where students flourish, communities thrive, and staff are fulfilled. We cultivate an environment where excellence and community drive the success of every individual.
We envision an empowered staff who collectively creates a welcoming, diverse work environment that promotes work-life balance, honors teacher-led initiatives, and values staff contributions. Our student-centered instructional approaches emphasize accessibility, collaboration, and professional development, fostering a supportive community for all.
As an innovative learning hub, we envision achieving high standards through mentorship, ongoing improvement, and transparent communication. Through our forward-looking, engaging and dynamic approaches, we nurture students to become lifelong learners contributing meaningfully to society.
Pathway Mission and Vision
Homeschool Mission
The Cottonwood School provides a flexible personalized learning experience, empowering families to tailor a program designed around the specific needs of each student. In collaboration with well qualified credentialed teachers, students engage in diverse and dynamic learning pathways and unparalleled enrichment opportunities to achieve personal and academic success.
Homeschool Vision
The Cottonwood School develops the individual gifts of students to become critical thinkers, responsible citizens, and innovative leaders prepared for academic and real-life success in the 21st century.
CCPA Mission
Cottonwood College Prep Academy, influenced by Montessori principles, will provide an innovative, rigorous, self-exploring education through experiential learning, design thinking, and meaningful interdisciplinary studies cultivating a growth mindset.
CCPA Vision
CCPA’s vision is to guide our student community to love learning, to profoundly contribute to our diverse world, and to lead lives of achievement.
Student Learner Outcomes
The Cottonwood School
The Cottonwood School students are:
- Navigators of the digital world who are proficient in the use of technology, media, and online resources.
- Self-directed and motivated students who can set attainable goals to achieve academic success.
- Personalized learners who can thrive in the style of education that best fits their individual needs.
- Independent critical thinkers who can problem solve, take ownership and apply their knowledge to a variety of problems.
- Responsible citizens who demonstrate integrity and respect while actively seeking knowledge of local and global issues.
- Effective communicators who can thoughtfully articulate their thinking with confidence while collaborating with peers.
Cottonwood College Prep Academy
COMMUNICATION
Students will engage in constructive, critical conversations by listening, responding, questioning, and conveying ideas in diverse settings.
COLLABORATION
Students will engage with fellow classmates, staff and consult with community experts to increase innovation and to achieve a common goal through shared responsibility.
CRITICAL THINKING
Students will engage in conceptualizing, analyzing and synthesizing to draw conclusions.
CREATIVITY
Students will move beyond comprehension to innovate in and outside the classroom.