About Our Academic Program

Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, celebrated painter, accomplished architect, visionary inventor and dedicated scientist, is representative of some of the highest achievements of the Italian Renaissance. At the Renaissance Learner Academy we strive to invoke the da Vinci in all learners with small classes, academic challenge, inclusion and personalized support. RLA’s program builds well rounded learners with interdisciplinary curriculum, project based learning, and focused attention to developing life skills, teamwork and community. RLA’s design is the fulfillment of our dream to create a dynamic, hands-on, learning centered school where all students can succeed.

Lab and Applied Science

The RLA science program will explore Lab Physics and Physical Science through experimental and theoretical lab work from simple machines to the Higgs Boson. This Physics class meets the NGSS and college preparatory lab science requirements with numerous labs, field excursions and integrated technologies. 

Key topics include scientific observation, data representation, simple machines, conservation, motion, properties of waves, sound, light and the electromagnetic spectrum, structures of matter and theoretical physics.

Computer Science/Engineering program will highlight electronics and microcontrollers to make a wide range of projects including electric vehicles, musical instruments, programable and remote-controlled robots and sensors that respond to IR, heat, light, humidity, and sound. Through the lens of applied mathematics, students account for construction, maintenance, labor, and consumable resources costs and create a business plan to market and sell products. Students will learn to use hand tools, 3D printing, computer aided design software, spreadsheets, data arrays and micro-controllers to produce and sell products.

Mathematics Tutorial

Students have daily mathematics tutorials to build number sense, fluency, and content knowledge. Math tutorials are selected by the student’s math level (General Math, Pre-algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra II, and Mathematics for Engineers) Students may also take a course at a community college, or on-line with RLA support.

Humanities Curriculum

The 2021-2022 program focuses on American History with an added emphasis on political philosophy and government. The course includes the entirety of the North and South American continents and begins with a survey of the Native communities before European colonization. Following European colonization, the course expands to survey the development of three geographical regions: North America and the United States, the Caribbean, and Central/South America. This course meets the CCCSS and college preparatory course requirements for US History and American Literature and will explore existing Native American documents, texts and artifacts in addition to a survey of post-colonial to modern American Literature, documents and informational texts from the three regions.

English Language and Composition Tutorial

Students have daily reading and writing tutorials to build fluency and skill in reading, grammar, and composition. Tutorial assignments are designed for each student to meet and extend language competency. Reading selections and writing topics will be based on the Physical Science and American History themes with student interest taken into consideration.

Graphic and Visual Arts

The Graphic and Visual Arts Class explores aspects of design (color, line, form, composition, perspective) and a variety of traditional and electronic art media (sculpture, drawing, painting, pen and ink, sequential art, computer aided design, computer illustration, 3D printing). This course of study meets and exceeds course requirements for college preparatory Visual Arts. 

Practical and Industrial Arts and Crafts

Students in this course will be exposed to a wide variety of practical arts and crafts including basket weaving, lampwork (glass beads and stained glass), blacksmithing, metal and resin casting, wood working, papercraft, sewing and more. The first semester culminating assignment will be an Entrepreneurial Project in which each student will design a product to make and sell. In the second semester, students will continue to develop this product, adding a website and marketing plan.

Music and Drama

In the first semester students will learn to play the guitar and will sing and perfom in a Winter Concert. In the second semester students will study multiple composers and construct a cigarbox guitar. In Drama students will construct and act in a haunted house, write and perfom in a play, and act in a motion picture.