What is Novatio and who is it for?

Novatio is a Cognia-accredited virtual private school serving students in grades 2 through 8. It is built on a mastery-based model where students complete approximately two focused hours of personalized core academics each morning, then spend their afternoons in live clubs focused on practical skills, creativity, and real-world projects. Gilbert families who have been looking for a private online school that offers real teacher involvement, not just a playlist of videos, consistently point to that combination as the reason they made the switch. Every applicant is accepted regardless of grades, test scores, or current academic level.

How does Arizona ESA work for Gilbert families?

Every Arizona K-12 resident is eligible for the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account program. There is no income test and no disability requirement. The state deposits education funds into your child's ESA, and tuition is transferred to Novatio through your ClassWallet account. Novatio's Arizona tuition is $7,500 per school year. Because the transfer goes directly from ClassWallet to Novatio, your family does not write a tuition check. Any ESA funds remaining after tuition may be used for other approved educational expenses such as tutoring, curriculum, or educational therapies.

Is this really a personalized school or does every student follow the same lessons?

Students follow a shared academic schedule by subject block, but the work within each subject is personalized to where your child actually is right now. During the math block, for example, one student might be strengthening multiplication while another works on algebra. AI works behind the scenes to build each student's academic plan using real-time assessment data, placing them at the appropriate level and adjusting the pathway as they progress. A student may also be at different levels across subjects, so a strong math student who needs more reading support gets both without being held back in either area. You can read more about how this works on the curriculum page.

What do certified teachers actually do if AI is handling personalization?

AI adjusts the learning plan. Certified teachers provide the direct guidance, intervention, and human support students need throughout the school day. When a student gets stuck, a teacher steps in with additional explanation, one-on-one support, and accountability. Teachers also lead the live afternoon clubs, coach students through real projects, and monitor progress so no student quietly falls behind. One parent described it this way: 'This is NOT an AI school, this is a school that applies features of AI to customized learning for each child.' That distinction matters for Gilbert families who tried another online program and found themselves with monitoring software but no actual teaching.

What results have Novatio students achieved?

NWEA MAP data from Novatio's first cohort showed that students learned 4.6 times faster than expected during the measured period. Individual results vary, and that figure reflects cohort-level data rather than a guaranteed outcome for every student. As a specific example, one Novatio student moved from the 8th to the 80th percentile in reading over one year based on NWEA MAP scores. The mastery-based model is designed to identify and address learning gaps so students receive more practice where they need it and move forward when they are ready, rather than advancing on a calendar schedule regardless of whether the skill is solid.

What happens in the afternoons and why does it matter?

After core academics are done, students participate in two live clubs per session, with sessions rotating roughly every nine to eleven weeks. Clubs are built around a real challenge, a practical skill, and a project or measurable outcome rather than passive instruction. Past club examples include a financial literacy simulation aligned to the National Financial Capability Test, a game design club where students build and publish a Scratch game, and a critical-thinking club inspired by Model UN where students research global issues and defend positions with evidence. Not every club runs every session, and the lineup rotates, but the structure is consistent: students work toward something real with a teacher as coach. As one parent noted, 'The teachers and administration feel like part of our extended family, and best of all, the friendships made at school are organic and natural.'

Does Novatio support students with IEPs, 504 plans, or learning differences?

Many supports are built into the daily model rather than added only after a student begins to struggle. Individual pacing by subject, short focused session blocks, frequent breaks, text-to-speech, and regular teacher check-ins are standard features. For students who need more targeted support, Novatio offers a Special Education Support Program that may include case management, executive-function coaching, targeted reading support, and one-on-one specialist-led dyslexia intervention. Additional support services carry an additional cost, and for students with an IEP or 504, those additional costs are covered by the state. For questions about your child's specific situation, the best step is to review the special education support page or book a call with admissions.

How do Gilbert families get started?

The application takes under two minutes, there is no application fee, and there is no academic entry requirement. After you apply, you will complete an admissions call and finish enrollment paperwork. If you have not yet started your Arizona ESA, you will apply through the state and manage funds through ClassWallet once the account is active. Tuition then transfers directly from ClassWallet to Novatio, so your family pays nothing out of pocket. To talk through fit, funding questions, or your child's specific learning needs before applying, you can book a 1:1 call with Karissa at no cost and with no commitment.