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At Galileo Preparatory Academy, parents and learners decide what school will look like for them. The building is open every day, with exception of holidays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. With access to a 12-month calendar year, and in partnership with their Galileo academic adviser, families set their own schedule for daily learning, seasonal breaks, and holidays. Parents and learners can further customize the learning experience by selecting their own ratio of in-person and virtual study as offered in the catalog of Galileo offerings.

According to the posted 12-month calendar, Galileo’s building will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and online learning is available 24/7. Families set their learner’s schedule in partnership with a Galileo academic adviser.

Galileo is a candidate for accreditation by Cognia, which also applies to approval by the state of Tennessee.

GPA offers everything middle and high schools offer and more.

Galileo has a heavy focus on STEAM courses, and learners may choose to focus on a number of supplemental areas of study, including but not limited to: drone certification, e-sports, animation, ARC-GIS, and computer engineering. These focus areas are personalized to their learning preferences and passions. Beginning in 6th grade, learners begin determining their own academic goals in student-led conferences, where they review their goals, assess progress, and review benchmarks and portfolio items with parents and instructors. In traditional schools, teachers are often the ones leading learning parent conferences. At Galileo, we begin teaching learners to be independent self-starters from the moment they enroll. This includes fostering the capacity to set a goal, be thoughtful, and act responsibly to meet that goal. We often refer to this as agency, and research has proved it is critical to learners’ success in school, career, and life. From day one, we begin preparing learners to be responsible for their own learning, so that they will be successful adults.

Our purpose-driven curriculum consists of four pillars:

1. Core: Traditional studies in English, mathematics, history, and the sciences
2. Focus: In-depth study in graphic arts and design, IT, gaming, and business leadership
3. Dialogues: Growing skills in problem-solving, communication, and self-expression through exploration of the arts
4. Community: Developing interests and skills that improve the common good

Learners are required to complete the traditional requirements for matriculation from grade to grade and to receive a diploma, such as four years of English. At Galileo, they will have the opportunity to dive deeply into focus areas such a graphic design and dialogues such as theater.

At GPA, families set their own schedule in a way that is customized to the learner. Parents and learners decide what school will look like for them. The building is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and in partnership with their Galileo academic adviser, families set their own custom curriculum and schedule. Parents and learners can further customize the learning experience by selecting their own ratio of in-person and virtual study.

Galileo considers grades 6-9 the formative years to transition into secondary school to prepare for college and/or career and focus on teaching maturity and agency. Beginning in 6th grade, learners drive student-led conferences, where they customize and review their goals, benchmarks, and portfolio items with parents and instructors. In traditional schools, teachers are often the ones leading learning conferences. At Galileo, we begin teaching learners to be independent self-starters from the moment they enroll. This includes fostering the capacity to set a goal, be thoughtful, and act responsibly to meet that goal. We often refer to this as agency, and research has proved it is critical to learners’ success in school, career, and life.

Beginning in 10th grade, learners participate in a fully mastery-based course of study, offering more flexibility as they prepare for college and/or careers. Learners in grades 10-12 will have the opportunity to participate in STEAM internships and develop entrepreneurship ideas and even start their first business while in high school under the mentorship of a successful entrepreneur. Technically rich electives will provide early career exposure for students as they begin to determine areas of focus such as UX design, data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Galileo’s business partners award credentials in blockchain to its learners upon completion of course clusters. Those credentials stay with learners through college/career and beyond. Learners can earn professional certifications in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, AutoCAD, Drones: Remote Pilot Certificate, and more.

All math content beginning in middle school will be mastery-based. Additionally, GPA will provide small group math instruction, where students work together to solve real-world math problems to complement mastery-based math instruction. Services will be available for middle school students who need additional support with math instruction.

Beginning at grade 10, learners can participate in a mastery-based course of study that allows them to advance at their own pace.

Technology is at the center of everything we do at Galileo and an important vehicle for delivering curriculum and instruction. We pride ourselves on offering state-of-the-art technology, allowing learners to have a seamless, hands-on learning experience whether they are on- or off-site.

At Galileo, learners and instructors across the country and around the world will connect through the use of technology. We use technology as a tool for communication, discovery, and exploration for our students, allowing them to recognize that geographic separations among people and cultures are small, which is what allows us to live in a global society today. We teach learners to use technology for fun such as e-gaming, for scientific discoveries, and to create opportunities for interaction with others. Our learners meet on our virtual campus to work on their project-based learning assignments, while others meet with a Galileo instructor in our virtual tea shop to discuss assignments.

Galileo instructors are all trained in inquiry-based learning and project-based learning (PBL), and are all International Baccalaureate-trained, in order that they instruct with a global perspective, where learners are taught to think critically and relate learning to real-world concepts. Our instructors also participate in ongoing professional development, teacher evaluations (online blended with face-to-face), and public-facing learner ratings and family ratings on performance.

Our typical student-to-teacher ratio is 10:1. 

Everyone is welcome at Galileo. Our students are expected to celebrate diversity and will be taught through a global perspective, where they learn to think critically and creatively through collaboration.

We embrace students who learn differently, as well. If you have questions about whether Galileo is the right fit to support your child’s unique learning needs, please contact us.

Galileo requires physical education but does not schedule it during school hours. Instead, each Galileo learner receives a Fitbit-style device and is required to log 2.5 hours of activity per week. This activity is at the discretion of the learner and the learner’s family. This allows learners to explore types of activity they are most interested in and build lifelong healthy habits. The learner’s academic adviser will review the weekly data with each learner and discuss results.

All learners are required to be deeply involved in our commitment to community service, as it is a core component of our commitment to diversity. When working with their academic advisers, learners will identify service areas where they feel passion. A learner’s academic adviser will work with each student and the Galileo community outreach specialist to design an individualized service project that meets program requirements.

Sixth through 9th grade learners are to complete 10 hours of community service per semester; 10th through 12th grade learners are to complete 10 hours per semester.

Galileo students have the opportunity to participate in e-sports, mock trial, academic clubs, social clubs, debate, and more. We have also found that our model is ideal for students participating in travel sports.

At GPA, we offer an annual membership that includes all textbooks, learning materials, and a laptop. That cost is $24,000 and can be broken into monthly payments.

No, there is not an entrance exam. However, we do ask each new Galileo learner to take a diagnostic placement exam to help us customize their course of study.

We do not provide transportation to and from Galileo, but our flexible scheduling model allows families to set a time for in-person learning that is most convenient for them.

There is not a cafeteria available at Galileo, and students are encouraged to pack their own meals and snacks. A refreshment bar is available on-site with decaf drinks and snacks.

Uniforms are not required at GPA, but we do have a dress code.

At GPA, we offer an annual membership that includes all textbooks, learning materials, and a laptop.

Galileo takes the responsibility of preparing students for college and career seriously. Therefore, learners will have the option of an ACT and SAT test preparation course. Additionally, college and career counseling are provided, and academic advisers monitor and require students to submit college applications. The Galileo college counseling staff supports families in a timely and efficient manner as they make college visits and career decisions.

Galileo’s mission is centered around preparing learners to succeed in an increasingly connected world. GPA provides advanced placement offerings with college credits included, internships, exposure to professions, mentoring programs, and industry-leading certification programs in technical areas such as IT.