All students enrolled in VLA are provided a high quality, student-centered, and rigorous academic program. Students entering VLA from any of the It Takes A Village sites are provided with a contiguously high level of academic programming. Students entering VLA from other elementary institutions are placed in classrooms based on their academic proficiency level in an effort to create ‘learning communities’ wherein students are monitored closely and are encouraged to progress cohesively. Elementary school students receive instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, and social justice from their homeroom teachers. Instruction in science, art, music, Spanish and physical education are provided by instructors with training in those particular content areas.
Village Leadership Academy proudly boasts small class sizes. All elementary class sizes are limited to twenty students. In Kindergarten classes, a full-time lead teacher and a full-time teaching assistant create an adult to student ratio of 1:10. An integral aspect of our elementary school programming that ensures a high level of success for all students, is the consistent presence of centers-based instruction, across all core academic subjects, throughout the elementary school program. Students are grouped homogeneously, work hand-in-hand with peers, and receive daily small group and individual instruction from lead teachers that is based on their academic needs and goals. At VLA, each elementary school class functions on at least one grade level above their current grade. Teachers seek to enable students to present 1.5 years worth of growth at the end of each academic year.