Academics
A foundation built to last
Christ-centered, mastery-based learning from preschool through twelfth grade.
Overview
Excellence, integrated with the Word of God
Elmwood strives to maintain a high quality of education for all students, challenging them to excel across a wide variety of academic disciplines. Our curriculum draws on several publishers—all integrated with the truth of God’s Word—and our teachers are highly trained in the subjects they teach. Each subject is taught from a Christian worldview, so students learn to evaluate facts in the light of biblical revelation.
We believe a strong education balanced with traditional moral standards is the prerequisite for success in business and life. Whether preparing students for a career or for higher education, Elmwood is committed to quality preparation for the future.
Elmwood students have consistently scored well above the national norms on the IOWA Standardized Assessments program.
Our Approach
Mastery-based learning
Rather than advancing students by age, Elmwood uses mastery-based learning: students demonstrate true mastery of material before moving forward. Modern mastery learning was pioneered by Benjamin Bloom of the University of Chicago, who observed that while students learn at different rates, virtually all learn well when given the necessary time and appropriate conditions.
Teachers organize content into short units; after instruction, a formative assessment (not a final grade) identifies gaps, students receive individualized corrective work, then take a parallel assessment. Students must demonstrate mastery—passing at 80% or above—to advance. We use the A Beka curriculum in the youngest grades and Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E.) from the upper-elementary years through 12th grade.
Programs
One school, every stage
Early Enrichment
A preschool environment filled with safety, comfort, and creativity. We emphasize social-emotional development and problem-solving through colors, shapes, beginning literacy, math and science concepts, imaginative play, art, music, games, and field trips—with the ABeka curriculum introducing letters and numbers and a foundation in the Bible.
Kindergarten
A four-year-old classroom built on adventure, friendships, and fun—matching or exceeding traditional full-day kindergarten. Students learn to write numbers and letters, begin phonics-based reading (reading simple words by mid-February), and study the Bible from creation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Advanced Kindergarten
Designed to challenge five-year-olds and prepare them for elementary school with a strong foundation in reading and writing. The ABeka curriculum covers vowel and consonant sounds, blends, and sentence comprehension; number skills through 100 with simple addition, subtraction, time, and money; and Bible doctrine with historical accounts from Scripture.
Elementary
A firm foundation of basic skills. Students receive instruction in Language, Reading, Vocabulary, Spelling, Writing, Handwriting, Math, Science, Bible, and Social Studies, as well as Computers, Art, Music, and Physical Education—using curriculum from ABeka and Accelerated Christian Education.
Junior & Senior High
As students progress, Elmwood challenges them to achieve more—becoming high-functioning and independent, and well prepared for college or the workforce without the remediation many students require.
Ready to Learn More?
See it for yourself
Visit our campus, meet our teachers, and discover where your child would begin and how Elmwood can serve your family.