Arizona ranks 48th in the nation for education, and its recovery since the pandemic has lagged behind much of the country. Enrollment continues to decline across districts, and many students remain below grade level in core subjects. As National School Choice Week runs Jan. 25–31, these challenges are pushing more Arizona families to seek alternatives that emphasize measurable growth, flexibility, and stronger outcomes.

Novatio School and Unbound Academy have emerged in direct response to that demand. Both are Arizona-based, AI-powered schools built on a simple premise: when students learn at their own pace, with daily insight into their progress and time to explore real-world interests, they do more than catch up. They move ahead.

“Our model is built around three commitments to families,” says Michael Goto, Head of School at Unbound Academy. “Students grow academically at least twice as much as they typically would, they build real-life skills they can carry into the workforce and beyond, and they actually love school.”

Unlike traditional schools that measure progress quarterly or annually, Novatio and Unbound use AI-supported systems that track student growth daily. Teachers review performance from the previous day, adjust instruction in real time, and ensure students are consistently moving toward individualized academic goals.

To measure growth over time, not just proficiency, the schools use nationally normed MAP assessments. This allows educators and families to compare student progress against peers across Arizona and the country. The results have been notable. This year, 55 percent of students are learning more than one full year of curriculum, and 32 percent are on track to complete two years of academic growth in a single school year. At a time when many students statewide are testing below grade level, Novatio and Unbound students are closing gaps and accelerating forward.

Perhaps most striking is how that growth is achieved. Core academics are completed in just two focused hours each day. The remaining time is dedicated to hands-on workshops and real-world learning, including entrepreneurship labs, creative studios, language immersion, robotics, broadcasting, financial literacy, and capstone passion projects. “More seat time is not the answer,” Goto says. “When learning is personalized and mastery-based, students do not need seven hours a day to make progress. Giving kids their afternoons back does not reduce engagement. It unlocks it.”

Accountability remains central to the model. Teachers conduct routine one-on-one check-ins with students to review academic progress and overall well-being, identify motivators, and adjust goals as needed. Incentives are individualized, ranging from project-based rewards to shared experiences with teachers, reinforcing both responsibility and connection.

The schools also reflect two distinct but complementary paths within Arizona’s school choice landscape. Unbound Academy is a tuition-free public charter school, allowing families to remain in the public system while bypassing district lotteries and boundary constraints. Novatio School is a private, virtual, AI-driven school for grades 4–8 that can be funded through Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program, giving families flexibility to direct education dollars toward alternative models.

What sets Novatio School and Unbound Academy apart:

• AI-Powered Academics: Core subjects completed in just two focused hours per day, allowing students to master material more efficiently.
• Daily Progress Tracking: Student growth is measured every day, giving teachers real-time insight and the ability to adjust instruction immediately.
• National Benchmarks: MAP assessments are used to track growth over time and compare progress against peers statewide and nationally.
• Accelerated Outcomes: Fifty-five percent of students are learning more than one year of curriculum, with 32 percent on track to complete two years in a single school year.
• Real-World Learning: Afternoons are dedicated to hands-on workshops, including entrepreneurship, creative studios, language immersion, robotics, broadcasting, and financial literacy.
• High-Touch Accountability: Regular one-on-one teacher check-ins focus on academic goals, motivation, and overall student well-being.
• School Choice Options: Families can choose between a tuition-free public charter option through Unbound Academy or an ESA-eligible private option through Novatio School.

As Arizona families navigate school closures, enrollment uncertainty, and a system under strain, National School Choice Week underscores why innovation matters now more than ever. Novatio and Unbound are not simply offering new seats. They are offering a fundamentally different approach to learning, one designed for a future shaped by adaptability, creativity, and technology. “To change outcomes, the system itself has to change,” Goto says. “School choice gives families that opportunity, and Arizona is becoming a proving ground for what’s possible when innovation leads.”

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