A Tri-Cities Microschool Built for Gifted and 2e Learners
Your child taught themselves to read at two and a half, can talk about black holes for an hour, and still melts down over a two-sentence writing assignment. Or maybe they spend most of the school day waiting: for the teacher to move on, for classmates to catch up, for something new to learn. If you live in or near the Tri-Cities and you're looking for a gifted microschool where your child can finally be understood and challenged, we'd love to introduce you to Vanguard Gifted Academy.
A microschool designed for gifted and twice-exceptional children
Vanguard Gifted Academy is a microschool in Batavia, Illinois, serving gifted children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Our mission is to guide gifted children toward a life of discovery, empowerment and innovation.
As a microschool, we keep learning small and personal. With a 1-to-5 teacher-to-student ratio, our teachers know every child well. Students learn in small, multi-age groups of academic peers in two bands, generally kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth. They're placed by readiness rather than age, while still having same-age friends.
Many of our students are twice-exceptional (2e): gifted children who also have a learning difference such as ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, autism or anxiety. For 2e kids, strengths and struggles can hide each other, so a child may be bored and frustrated at the same time. Our model is built to see both.
What gifted and 2e kids need, and how Vanguard provides it
Real challenge. Gifted children need work that stretches them. Researchers in gifted education have long linked a lack of challenge in the early grades to boredom and underachievement. At Vanguard, we meet children where they are, then challenge them.
No waiting for what they already know. Each student receives a weekly menu of tasks matched to their readiness, so they move ahead when they've mastered something instead of repeating it.
Room to grow in hard areas, too. Because groups are small and placed by readiness, a child can work well above grade level in math while getting more time and coaching in writing, in the same week.
Understanding themselves as learners. Our students learn to understand their own learning profiles, reflect on their strengths and build strategies for success. For a 2e child, that self-knowledge is powerful.
True peers. Multi-age groups make it easier for gifted kids to find classmates who share their intensity and interests.
Freedom from perfectionism. Our flexible, open-ended learning model helps ease expectations of perfection, so students feel free to take risks, make mistakes and consider other perspectives.
A day at Vanguard
Instead of eight standard class periods, our day is built around three extended learning modules that address the needs of the whole gifted child.
Mornings: blended learning. Students rotate between small, readiness-based groups with a teacher and independent work on their weekly menus of online and offline tasks. They choose the order, which builds independence and decision-making. Screen time stays under 45 minutes a morning, and a teacher is always on hand to coach.
Midday: community. Over lunch, games and outings, teachers coach the social-emotional skills gifted kids need: collaboration, cooperation, leadership and problem resolution.
Afternoons: S.T.R.E.A.M. projects. Students take on cross-curricular projects, simulations and investigations with master teachers and specialists in art, music and drama. They present their work to families and the community at our quarterly Showcase Nights.
Specialty areas like robotics, engineering, Spanish and the design process are woven into every day. And because learning is personalized during the school day, we don't assign homework, which leaves more time for family and personal passions.
Serving gifted families across the Tri-Cities and beyond
Vanguard is located at 1078 E. Wilson St. in Batavia, and our families come from within about 45 minutes of the Tri-Cities. That includes Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles, along with communities across the Fox Valley and western suburbs such as Aurora, North Aurora, Naperville, Elgin, Sugar Grove, Wheaton and West Chicago.
For many families, the drive is worth it. A gifted or 2e child who has spent years waiting, masking or struggling often needs a school designed for them, and there may not be one closer to home. To make the day work for busy and commuting families, we offer supervised after-school care and enrichment courses for an additional fee. Our calendar generally follows Batavia School District 101's holidays and breaks.
Financial aid: a quality, fitting education for every child
At Vanguard, we believe all students should have access to a quality education that truly fits them. A child's giftedness doesn't depend on their family's income, and neither should their chance to learn in a school built for the way they think.
That's why we offer financial aid to families. Aid is need-based, and our Head of School talks with each family about their situation. If cost is the reason you're hesitating, please reach out. We'd rather have the conversation than have a child miss out on the right fit.
Is Vanguard the right fit? How admissions works
For us, admissions is less about competing for a spot and more about making sure Vanguard is the right fit for your child. Here's how it works:
Apply through our Admissions page.
Tour the school and/or attend a Showcase Night to see students' work firsthand.
IQ testing for children 6 and older. If your child hasn't been tested, we can share a list of testers. For younger children, teacher observation during the visit day guides the decision.
Visit day. Your child spends time in all three learning modules.
Family meeting. Together, we decide whether Vanguard is the right fit.
Students can enroll at any point during the school year, so you don't have to wait until fall if your child needs a change now.
Come see Vanguard for yourself
The best way to know whether Vanguard is right for your gifted or 2e child is to see a classroom in action. Schedule a tour or join us at our next Showcase Night in December (we hold them quarterly), or contact our admissions team at gifted@vanguardgiftedacademy.org or 224-213-0087. Whether you're in the Tri-Cities or a short drive away, we'd love to meet your family.
FAQ
Does Vanguard serve twice-exceptional (2e) students? Yes. Many of our students are twice-exceptional. Our small, readiness-based groups and 1-to-5 ratio let teachers challenge a child's strengths while supporting areas that are harder for them.
Does Vanguard offer financial aid? Yes. We believe all students should have access to a quality, fitting education, so we offer need-based financial aid. Our Head of School talks with each family about their situation.
Where do Vanguard families live? Our families come from within about 45 minutes of the Tri-Cities, including Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding Fox Valley and western suburban communities. After-school care is available for an additional fee.