Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the school located?

We are located at 15487 Citrus Way, North Brooksville, at an easily accessible intersection near Citrus, Veterans, and Highway 98!

Is this a drop-off program?

Yes. We are a drop off program with flexible scheduling.

What is flexible programming?

This model provided options for families. Educations is not a one size fits all scenario. At Roots Academy we can serve full time private school families while also offering flexible scheduling to homeschool families. We provide additional curriculum support via our Seesaw program for families who do no attend full time.

What grades do you work with?

We currently have a space for students age 5 -11.

Are teachers certified?

Yes. Direct learning is only conducted by a certified teacher. We do not function as a typical classroom, students interact with all teachers throughout the day for different areas of learning. However, core skills instruction (math, reading, and writing) along with the development of instruction are only provided by certified teachers. We also have learning facilitators who guide students through engaging activities such as art, homesteading, cooking, and other project-based learning experiences, alongside our certified teachers.

What are your class sizes?

While we maintain a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio, students typically learn in much smaller groups. Instead, core skills are taught through small groups tailored to each student's needs. While state standards guide learning, we focus on individual progress rather than rigid grade-level expectations.

When will the school be complete?

We are aiming for a September 1st start date, but we are still finalizing renovations and rezoning applications. While we are doing everything possible to meet this timeline, we want to be completely transparent—families may need some flexibility when signing up for the 2025-2026 school year. If for some reason the opening is delayed we will still offer outdoor project based, learning opportunities and the forest school portion of our property, we will provide at home work on our Seesaw App, and we will offer virtual learning opportunities.

What makes your space unique?

We are restoring a 1940s schoolhouse to its original charm! Our open-concept schoolhouse allows kids to move around freely and take ownership of their learning. Additionally, we are adjacent to 30 acres of land owned by the Wingate family (school founders).

We have a fenced-in area on the land dedicated to Roots Academy! This space will be used for gardening, engineering, building projects, and hands-on exploration.

Will students bring lunch?

Yes. Students will bring their own lunch, snacks, and water for the day. We have refrigerators available, and students can grab their snacks whenever they need to refuel. Happy bellies make happy brains!

What are your hours?

A typical day runs from 8:30 AM to 2:15 PM. But we do offer additional morning and enrichment programs, which run until 4pm.

Do you operate on a year-long calendar?

Yes, we follow a balanced year-round calendar based on cognitive science research. Studies show that the traditional long summer break contributes to "summer slide"—where students lose 20-30% of school-year gains in reading and math. Our approach incorporates shorter, more frequent breaks (3-4 weeks of instruction followed by 1-week breaks) which has been shown to improve knowledge retention, reduce student burnout, and maintain consistent neural pathways for learning. This distributed learning model aligns with research on memory consolidation and optimal cognitive development. Additionally, our schedule accommodates seasonal learning opportunities through our agricultural connections, allowing students to engage in real-world biology, botany, and ecological studies year-round. Research indicates that this nature-integrated approach enhances attention spans, reduces stress levels, and improves creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Do you offer before and after school care?

Yes.

Do you have financial aid?

Yes! We offer financial aid based on income! We do not want finances to deter you from giving your student the education they deserve! If tuition is a concern, please reach out. We also accept Step Up Scholarships to make our school accessible to more families. Contact us for more details on financial assistance options.

Do you accept Step Up scholarships?

Yes, we accept every Step Up scholarship.

Do you follow a curriculum and Florida standards?

Yes, our curriculum developer holds a teaching license and a bachelor's degree in elementary education, along with a master's degree in curriculum design. She has designed programs for top international schools abroad, focusing on project-based teaching within the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Additionally, she has taught at and developed curriculum for Arizona State University.

While Florida standards guide our core skill development, students are introduced to new standards only after mastering previous concepts or expressing interest in learning a new topic. We do not require students to learn skills they are not ready for—our focus is on mastery, not pacing through grade-level benchmarks.

What is a typical day like?

Core skills such as reading, writing, and math take place in the morning.

Our next block focuses on standards based, project learning. Core skills like math, writing, and language arts are naturally reintegrated into these hands-on projects. This structure allows students to apply their learning in meaningful ways while engaging in creativity, problem-solving, and exploration. Our final block includes electives such as art, STEM, homesteading, and more!

What is project-based learning?

Project-based learning is a hands-on, real-world approach where students explore topics deeply through meaningful projects and problem-solving activities.

For example, students might work together to create a community volunteer program. Through this project, they will explore:

Math: Budget expenses for materials, donations, and event planning. Younger students might focus on basic counting, sorting donations, or creating price tags to explore concepts of money.

Reading & Writing: Research local organizations, draft proposals, and write persuasive letters to gain community support. Younger students might create posters, label donation items, or design thank you cards to practice writing.

Science: Study what leads to pet and dog overpopulation and research ways to help local animal shelters. Students can also research animal diets, exercise needs, proper shelter care, and other essential aspects of volunteering with animals. Younger students might learn about animal care, visit a shelter, or study the difference between animal diets and human diets.

Social Studies: Learn about civic responsibility, local government, and the impact of volunteerism on communities. Students might explore the history of local animal shelters, research laws related to animal welfare, or write letters advocating for better shelter conditions. Younger students might set up a pretend adoption center, role-play as shelter workers helping animals, create simple maps showing how to get to a shelter.

Rather than simply learning concepts in isolation, students develop these skills through meaningful, real-world experiences that reinforce both academic and life skills.