Frequently Asked Questions
Microschools are educational programs where children can safely come together in small groups. Microschools have a caring adult to organize the day and guide the learning process. The typical ratio for adults to children in a microschool is one adult to 10 students.
School hours may vary from location to location, and are determined with the instructor’s and families’ needs in mind. For each school’s specific hours, please click here.
Before- and after-school care varies by location. Please click here for more information.
Come visit us! The best way to determine if Spark is right for your child is to come in and visit with us. We’d be delighted to talk with you and your child(ren), to ensure all of your questions are answered. Come to an Information Session.
Spark Community Schools may be right for your child, if you are looking for a safe, focused, and community-oriented education environment. With a typical ratio of one adult to 10 students, you can be assured that your child will receive individualized attention while learning in a small, organic, and intentionally outside-of-system setting. At Spark Community Schools, we believe learning should be fun, and we strive to ensure our students have a love for learning that will last a lifetime.
In addition to our fun and heart-centered approach to learning, we also use a blend of technology-based and teacher-led instruction. Our guides support students with social emotional learning, reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and project-based learning to give them a well-rounded educational experience. Our microschool content is rigorous and aligns with Arizona state standards, so you can be confident knowing your child is receiving a high-quality education.
Overall, if you are looking for a school that values individual attention, creativity, and a focus on social and emotional learning, Spark Community Schools could be perfect for your child. Our multi-age approach to education provides a unique opportunity for students to learn from one another, and our emphasis on fun, love, and excellence ensures your child will thrive and grow.
View our sample daily learning schedule.
Your student will have an incredible opportunity to learn a variety of subjects at Spark Community Schools. We use a combination of technology-based and teacher-led instruction to ensure students can effectively master each subject. Throughout the week, our teachers will provide guidance to students with respect to social emotional learning, reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and project-based learning. We believe in a well-rounded education, so your student will be exposed to a variety of subjects and teaching methods to foster their learning and growth.
Spark Community Schools’ curriculum has both a technology-based and teacher-led instruction to ensure students fully grasp each subject. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive educational experience that caters to the different learning styles of our students. Throughout the school week, instructors provide support and guidance in various subject areas including social emotional learning, reading, writing, math, science, social studies and project-based learning. By using both technology and instructor support, we are confident students are well-equipped with the skills necessary to succeed academically, while also developing strong social and emotional skills.
At Spark Community Schools, we take the safety and security of our students very seriously. Therefore, we ensure all classroom instructors and assistants undergo a thorough background check before they are hired. Our background check includes a criminal history records check, which is completed through the Arizona Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AZAFIS). Additionally, all staff members are required to have a valid fingerprint card completed through the Identity Verified Print (IVP) clearance card. We believe these measures not only provide peace of mind to parents, but also help us maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students.
Our instructors and assistants come from diverse backgrounds and have varied work and teaching experiences. We have instructors with experience in classroom teaching, childcare, education, after-school programs, and summer camps. Some of our assistants have worked as childcare providers or as classroom aides.
Required skills and qualifications for our instructors and assistants include having a high school diploma or GED, strong communication skills, basic computer skills, and the ability to pass a Level One background check, drug screening, and obtain an IVP fingerprint clearance card.
We highly prefer instructors and assistants who have experience working with children in an applicable setting, such as schools, camps, or after-school programs. Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish also is highly preferred.
Regardless of their experience, all of our instructors and assistants will receive extensive support and professional development throughout the school year. We are committed to ensuring they have the skills they need to effectively support our students’ academic and personal well-being.
At Spark Community Schools, your child will be given access to a comprehensive education program that can prepare them for high school. Spark Community Schools’ blend of technology-based and teacher-led instruction ensures students can master the necessary content, while the focus on social emotional learning, reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and project-based learning equips them with the core skills they need.
Moreover, the school’s rigorous content, that aligns to Arizona state standards, can help students meet and even exceed the academic requirements needed for high school level work. Overall, the combination of comprehensive content, rigorous instruction, and social emotional learning, will help prepare your child for high school years and beyond.
While accreditation is not required of private schools or microschools in the state of Arizona, Spark Community Schools will provide a rigorous and aligned learning environment that meets Arizona state standards. Our school’s curriculum and teaching methods have been carefully designed to ensure students receive a high-quality education that prepares them for success in their future endeavors. We hold ourselves to the highest standards and strive to provide students with the best education possible. At Spark Community Schools, we take our responsibility to help students develop academically, socially, and emotionally very seriously, and we are confident our approach will produce excellent results.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: Spark Community Schools, LLC admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.