K-8 Curriculum
K-8 Students use Compass Learning's accredited, reasearch-based, interactive web curriculum, which enables parents to see the work their child(ren) have been doing at any time. 

The K-2 kids also have Spalding phonics, Spalding writing, spelling, government and reading groups.

GRADING PROCESS K-8
The Star program has a grading process to ensure a common, consistent reporting system for all students.  Students must master all core academic state standards with a 70% or better or the student may be retained.  The teacher or principal may choose to accept a passing score on the AIMS test as proof of mastery.

HIGH SCHOOL
At Sequoia Star junior high students benefit from:
  • Junior high courses available from several online curriculum providers
  • On-line and in-person school electives
  • Course recovery classes
  • In person, online, and phone tutoring
  • Personalized support, daily availability
  • State testing preparation
  • Ongoing technical support

HIGH SCHOOL
Sequoia Star offers High School Students:
  • Over 400 high school courses, including SCDL classes and those provided by BrighamYoung University and Maricopa Community Colleges.
  • Two diploma options: standard & Academic
  • Full graduation ceremony
  • State testing preparation

ELECTIVES
  • Dance (swing, hip hop, ballet, jazz, tap)
  • Voice lessons
  • Musical theater
  • Digital photography
  • Multimedia (including powerpoint and taking apart computers)
  • Modeling
  • Pageant preparation
  • Art (drawing, painting, computer art)
  • and more, depending upon student interests

ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS
Students will be encouraged to participate in several academic competitions as part of their class work.  Academic competitions provide a framework for hands-on, student-centered learning that motivates students through the excitement of competition, and through recognition for their work.  Competitions develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will help students manage and use information effectively now and in the future.  Parents are responsible for any fees, material costs, and travel expenses involved with each competition.

SCIENCE FAIR
All students in grades 3-12 are required to participate in Sequoia’s district science fair. A primary goal at Sequoia Star is to educate children in the fundamentals of scientific thought. At the end of the school year, each student presents a Science Fair project using the Scientific Method: Stating a question, testing the question, and then telling what happened. Awards will be given at the local and district levels.

FIELD TRIPS
Students at Sequoia Star are provided numerous fieldtrip opportunities. All fieldtrips are optional but students not attending fieldtrips must work from home since all teachers are required to chaperone fieldtrips (unless otherwise noted).  A complete fieldtrip schedule will become available at the front desk.
ASSESSMENT
All students are given individual placement tests in reading, writing, and math within one week of enrollment.

Placement tests give teachers insight into the best placement for each child. Our aim is to give students the chance to be challenged at their own individual level of readiness and an opportunity to progress while doing their personal best. Our expectation is to have each student working at least one full year above grade level by the end of the school year whenever possible.  This program is open to all Sequoia Choice students.

Several types of tests are used at the SSA lab:

  • McCall-Crabb Comprehension Test (grades 3-12), three times per year
  • DIBLES reading (grades K-2), three times per year
  • SCORE Math Assessments (grades 3-12), two times per year
  • SCORE Math Micros (grades 3-12), two times per week
  • 6 Traits Writing (grades 3-12), three times per year
  • TerraNova (grades 2 & 9), one time per year
  • AIMS (grades 3-8, 10-12), one time per year

When looking at test scores, please remember they are only one indicator of student performance. In addition to ability or achievement, test scores are influenced by the child’s motivation.

READING PROGRAM
Students are required to participate in the Star  independent reading program.  Each student is required to read for a minimum of 15 minutes nightly. Incentives are awarded within each class as well as school recognition each semester at scholastic awards assemblies.

HOMEWORK POLICY
Sequoia Star has a rigorous daily academic program that requires a great deal of work to be completed in a short period of time. Although Star believes students should complete the majority of their academic work during the school day at the Star lab, if a student does not use their lab time wisely, procrastinates on deadlines, or is generally slower to get their work done they should expect regular homework. All students are expected to participate in the reading program at home. All K-2 students are expected to complete the phonogram, site word, and reading homework that is essential for learning to read successfully. All homework assignments are to be placed in the student’s homework folder each afternoon BY THE STUDENT.

PROGRESS REPORTS
K-8 parents may view student progress at any time by going to www.childu.com and using the log in and password assigned by Sequoia Choice. Middle School and high school students will have additional classes that will produce monthly progress reports. Parents are responsible for accessing their student’s progress report on-line prior to requesting a parent-teacher conference.

In addition, teachers may contact parents any time throughout the grading period if a student is making slow or difficult progress in a subject area, or has behavior problems. If you are concerned, please feel free to prearrange an afternoon conference with the teacher (after accessing student information on-line).

STUDENT RETENTION
Local school boards are required to set standards consistent with the state guidelines for promotion from grade to grade. If your child’s homeroom lab advisor or teacher(s) thinks your child will benefit by staying in his or her current grade, you will be involved in meetings with the lab advisor, teacher(s), administrator, and other staff members in your child’s education. However, state law provides that final promotion-retention decisions are made by the primary teacher. If you choose not to accept the teacher’s decision, you may request in writing that the administrator review the decision.


Star Students work as
fast as they can in all grade
levels and may do above grade 
level work as soon as they
pass the current state standards. 

K-8 students are not graded on the
amount of WORK they do, they are
graded on the amount of STANDARDS
they pass.

We are a highly performing school with most AIMS and Terra Nova test scores above average!
Sequoia's Star Performing Arts is a program through Sequoia Choice Distance Learning accredited by the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA), an alliance of the largest American school accrediting associations.  CITA is recognized as an accrediting authority throughout the United States and around the world.