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The Decatur High Ability Academy continues to expand! Students outside of Decatur Township entering grades 3-6 may apply now for the 2024-2025 school year.
(January 26, 2024) – INDIANAPOLIS – The Decatur High Ability Academy (DHAA), located in the MSD of Decatur Township in Indianapolis, brings together a varied mix of high-achieving, intellectually gifted students from diverse backgrounds to create an exceptional learning community. Serving students from Decatur Township and surrounding areas in grades 3-6, the school provides high ability students the opportunity to experience a unique and rigorous project-based learning programming, accelerated academic curriculum, state of the art technology, and STEM experiences in a free public school.
“The Decatur High Ability Academy provides a unique and innovative educational experience for our students. We are excited to continue expanding enrollment and benefit even more students from surrounding areas,” said Dr. Stephanie Hofer, Interim Superintendent of the MSD of Decatur Township.
About the Decatur High Ability Academy
The Decatur High Ability Academy is an innovation school, serving grades 3-6. Innovation schools are public schools that, under Indiana law, have the autonomy to make decisions at the school level. As an innovation school, the DHAA is part of MSD Decatur Township and makes decisions on curriculum, staffing, and other operational choices that best meet the needs of their students. The enrollment and academic achievement scores for the DHAA count in MSD Decatur Township totals.
Decatur’s approach to education involves an application of learning that challenges all high ability students, while allowing them to work together to achieve new levels of excellence. The rigorous curriculum includes project-based STEM learning, ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. The school offers electives such as Project Lead the Way, Foreign Language, Maker Space, and more. Students learn using state of the art technology tools including iPads, MacBooks, Apple Pencils, virtual reality, and 3D printers, while collaborating to apply learning in the real world through investigation of grade level themes. Insert quote from coordinator
Students and families from across Marion and surrounding counties can benefit from DHAA’s rigorous curriculum, project-based learning experiences, and vision for supporting the unique needs of high ability learners. To experience the Decatur High Ability Academy in action, sign up for a tour event! Open tour opportunities are scheduled for 1:00-2:00 pm on February 15th, March 14th, April 18th, and May 16th. Interested families may also contact the school to set up an appointment. RSVP for a tour at this link.
Characteristics of a High Ability Student
Although each student with high abilities is unique, there are common characteristics typically associated with students who qualify such as the following (not an all inclusive list): rapid learner, excellent memory, unusually large vocabulary, advanced comprehension, enjoys solving problems, thinking is abstract, complex, logical, and insightful, highly developed curiosity, learns basic skills quickly and with little practice, struggles with perfectionism, and interest in experimenting and doing things differently. If your child achieves high academically and displays some of the characteristics above, the Decatur High Ability Academy is the school for you!
Enrolling at the Decatur High Ability Academy
The DHAA is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year for students outside of the district boundaries who will be in grades 3-6. Acceptance decisions are made after a holistic review of student grades and standardized test scores, discipline and attendance records, and teacher recommendations. Students within MSD of Decatur Township boundaries are identified for admission to DHAA based on data review internally and need not apply.
The application for admission can be accessed at this link. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Completion of the application is the first step of the enrollment process only and does not guarantee a child's enrollment.
The DHAA is tuition-free. All enrolled students will receive 1:1 technology. Out-of-district transportation options may be available. Interested families can learn more about the DHAA at www.decaturproud.org/DHAA or by calling the High Ability Coordinators at 317-856-2109.
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