Discovery Ranch instructors are licensed professional educators, some with Master degrees, multiple endorsements, or special education certificates. They have an average of 15 years teaching experience. Student/teacher ratios are approximately 12 to 1.

The academic program is structured so that students do not have to sacrifice learning opportunities in order to address their therapeutic issues. The school day starts at 3:00 pm and ends at 8:00 pm. Fridays are reserved for academic experiential activities.

Students are not restricted by a semester schedule. Learning is on-going. Student learning time is based on the amount of time the student needs to master the information, not how fast the teacher must move the class before the end of the school year.

Discovery Ranch’s academic program is competency based. It focuses on outcomes of learning and is adapted to the needs of each student. As a competency based program, Discovery Ranch’s educational model emphasizes student mastery of standard curriculum with a minimum proficiency of 80%. The pace of instruction is based on the student’s needs, not the teacher’s schedule.

Discovery Ranch is not a packet program.  Students use standard textbooks divided into chapters. Learning is student paced and teacher-directed.   The student is required to complete each chapter with a score of 80% or higher in order to progress to the next chapter.  Our students also receive direct teaching every day.

Because we are so individualized we are able to challenge gifted students and accommodate students with IEP and 504 plans.

Parents receive continuous academic progress reports via the Parent Portal on the web.

The Standard Achievement Test, or SAT 9, is administered at the beginning of treatment, providing an assessment of academic progress. This test, and the student’s transcripts, provides a foundation for the student’s education plan, or SEP.
While Discovery Ranch’s competency based program focuses on learning outcomes, students have shown tremendous improvement in the learning process itself, making progress in:

• Developing organizational skills
• Improving textbook and note taking skills
• Increased reading comprehension and reading competency
• Improved reading speed and conceptualization
• Increased vocabulary and spelling competency
• Improved extraction of information through research
• Increased interest in college and vocational schools after high school
• Increased student self- confidence and self-esteem

We invite you to get to know us better by exploring our website, or, if you prefer, calling our admissions department at (801) 489-3311.

The Strength is in the Struggle ™