Take our interest survey and share with others to help support Utah State Charter School Board approval and bring this school to life in our community.
Many families feel like school doesn't always meet their child where they are.
At PEAK Mastery Charter School, learning is designed around each child—helping students grow at their own pace, explore the world through meaningful experiences, and apply what they learn in real, lasting ways.
Our approach is built on five core ideas:
Personalized — Every student follows a learning path tailored to their strengths, needs, and pace, with support and coaching along the way.
Expeditionary — Learning goes beyond textbooks through hands-on projects, real-world exploration, and meaningful questions that spark curiosity.
Applied — Students don’t just learn concepts—they use them—creating, building, and solving real problems.
Knowledge — Strong academic foundations matter. Students develop deep understanding across subjects, not just surface-level memorization.
Mastery — Students progress when they truly understand, not based on time. They can revisit, improve, and grow until they reach confidence and competence.
Together, these elements create a school where learning is active, meaningful, and built to last—preparing students not just for tests, but for life.
We design learning experiences so knowledge stays with students, not just for a test, but for life. By combining strong academics with storytelling, reflection, discussion, and intentional breaks, students are able to process, connect, and retain what they learn in meaningful ways.
Stories & Memory
We use storytelling, patterns, and memory techniques to help students deeply understand and retain key concepts, making learning more engaging and easier to recall over time.
Reflection & Critical Thinking
Through journaling and Socratic discussions, students learn to think deeply, express ideas, ask questions, and make meaningful connections across subjects.
Wellbeing & Emotional Development
We incorporate simple techniques that support emotional regulation, focus, and confidence. This helps students feel calm, supported, and ready to learn.
Connection & Mentorship
Strong relationships matter. Teachers build lasting relationships with students over multiple years, providing consistent personalized support, deeper understanding, and mentorship as they grow.
Breaks, Play, & Processing
We intentionally build in breaks and time for play, recognizing that learning doesn’t only happen during instruction—it often happens when students have space to process, explore, and recharge.
Instead of a traditional school calendar, the year is organized into six learning cycles, each lasting six weeks.
The school year still follows the familiar August through May timeframe, with students having summer off just like most public schools. The six cycles are intentionally spaced throughout the year, with three cycles taking place before winter break and three after, creating a balanced and consistent rhythm for students and families.
Each cycle includes 24 days of on-site learning, with students attending Monday through Thursday for a full school day. Each cycle then concludes with a Celebration of Learning, bringing the total to 25 on-site days per cycle. Across the year, this adds up to 150 scheduled on-site days.
Fridays are designed differently. Rather than a one-size-fits-all school day, students have structured options based on their needs, goals, and interests. This may include at-home learning, on-site small group support, workshops, student clubs, field experiences, or time to continue working on projects. Over the course of the year, there are about 30 flexible Fridays, though this may vary slightly depending on the calendar and holidays.
This structure also allows for more intentional breaks throughout the year. For example, students may have extended breaks around certain holidays, such as a full week in February, rather than just a single day off. This provides families with greater flexibility to plan time together without students needing to miss school, while still maintaining a consistent and well-paced learning schedule.
At the end of each cycle, the Celebration of Learning provides an opportunity for students to share what they have been working on, reflect on their progress, and demonstrate their understanding in meaningful ways. Families are invited to be part of this experience, creating a strong connection between school and home.
While many traditional school models are built around approximately 180 on-site days, this structure is designed differently. By creating a consistent Monday through Thursday schedule and using Fridays more intentionally, students have more opportunities for individualized learning, deeper focus, and meaningful application. It also allows for greater flexibility for families while maintaining a clear and consistent rhythm throughout the year.
This approach supports both strong academic growth and the development of independence, responsibility, and real-world learning skills.
8:00-8:20 — Student arrival, soft start
8:20–9:05 — Homeroom (Connection & Wellbeing)
9:05–9:20 — Outdoor Recess
9:20–10:05 — Foundations Block (Math / Language Arts - mixed ages based on mastery)
10:05–10:20 — Outdoor Recess
10:20–11:05 — Independent Study & Coaching
11:05–11:20 — Recess
11:20–11:50 — Lunch
11:50–1:20 — Wonder Workshops (90 Minutes Daily expeditionary/interdisciplinary learning)
1:20–1:35 — Outdoor Recess
1:35–2:20 — Electives or Extended Wonder Workshops Option
2:20–2:30 — Homeroom Reconnection
2:30–3:30 — Socratic Discussions & Reading Adventures
3:30–3:35 — Clean-Up & Dismissal
Homeroom (Connection & Wellbeing)
A consistent start to the day focused on connection, emotional wellbeing, and readiness to learn. Students engage in practices like journaling, light movement, and group connection to help them feel grounded, supported, and prepared for the day ahead.
Each homeroom may include a larger group of students, supported by one coach and three aides. Students rotate through smaller groups of approximately 15, allowing for meaningful connection, individualized attention, and a supportive, community-centered environment.
Recess & Movement: Recess is intentionally designed to include both unstructured play and guided physical activity. Students may participate in group games that promote cooperation, coordination, and understanding of game rules, reinforcing skills developed in physical education.
In addition, regular movement throughout the day supports nervous system regulation, allowing students to release energy, improve attention, and return to academic work in a more focused and regulated state.
Foundations Block: Foundations is a small-group, mastery-based block where students receive targeted instruction in math and language arts and set goals for continued practice during Independent Study and Flexible Fridays.
Students also use and apply these skills throughout the day in Wonder Workshops and interdisciplinary projects, where learning comes to life in real-world contexts.
Independent Study & Coaching
A personalized learning block where students work on individual goals with guidance from their coach. This time allows for targeted support, goal setting, and continued practice based on each student’s level of mastery.
In addition, students are given opportunities to pursue areas of personal interest, supporting curiosity, self-direction, and meaningful engagement in learning.
Lunch (Leadership & Life Skills)
Lunch is designed as a community-based learning experience where students contribute to food preparation, service, and cleanup. Students may earn a food handler’s permit while developing responsibility, collaboration, and practical life skills.
The program emphasizes whole, nutrient-dense foods and includes nutrition education to help students build lifelong healthy habits and understand the connection between food, energy, and learning.
Wonder Workshops
Wonder Workshops are interdisciplinary, project-based learning experiences structured as expeditionary-style deep dives into real-world topics. Students integrate core academic subjects, including math, literacy, science, and social studies, within meaningful and applied contexts.
These experiences are enriched through music, storytelling, art, history, journaling, and social-emotional learning, supporting both academic growth and the development of the whole child.
Workshops typically range from 1–6 weeks depending on the topic, and students may participate in multiple workshops throughout a semester. Each workshop is designed to maintain smaller group sizes (approximately 20 students) to support collaboration, engagement, and individualized attention. Students experience a combination of core workshops and opportunities for choice, allowing them to explore areas of interest while ensuring a well-rounded education.
Electives (Deep Learning Cycles)
Students focus on one elective at a time in six-week cycles, allowing for deeper exploration, skill development, and creativity. This structure supports sustained engagement and meaningful growth in each area.
Homeroom Reconnection
A short end-of-day check-in where students reflect with their coach on their experiences, including successes and challenges. This time strengthens relationships and supports emotional awareness and growth.
Socratic Discussions & Reading Adventures
Reading becomes an adventure as students explore stories together through lively discussions, games, and shared experiences. Socratic discussions help students think deeply and share ideas, while fun, interactive reading activities help them build confidence and develop a love for books.
Your response to the interest survey helps demonstrate community need and supports approval for a Fall 2028 opening.