Frequently Asked Questions

• What is standards-based grading?

• Do students at a STEM school learn subjects other than science, technology, engineering and math?

• How does the college application process work for students at LTSA?

• How is math taught at LTSA?

• How is social studies taught at LTSA?

What is standards-based grading?

In a standards-based grading system, grades are earned through progress toward mastery of specific standards. A standards-based grading system differs from a traditional grading system in several important ways:

• More detailed reports

• On a traditional report card, one grade is recorded for each subject. On a standards-based report card, one grade is recorded for each standard, showing exactly what skills students have mastered and identifying areas for improvement.

• On our standards-based grading scale, students may progress through four stages of mastery: Beginning Mastery, Developing Mastery, Practicing Mastery and Accomplished Mastery.

• Rewards for progress rather than penalties for mistakes

• In a traditional grading system, grades are typically weighted averages, with every mistake negatively impacting a student’s final grade. This system incentivizes following directions rather than critical thinking or creativity, since any step outside the lines could result in a lower final grade. After making a series of mistakes, students may lose the motivation to learn as a desired final grade moves out of reach.

• In a standards-based grading system, progress is rewarded with increasing mastery grades: lower grades from the beginning of the year do not impact final grades. Students are able to learn from their mistakes without penalty, encouraging experimentation and improving motivation to master content.

• Grades accurately reflect learning

• Standards-based grades are earned by demonstrating mastery of specific learning standards, so these grades are direct statements about learning outcomes. In contrast, traditional grades include other factors, such as late assignment penalties or class participation, which could result in low grades for students who have mastered course content.

• Many factors influence a student’s progress toward mastery, such as responsibility, collaboration, positive attitude, creativity, critical thinking or ethics. At Lake Travis STEM Academy, we evaluate these factors separately to ensure that our standards-based grades are direct statements about mastery.

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Do students at a STEM school learn subjects other than science, technology, engineering and math?

Definitely! While we do seek to integrate STEM content where it is applicable, our students study a wide range of topics throughout every school day, including humanities, Spanish, visual arts, physical education and other age-specific content.

Through our accreditation with Cognia, our students are subject to credit requirements set forth by the state of Texas at the middle and high school levels. High school students have the option of pursuing several graduation plans.

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How does the college application process work for students at Lake Travis STEM Academy?

At Lake Travis STEM Academy, we take a proactive approach to supporting our students through the college application process, ensuring they have the guidance and resources needed to navigate this important transition. Our high school students in grades 10 through 12 are enrolled in a specialized class called Pathways, designed specifically to prepare them for the college journey ahead.

As an integral part of this class, our academic advisor joins students twice a week, offering personalized support and addressing any questions or concerns they may have. Picture this class as a compass, guiding students through the intricate paths of college applications, essays, and decision-making.

Moreover, LTSA has fostered a valuable partnership with Austin Community College, providing our students with opportunities to earn dual credit by taking college-level courses. This partnership acts as a bridge, connecting our students to higher education pathways while still in the supportive environment of our academy.

One of the key advantages of our approach is our small class sizes, which allow our academic advisor to be hands-on with each student.

Our advisor acts as a liaison between students and universities, ensuring that universities understand our unique curriculum, grading system, and the exceptional qualities of our students. This personalized touch ensures that each student's college applications receive the attention they deserve and helps alleviate any uncertainties along the way.

At Lake Travis STEM Academy, our comprehensive support system, including the Pathways class, dual credit opportunities, and proactive academic advisor, empowers our students to confidently embark on their college journey, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to succeed.

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How is math taught at Lake Travis STEM Academy?

Mathematics is taught through the lens of 21st century skills: critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. Students work together to solve real-world problems and discover new concepts through visual models, such as rectangular arrays, fraction tiles or tape diagrams, and other representations such as tables, graphs or formulas.

We use the highly regarded Illustrative Mathematics curriculum throughout all grade levels, ensuring alignment such that students are prepared for the next school year in terms of both grade level content skills (i.e. multiplication, solving two-step equations or function transformations) along with process skills adapted from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics:

• Problem Solving

• Reasoning and Proof

• Communication

• Connections

• Representations

As opposed to a more traditional approach to math instruction, our endgame is not to teach students to simply follow instructions, but, instead, how to apply concepts toward novel problems in creative ways and to precisely communicate both their process and results.

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How is social studies taught at Lake Travis STEM Academy?

Social studies, including history, geography and government, are integrated with English Language Arts under the umbrella of “humanities” to contextualize and motivate learning.

LTSA uses the Whole Language philosophy that emphasizes a holistic approach to promote literacy and language development in students. It contends that reading and writing should be taught in a meaningful and authentic context, focusing on the comprehension of text, building vocabulary, and developing communication skills.

This philosophy also stresses the idea that students learn best when they are actively engaged and motivated in the learning process.  Our goal is to foster a genuine love for reading. Research suggests that when students are interested in a narrative, they are better equipped to recognize spelling, to expand their vocabulary, and to use language more effectively in the digital age.

When students become excited about their reading, they naturally become more motivated to research, communicate their thoughts and ideas and engage with a heightened awareness of not only their ELA content but also the geography and history around that narrative as well as the social societal elements of the time period of the story.

Our high school humanities class is designed to nurture well-rounded individuals who can critically engage with literature, historical events, geographical contexts, and governmental structures. By embracing this integrated approach, we believe our students will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of the world beyond the classroom and become lifelong learners who appreciate the richness of interdisciplinary knowledge.

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