Frequently Asked Questions

A micro school is an independent, private school, often consisting of blended ages, that is smaller in size than most traditional schools to allow for a more individualized, learner-focused environment.  More freedom for a comprehensive curriculum is a key component of micro schools as well.  While actual numbers per micro school vary, Wonder Academy NWI currently caps each cohort at 20 learners with a 10-1 learner-teacher/guide ratio.   

The 2024-25 school year begins September 3rd and culminates June 10th.  View calendar here.  The school day hours are 9:00-2:30 pm with morning drop off beginning at 8:30 am.  On-campus learning takes place Monday-Friday; however, there is a home-learning option available on Fridays.     

WANWI offers a holistic, comprehensive curriculum like no other.  WANWI learners will receive all the foundational skills which they will build upon through the years - math, literacy, science, and social studies - and they will also learn growth mindset planning and homesteading and life skills all while enjoying daily movement.  There are a variety of outdoors classrooms alongside the comfort of nature-inspired indoors classrooms.  By design, direct instruction is employed when useful to introduce new concepts, but the bulk of learning will be through projects and collaboration, and assessment will be driven by learners' needs with an emphasis on learner portfolios and real world skill application.  The current curricula catalog includes but is not limited to Add the Wonder, Your Natural Learner, Wild Math, Waseca, and MathStart.  WANWI learners also enjoy gaining new skills and experiences through our innovative Guest Guides program.         

The tuition schedule ranges from $6,250 - $7,200 per school year.  WANWI is a non-profit school and we are working to make it as affordable as possible.  We also plan to offer fundraising opportunities for our learners.     

While the skills acquired at WANWI will equip learners to pursue higher education through college/university or trade school, and learners will receive official transcripts upon graduation, assessment along the way is much more personalized rather than standardized.  Instead of report cards with letter grades, learning reports are based on achievement portfolios and goal tracking.  We celebrate mistakes as opportunities for growth, so learners work to master skills, not for final grades.    

Check out our Core Values to see how our educational philosophy impacts a typical school day at WANWI.   

WANWI is not affiliated with any one religious or spiritual path, nor is religious education in the curricula.  We do, however, believe that spiritual awareness is an integral aspect of personal development, and freedom of spiritual exploration is aways honored.  An individual's spiritual path begins at birth and it is personal and evolving, and learners are encouraged to ask their own questions and seek their own answers and to embrace the wonder and awe that is this wonderful world.  As with all aspects of this learner-driven school, we do not choose a path for them.   

While the following is certainly not a comprehensive list of resources, it is a great start to understanding some of the inspiration behind WANWI:

Books: 

Courage to Grow:  How Acton Academy Turns Learning Upside Down, by Laura Sandefer

Changing Our Minds, by Dr. Naomi Fisher 

Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids and How to Break the Trance, by Nicholas Kardaras

Hold Onto Your Kids:  Why Parents Need To Matter More Than Peers, by Gabor Mate

Smart Moves:  Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head, by Carla Hannaford

Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom, by Kerry McDonald

Research: 

Let the Children Play

Nature as the Teacher:  Exploring the Development and Growth of Nature Schools in the U.S.

Podcasts: 

Podcast — 1000 Hours Outside

Hannah Frankman – Writer, Podcaster, Educator, Brand Builder

Other digital resources: 

ScreenStrong (@bescreenstrong) • Instagram photos and videos