FAQs
Is Ideaventions Academy the right place for your child?
WHAT KIND OF STUDENT DOES IDEAVENTIONS ACADEMY LOOK FOR?
- Students who love to learn
- Students who love math
- Students who love science
- Students who love to make things
- Students who appreciate humanities
- Students who are resilient and have a growth mindset
- Students who enjoy a fast pace in mastering new material
- Students and families who are kind and crave an engaging learning community
- Students and families who are kind and contribute positively to their educational environment
what is the iq requirement to be considered for admission?
We are a unique school for unique students. We require a minimum IQ test of 130, unless a child demonstrates exceptional motivation and achievement. We also have a proportion of students designated as Highly and Profoundly Gifted. For more information about determination of giftedness, please visit Davidson Institute.
- Moderately gifted: 130 to 145
- Highly gifted: 145 to 160
- Profoundly gifted: 160 or higher
where do your students come from?
Our approach to gifted education is being noticed across the country and beyond. Locally, families make the commute from as far away as Alexandria or Leesburg. Several families have moved from outside of Virginia to join our school, including the Midwest, Texas, and Maryland, and even countries like Canada and Portugal!
HOW LONG HAS IDEAVENTIONS ACADEMY BEEN AROUND?
Our school started in 2010 as an out-of-school program for students who loved science and engineering and wanted exposure to hands-on, challenging science and engineering.
Over the years, families asked our founders to create a full-time school, and Ideaventions Academy was born in 2015. Since then, we have become one of the highest ranked schools in the nation, achieving the highest SAT scores in Virginia among both public and private schools.
Over the years, families asked our founders to create a full-time school, and Ideaventions Academy was born in 2015. Since then, we have become one of the highest ranked schools in the nation, achieving the highest SAT scores in Virginia among both public and private schools.
WILL MY CHILD HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK BEYOND HIS/HER GRADE LEVEL IF APPROPRIATE?
Yes, and....Our teachers provide individualized attention to meet each student where they are academically. Our students, on average, are 3.6 years ahead in math. What’s more important, we provide a strong math foundation so that upper levels come naturally. We do not value pushing students through math as fast as possible, as this sets up the student with a wobbly base of understanding the intrinsic beauty of math. We have four Post-AP math classes available, so there is ample opportunity for students to continue their love of learning based on their individual learning needs and abilities
HOW DOES IDEAVENTIONS ACADEMY RANK SO HIGHLY?
Our teachers are specialists in their fields and passionate about the subjects they teach. We minimize in-class repetition, encourage students to express their opinions freely and challenge them to learn concepts and develop the critical thinking skills they will use in furthering their education.
Students learn best in small classes with one teacher. As such, we value providing only one teacher (no teacher’s aide required) per class so that students receive individualized attention. No more than 8 students are enrolled per grade (1st-3rd grades) or generally 10 students per grade (4th-12th). We’ve learned that having more than twelve students in a classroom, regardless of additional teaching staff in the room, detracts from the ability to dive deep into conversations and learning, so we intentionally keep our classes small.
Students learn best in small classes with one teacher. As such, we value providing only one teacher (no teacher’s aide required) per class so that students receive individualized attention. No more than 8 students are enrolled per grade (1st-3rd grades) or generally 10 students per grade (4th-12th). We’ve learned that having more than twelve students in a classroom, regardless of additional teaching staff in the room, detracts from the ability to dive deep into conversations and learning, so we intentionally keep our classes small.
DO you support students with learning or emotional challenges?
All students are expected to be working at least at grade level as most of our students work well above grade level.
On occasion, we can accommodate students with mild learning differences. However, students with attention issues, learning struggles, and/or anxiety, might not be a good fit for our rigorous program as we move quickly and delve deeply into the learning material and produce substantial written works.
Families with support already in place may be able to work with the school to keep those depending on the schedule needs. For instance, a reading or learning specialist that the family hires outside of the school might be permitted to meet with the student within school hours at the school. Families might also choose to utilize outside tutoring for their unique learning needs.
While we look at each application individually and holistically, our program is not a good fit for students with behavioral, cognitive or language struggles. Suspected or known emotional and/or learning differences must be disclosed at the time of admission so that we can have an accurate assessment of how we might or might not be able to work with the student’s needs.
Due to the trust and freedom we give our students, students with behavioral challenges are not a good fit.
On occasion, we can accommodate students with mild learning differences. However, students with attention issues, learning struggles, and/or anxiety, might not be a good fit for our rigorous program as we move quickly and delve deeply into the learning material and produce substantial written works.
Families with support already in place may be able to work with the school to keep those depending on the schedule needs. For instance, a reading or learning specialist that the family hires outside of the school might be permitted to meet with the student within school hours at the school. Families might also choose to utilize outside tutoring for their unique learning needs.
While we look at each application individually and holistically, our program is not a good fit for students with behavioral, cognitive or language struggles. Suspected or known emotional and/or learning differences must be disclosed at the time of admission so that we can have an accurate assessment of how we might or might not be able to work with the student’s needs.
Due to the trust and freedom we give our students, students with behavioral challenges are not a good fit.
Are TEACHERS QUALIFIED IN SPECIAL EDUCATION?
No. Ideaventions Academy does not have certified special education teachers on staff. However, we may be able to accommodate some mild learning differences, depending on the makeup of the existing student body and the specific needs of the child. We believe in an open and honest dialogue during the admissions process in order to best serve the needs of each student.
DOES IDEAVENTIONS ADMIT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS?
We are able to admit qualified international students if the student lives with their parents here in the United States. We expect to be able to support students with F-1 students in the next few months, so that international students can join Ideaventions for Fall of 2025.
who can i contact for more information?
Please reach out to our Admissions Director, Liz Crowder at [email protected]
