Imagine a place in which first grade students study science, history, math, music, and art by performing their very own circus. Picture an entire Middle School dressed in Elizabethan costume for a student-led day that includes performing plays and dances, participating in games and activities, and celebrating the Bard of Avon at a banquet. This is a glimpse into the richness of the curriculum offered at Avery Coonley.

Inspired both by early progressive education thinkers like John Dewey and current research on best practices in educating gifted learners, the program is designed to encourage students to reach their fullest intellectual, creative, and social potential. The accelerated curriculum is balanced with relevant and in-depth enrichment projects to challenge and engage students, help them build critical thinking and decision-making skills, and promote intellectual risk taking.