Guest blog post by Lisa Crosby, Ed.D., Custom Learning Academy’s Founder, Director and Educator.
Truckee’s educational gem attracts families: Meet Custom Learning Academy
Where do students excel based on a truly tailored and proven approach to education?
Where do children gain emotional intelligence as well as content knowledge and critical thinking skills?
Where can children thrive in an educational environment based on accentuating strengths, improving on a weekly basis, learning at their level or overcoming learning challenges?
Right in Truckee, CA at Custom Learning Academy, the school I founded in 2005 as an alternative to existing options that just were not meeting all of our children’s needs. More and more families are realizing that they can make their vacation home a primary home or make the move to the Tahoe Reno area given the quality of K-12 education available.
I’ve called Tahoe Donner home since 1993. My family and I enjoy all of the year-round recreational options and wonderful sense of community offered by the incredible resources in our small mountain town. As someone who cares deeply about Truckee Tahoe and education, I take great pride in sharing the strengths of our experienced educators and the opportunities provided by CLA.
CLA is a WASC-accredited, independent K-12 school with a highly tailored curriculum based on national education standards, exceptional educators and a nurturing and flexible learning environment. We are also UC a-g accredited, offer 15 AP level classes and have NCAA approval if your child is aiming for an athletic college scholarship. We have grown from a small tutoring program to a vibrant school environment because families are attracted to – and see the results of – a highly personal approach to education. CLA creates a solid foundation for lifelong learning and success.
Our full time enrollment includes 60 full time families and 40 additional students take advantage of supplementary offerings including courses for credit, tutoring, homework club and independent study.
As we look ahead, our goal is to enroll 80 full time Custom Learning Academy students while consistently offering the tutoring, assessment and Homework Club that Tahoe Truckee families depend on. We take pride in being an educational resource for our community. With more families moving to the area after visiting our school, we are confidant we will reach our goal in the coming three years. Here are some reasons why.
Why Custom Learning Academy?
The top 10 reason parents choose CLA, an independent, Kindergarten through twelfth grade school in Tahoe Donner, a neighborhood in Truckee:
- We honor an unheard of student to teacher ratio of 10 students (or less) to one educator across grades in elementary, middle and high school
- All students are held to mastery in a proven educational environment that emphasizes learning and 21st century skills.
- School hours that simply make sense!
Our standard school week takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. And our School year begins after Labor Day in September, to us, August is summer!
- We offer a highly adaptable year-round schedule for student athletes and families that require flexibility on account of travel or other commitments
- Weekly Friday performances build confidence, public speaking and presentation skills while showcasing learning in all grades beginning in Kindergarten
- Private music instruction included each week for our Full Time students, includes guitar, piano, voice or drums
- Foreign language options include Chinese, Spanish, French and German and our fine art classes engage students and foster creativity and skill
- Daily physical education program includes yoga, dance, Nordic skiing and outdoor play. In addition, high school students can participate on local varsity and town teams
- Parents receive a weekly report that highlights learning progress
- CLA is truly an affordable option for Truckee, Tahoe and Reno.
Our current annual full time tuition is $11,000 for elementary students and $14,500 for secondary students.
Please come see yourself! Schedule a shadow day for your student along with a complimentary meeting with myself and discover why it is the school of choice for many families in Truckee, Tahoe and Reno.
Isn’t it time education evolved – around your child? Learn more at customlearning.org and follow our updates on Facebook.
Lisa Crosby, M.Ed. has twenty years of teaching experience and holds credentials in K-8 Elementary education, Multiple Subject Mathematics with Calculus, Physical Science and Literacy. She is the founder and director of Custom Learning Academy, a fully accredited WASC school in Tahoe Donner. She can be reached at (530) 587-5470.
