What is Novatio and is it available to San Antonio families?

Novatio is a Cognia-accredited virtual private school for students in grades 2 through 8. It's available to Texas families statewide, including families in San Antonio. Students complete approximately two hours of focused, personalized core academics each morning, then join live afternoon clubs built around real skills and meaningful projects. Because the school is fully virtual, your child attends from home on a structured daily schedule set to Central Time. There are no academic entry requirements, and the application takes under two minutes with no fee.

How does TEFA funding work for San Antonio families?

TEFA stands for Texas Education Freedom Account. For families who receive a TEFA award, it can cover Novatio's $8,500 annual tuition in full, so your family pays nothing out of pocket for tuition. Novatio accepts students without academic entry requirements, but TEFA funding is separate from enrollment — your family must qualify for and receive a TEFA award through the state process before applying those funds to tuition. Novatio does not control TEFA approval. If your child has an IEP, disability documentation may affect the funding available through TEFA; contact admissions for guidance specific to your situation.

What does a typical school day look like?

The school day runs on Central Time. In the morning, students work through Novatio's five core subjects: language, reading, math, social studies and science. All students follow the same subject schedule, but each student works at their own level within each subject. One student may be strengthening multiplication skills during the math block while another is working on algebra. Academics are designed to be finished by lunch. Afternoons are reserved for two live clubs per session, each built around a practical skill, a real challenge and a measurable outcome, with a certified teacher coaching throughout.

How does Novatio personalize learning without putting my child in a box?

A student at Novatio can work at completely different levels in different subjects. A sixth-grade student might be ready for eighth-grade math while working on fourth-grade reading skills. The school uses AI behind the scenes to build each student's academic plan using real-time assessment data, placing them at the appropriate level and adjusting as they progress. Certified teachers then provide direct guidance, intervention and accountability throughout the day. When your child gets stuck, a teacher is available to help — your child is not left alone with a program to figure things out independently. Students move forward after demonstrating mastery, not because the calendar moved on.

What proof is there that this model actually works?

Novatio's academic model is built on the goal of helping students learn twice as much in approximately two focused hours. 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. One Novatio student moved from the 8th to the 80th percentile in reading over a single year, based on NWEA MAP scores. That's one family's experience and not a guaranteed result, but it reflects what's possible when a student's learning plan is matched to where they actually are rather than where a grade-level label says they should be. You can read more about how the academic model works to get a clearer picture of what your child would be doing each day.

What if my child has a learning difference or an IEP?

Novatio supports students with a range of learning needs, including dyslexia, ADHD, autism and other learning differences. Many accommodations are built into the daily model rather than added only after a student begins to struggle. Individual pacing by subject, frequent breaks, short focused session blocks, text-to-speech, voice-to-text and regular teacher check-ins are part of how the school operates. Novatio also 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 may be covered by the state. Learn more about special education support at Novatio or book a call with admissions to discuss your child's specific needs.

How do San Antonio families get started?

The 2025–2026 school year is underway, and the next school year is scheduled to begin August 3, 2026 — confirm current enrollment availability with admissions. There are no academic requirements to apply to Novatio. Every applicant is accepted. Your family will still need to complete enrollment paperwork, meet Texas residency requirements and, if you're using TEFA, receive your award and select Novatio through the TEFA portal. The application itself takes under two minutes and carries no fee or commitment. If you have questions about funding, your child's fit or what the first weeks would look like, book a 1:1 call with Karissa before you apply. She can walk you through the TEFA process, explain what support is available for your child and help you decide whether Novatio is the right next step for your family.