Novatio is a Cognia-accredited virtual private school serving students in grades 2 through 8. Students follow a structured morning of personalized core academics, supported by certified teachers and adaptive technology, then join live afternoon clubs built around real projects and practical skills. For McKinney families who qualify, the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program can cover Novatio's $8,500 annual tuition in full.

What exactly is Novatio and who is it for?

Novatio is a private, fully virtual school accredited by Cognia, the same body that accredits traditional public and private schools. It serves students in grades 2 through 8 across Texas. The school is built on a mastery-based model: students work through the five core subjects — math, reading, language, science, and social studies — at the level that matches their current skills rather than their age or grade label. Novatio has no academic entry requirements, so a student does not need a particular GPA or test score to be accepted.

How does a student's day actually work?

Students complete approximately two hours of focused, personalized core academics each morning. All students work on the same subject during each block, but each student works at their own level within that subject. During the math block, for example, one student might be strengthening multiplication while another is working through algebra. AI works behind the scenes to adjust each student's academic plan using real-time assessment data, and certified teachers are present to provide direct guidance, answer questions, and step in when a student gets stuck. Afternoons are reserved for live, teacher-led clubs focused on skills like coding, financial literacy, research, and critical thinking.

How do McKinney families pay for Novatio?

Novatio's Texas tuition is $8,500 per school year. Texas families can apply for a Texas Education Freedom Accounts award through the Texas Education Agency. For students who receive a TEFA award, TEFA can cover Novatio's $8,500 tuition in full. It is important to understand that Novatio accepts students without academic entry requirements, but TEFA funding is awarded separately by the state and is not guaranteed by Novatio's acceptance. After receiving a TEFA award, families select Novatio through the TEFA portal and complete Novatio's enrollment requirements. Application dates and portal instructions are time-sensitive, so families should verify current deadlines directly with TEA.

What role do teachers play — is this just an AI program?

Novatio is not a self-directed AI program. Certified teachers provide direct guidance, personalized intervention, progress monitoring, and relationship-based support throughout the school day. AI works behind the scenes to build and adjust each student's academic plan based on real-time performance data — placing students at the right level, identifying gaps, and flagging where a teacher may need to step in. Students do not have access to AI chatbots during academic instruction. As one Novatio parent put it: 'This is NOT an AI school, this is a school that applies features of AI to customized learning for each child.' You can learn more about the Novatio curriculum and how subjects are taught.

What happens if my child is behind in one subject but ahead in another?

This is one of the situations the Novatio model is specifically designed for. Because each subject is assessed and assigned independently, a student can work at a sixth-grade level in math and a fourth-grade level in reading at the same time, without either placement affecting the other. Students move forward in each subject after demonstrating mastery rather than waiting for the rest of the class. That means a student who has fallen behind in reading is not held back in science, and a student who is advanced in math is not made to wait. The goal is accurate placement in every subject, so progress reflects real learning rather than a single grade-level label.

What evidence is there that this model works?

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 this figure reflects cohort-level data rather than a guarantee for every student. One individual example from that data: a Novatio student moved from the 8th to the 80th percentile in reading over one year, based on NWEA MAP scores. This is one student's outcome and is not the average or expected result for every family. Cognia accreditation provides independent verification that Novatio meets established academic and operational standards. For families researching support for students with learning differences, Novatio also offers additional services for students with IEPs and 504 plans.

How does a McKinney family get started?

The first step is to start an application at Novatio, which takes under two minutes, carries no fee, and requires no commitment. Texas families will also need to apply separately for TEFA funding through TEA, since TEFA approval is a state process that runs independently of Novatio's admissions. If you have questions about whether Novatio is the right fit for your child's specific situation — including learning differences, prior school experience, or grade placement — you can book a 1:1 admissions call with Karissa before applying. There is no pressure to decide during that conversation; it is simply a chance to ask the questions that matter most to your family.