“We need you to not only survive, but to thrive and lead the change of today AND tomorrow.”
– an excerpt from a letter by Executive Director and Founder, Robert Marshall
Earth & Space Science. Genres of Literature. US History. Algebra. Expository Writing. These are some of the courses our Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis eighth graders take to earn high school credit. With these pre-high school credits, our scholars are able to graduate one year earlier from high school or enroll in A.P. and Dual Credit courses their senior year of high school.
Whether or not scholars are taking these particular classes for high school credit, we track all our eighth grade scholars for college prep and beyond. We focus on the academic, social and higher-order thinking skills needed for high school. Our teachers expect every one of our Vanguards to meet or exceed grade level proficiency in Math and ELA. Scholars have consistently exceeded benchmark expectations in each of the content areas. Specifically, our eighth-grade scholars have maximized the acceleration of their Lexile gains, attaining three times their expected target goal by the end of the year. Over 90% of our eighth-grade class earned the designation ‘career and college ready’ as a result of their work in Achieve 3000.
Our eighth graders enjoy a specially designed success plan. Even online, we support our middle school scholars every way we can – to succeed in secondary/higher education and future careers. We help our scholars ‘visit’ three or four high schools – often bringing those school representatives to our campus. We also ask our eighth graders to identify their top five college choices after extensive research and discussion with their Career & College Planning teacher. Our eighth graders work together on service projects, gain exposure to STEM careers and actualize our THINK model as it applies to their everyday lives. Our eighth-grade scholars are introduced to high school and college classics in their English class. Scholars are exposed to novels, such as Kindred, The Great Gatsby, and Romeo & Juliet— years before their peers at other middle schools.
Grit
Our academically challenging curriculum is the foundation for our scholars. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – we are unapologetically focused on rigorous academics for our scholars. And our 8th graders can reap the reward with advance credits and true preparation for the workload and rigor of high school. Our average eighth grader earned 14 high school credits by the end of the academic year.
Growth
Our focus on values and character development alongside social emotional learning creates well-rounded and empathetic citizens, ready to be leaders in thought, word and action. Our social emotional learning program allows teachers to integrate the five main pillars into our robust curriculum: self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness.
Goals
We sustain a structured, goal-oriented community at Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis. Our culture of high expectations also means we keep to our tight structure of goals as we focus on the individual scholar. We shrink any and all gaps as we meet our scholars’ academic needs head on!
Partners in Education
Share your scholar with us – and we can teach grit, growth and goals together. High school credits, here we come! Getting a leg up in education has never been more critical. Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis is here for the cause. Our scholars matter; their education matters.
Enroll with us, today! Online or in-person…we are unapologetically focused on the academic success of our scholars!
About Vanguard
Vanguard Collegiate of Indianapolis is unapologetically focused on the academic success of our scholars, our fifth to eighth grade students. Situated in Central Indianapolis, we provide high-quality instruction, rigorous curriculum, and supportive character development. We create pathways to college success and to becoming leaders in thought, word, and action. Be a Vanguard, today!
