Choosing A New School During COVID-19

When schools were forced into the new platform of Distance Learning in March 2020, parents and caretakers observed firsthand the preparedness and ongoing strategies of continued learning in the time of a crisis. Some schools were less ideally positioned to pivot to a remote learning option, while others were able to mobilize their resources and staff to continue the curriculum without major disruption. This unprecedented experience has prompted parents to consider alternative schooling options for their children, especially as districts, private, and parochial schools look to return to campus with specific safety guidelines in place.

Schools like Quest Academy in Palatine, IL, a private independent school for PS-8th grade, began receiving calls from parents looking to understand how Quest plans to adjust learning in the fall with the intent of keeping the dynamic, advanced learning experience intact. "While we expect we will face some unforeseen hurdles upon our return to campus," Amanda Davey, Quest Academy's Director of Enrollment acknowledged, "we have teams of faculty and staff pulling together a comprehensive plan that will allow students to both attend on campus or, if they choose, to attend virtually while we wait for Phase 5."

So what is the difference at schools like Quest? The small class sizes and the attention to the individual learner's needs have allowed Quest Academy to continue to deliver an advanced curriculum, rich with problem-based learning, creativity, projects, and social emotional skill-building. The "no ceiling approach" to the instruction allows students in a grade to extend their learning to whatever level they are ready to tackle. "If we have a first grader who has demonstrated understanding in math that is the equivalent of a third or fourth grader, we are able to bring the curriculum to them without holding them back, while allowing them to learn among their same-age peers. At Quest, the students find comfort in learning alongside like-minded friends who are likely at the same academic level, as well as just as curious and innovative," Davey added.

In response to the interest, Quest Academy is hosting three events this month to introduce new families to Quest as parents consider fall schooling options. These Admissions Town Halls are designed to be informal, fly-on-the-wall experiences where families can simply sit back and listen to the presentation in a virtual format. A Q&A follows the presentation which is hosted by Davey and Admissions Coordinator, Jill Dreyer. "This is a no pressure event for parents to discover how Quest Academy is leading the way in gifted education. Just come to learn a little bit about giftedness, too!" Davey shared.

The Quest Academy Admissions Town Halls will be held on Sunday, June 28th; Monday, June 29th; and Tuesday, June 30th - all of them 8:00 PM-9:00 PM. Registration is required in order to receive the link to the event. Parents can access the registration by visiting the Quest Academy website at www.questacademy.org.