Apogee Dripping Springs cuts ribbon to open new school

Apogee Dripping Springs Micro High School (ADS), an alternative high school option for motivated, engaged, and curious students, held its official ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 15. The school operates in leased space at Dripping Springs Presbyterian Church, 26650 Ranch Road 12.

Ambassadors from the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce, parents, and students joined founder and director Sarah Pevehouse to celebrate the opening of the school.

ADS offers an unconventional education experience for high school students. Classes are not divided by age, and instead of traditional semesters, sessions last three to six weeks, with one-week breaks in between. Sessions are theme-based.

The program is project-based, with each session centered around a theme. For example, in the first session, students will explore the question, “What is your code?” and develop their own personal and ethical codes. The class will also create a collective code to which all students will be held accountable.

Other sessions focus on self-reliance, communication skills, entrepreneurship, and personal responsibility.

The school is affiliated with Apogee Strong, a network founded by Matt Beaudreau and Tim Kennedy in Cedar Park, Texas. Originally a mentorship program, Apogee Strong has grown into a foundation for 50 schools across the nation.

Currently, ADS has four students enrolled for its first session, which begins August 26. New students can join at the start of any session.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was a lively event featuring music, food, and refreshments. Aaron Waldock of Bat City Beats, known as DJ A-Wall, provided the music. He is one of the mentors who will work with an ADS student.

The event also showcased ADS’s 980-square-foot flexible learning space and unveiled its 15-passenger van, affectionately named “Louise,” with new vinyl graphics from the Graphics Guys on Circle Drive. The van will serve as the 'school bus,' enabling students to use the community as their classroom and remain mobile, ready to explore or take classes from local experts.

Though the school operates in a church building, it is not affiliated with the church. However, their values align. Values like: integrity, bravery, compassion, politeness, honesty, honor, and loyalty make up the school’s code.

“The idea of a micro high school is that learning in small groups fosters a more personalized and interactive educational experience,” Pevehouse said. “Project-based learning has been around for a while, so we are not creating anything new. But our approach is small, so that kids can develop solid relationships with their teacher, with me, their mentors, and with each other.”

While the program is not faith-based, the founder, Sarah Pevehouse, is a Christian and a member of Dripping Springs Presbyterian Church. For more information or to schedule a visit, please contact Sarah Pevehouse at sarah@apogeedrippingsprings. com.

To learn more about Apogee Dripping Springs and its program visit apogeedrippingsprings. com