Vector Progressive School
a bright spot for bright kids...
Vector Progressive is an independent progressive secondary school in near north Denver serving gifted and talented students aged 11-18 across the Denver metropolitan area.
vector [vek-ter] noun/verb:
- possessing both magnitude and direction, represented by a proportional arrow
- quantities transform in a particular way under change
- to guide direction or course by issuing appropriate headings
- an array of data within which individuals can be located by identity
- in addition to all the nuances above, a learning community driven by the need to ask big questions and be a part of larger conversations about learning
- What is PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION?
- Why SHOULD I ATTEND Vector?
- WHO ARE THE KIDS who attend Vector?
- WHO WILL BE HELPING ME discover the world?
- WHEN DOES LEARNING TAKE PLACE at Vector?
- WHERE is Vector located?
If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow. - John Dewey
Vector Progressive School is a nonprofit 501(c)3.
As part of the Center for Bright Kids, Vector Progressive maintains the mission and vision of offering opportunities and experiences that engage the entire kid – intellectual, social, emotional, personal, and ethical.
We believe that it is essential to uphold an authentic commitment to reflect the broad diversity of our families, communities, and region within our school and to pursue a socially just curriculum through culturally relevant pedagogies that challenge our understandings of the sociocultural contexts which surround us.
We will encourage imaginative thinking, a discovery of the world, a passion for thinking and playing, and a world view that emphasizes recognition of our role as members of a global community.
We promote student independence, confidence, empowerment and positive self-esteem through respectful, responsible, and accountable contributions in a community that is safe and responsive to the need for a sense of belonging.
Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking - learning naturally results. - John Dewey
INTEGRATED THEMATIC UNITS - flowing from one global theme, curriculum is designed to connect academic disciplines by authentically relating to real-world contexts. Integrated units still meet established academic content standards but also create school community coherence with multi-leveled units of study.
INTERDISCIPLINARY CURRICULUM - a knowledge view and curriculum approach that consciously applies methodology and language from more than one discipline to examine a central theme, issue, problem, topic, or experience. Curriculum across content areas must have carefully conceived design features: a scope and sequence, a cognitive taxonomy to encourage thinking skills, behavioral indicators of attitudinal change, and a solid evaluation scheme.
SOCIAL JUSTICE PEDAGOGY - we must begin to look at education intersectionally. We cannot talk about schools without addressing race, class, gender, ability, sexuality, and politics, because education is a political act. To ignore intersectionality within schools erases the very identities present in our classrooms and in our respective communities, every day.
FLIGHT PLAN - a unique counseling approach for lifelong learning where students begin to map out their next steps after secondary education, including why their defined goals are meaningful to their futures. Flight Plans are drafted by a committee of the student’s choosing and help shape and provide a path for the next four years with us as a process that will be continually adapted to student growth. These Flight Plans provide a guide for semi-annual family conferences.
Education is not an affair of “telling” and being told, but an active and constructive process. - John Dewey
ACCELERATION and GIFTEDNESS - because our full community spans 6th-12th grade accelerated curriculum, student needs can be met both when addressing twice exceptionalities demanding additional learning supports, as well as prodigious learning where a student may be a “grade level” or more ahead in comprehension, application, and mastery.
BLOCK SCHEDULING - our schedule is designed to support interdisciplinary curriculum with two large comprehensive STEM and Humanities team blocks. We also support the focus of the gifted mind on full immersion in a project or idea that typically does not align well with 50-minute traditional class periods. This model allows for depth versus breadth.
CO-TEACHING - collaboration is part of the progressive school model, so every period has two teachers available to students in one of the following methodologies depending on the structure of the day, unit, or specific individual or small group student needs: lead and support teaching; station teaching; parallel teaching; or team teaching.
CLEARANCES - at the end of every three-week unit, students will have worked daily in their Intensives (small group or individual passion projects synthesizing that integrated theme and following their Flight Plan if in Fusion) to create their Clearance for that particular unit. The full school community will participate in Clearances with one another over 1-3 days to engage in new perspectives, discoveries, or techniques. Clearances will not include any testing.
HOLDING PATTERN - following every unit, the full school has either a 4-day weekend break or one of the three full breaks (fall, winter, spring) to reboot and change gears as we wait refreshed for the next unit.
WHEELS UP and the FINAL APPROACH - shorter school-wide units at the start and finish of the school year that help us develop community, provide clear beginnings and endings, and serve as celebrations to mark the academic year.
Education, therefore, is a process of living. - John Dewey
SELF IN COMMUNITY - your self-awareness and self-actualization are a big part of what it means to be a learner, and an even more important part of understanding who you are in relationship with and to others.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT - from physical systems and structures that support socioemotional health to full time staff members who work with kids in intrinsic ways, mental health is a critical part of our overall mission and practice.
BEYOND THE LABELS - reasonable accommodations for unique needs are always available, but identifying kids as a “problem” or diagnosis rather than a kid first is problematic and is not our practice.
The most important attitude that can be formed is that of desire to go on learning. - John Dewey
School Tour - as soon as we are able, we’d love to personally show you around, but until that time, please contact us for a slideshow walkthrough to help you get a feel for our curriculum, instruction, and community. We are also happy to schedule an enrollment meeting or summer classroom visit to answer questions!
Application - enrollment opens May 24, 2021, and will continue until Sept 7, 2021. Second round enrollments will open Dec 1, 2021, through Jan 3, 2022. There is a nonrefundable $100 application fee. Please contact us if you are experiencing a unique situation outside of these windows.
Enrollment spaces are limited, as Vector is a small school community. We will waitlist students who apply after final spots have been filled.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW
Tuition - due to the personalized nature of our school model, tuition for the 2021-2022 school year is $22,000. Financial aid is available (please see Giving).
Admissions Decisions - we will communicate with you throughout this process and are here to answer any questions you may have as we partner to determine if Vector meets your educational goals and dreams. Admission is a three-step process.
- The first step is a general online application and requires a $100 nonrefundable application fee.
- If your student meets basic entrance criteria, we will then ask for a student essay and interview and family interview to determine best fit.
- Within approximately one week of completing the application process, we will share final admissions decisions about enrollment with you.
Tuition Assistance - Vector is developing an endowment specifically to support financial assistance for students with economic need who are the right fit for the school. If you are interested in investing in the opportunity for a kid to take advantage of attending Vector, please contact us!
Matching Gifts - Does your employer encourage giving? Taking advantage of your employer’s matching gift program doubles the impact of your gift to Vector. Check with your human resources department if you are unsure whether your company participates in a matching program.
Gifts in Kind - non-cash donations, which fulfill specific needs approved by the school such as computers, furniture, classroom supplies, materials, books, equipment and many other items that can support the curriculum, activities, and facilities. Reach out to the school if you have items you’re interested in donating in-kind. One of our first efforts will be building out the school library!