High School (9-12)

Our high school program is designed for students pursuing many different paths after graduation—whether that includes college, vocational training, entrepreneurship, or entering the workforce directly. 

At the same time, we encourage all students to take our full course load. Keeping that option open matters — plans change, and students who complete a strong academic program have more choices available to them down the road. For that reason, we structure our offerings around the courses that competitive colleges expect to see, so students who do want to pursue higher education are fully prepared.

The only required class in our high school program is Leadership. Beyond that, families and students have the flexibility to shape a learning path that best prepares each student for their future. 

While many of our class titles may look familiar, Studio Prep classes are not typical high school courses. They are designed to immerse students in our unique learning philosophy, where deep thinking, meaningful dialogue, and real-world connections are central to the experience. Our goal is to develop not just capable graduates, but well-informed, thoughtful citizens who are ready to make positive contributions to the world around them.

Students may also pursue learning opportunities beyond our own offerings. We assist students who wish to take courses at Austin Community College. The Highland campus is conveniently located just a half-mile walk from our facility.

Leadership Quest

Our leadership program is a four-year journey that helps students discover their gifts, explore their interests, and learn what it means to live a well-lived life. Through real-world projects and meaningful experiences, they develop essential leadership skills, preparing them to lead with wisdom and humility.

Throughout the program, students:

• Begin developing habits and practices that lead to a well-lived life
• Read biographies of people who have lived meaningful, purposeful lives
• Read books that deepen their understanding of what it means to live a well-lived life
• Participate in community service opportunities that make a real difference in their local community
• Explore the working world through job shadowing experiences
• Develop intercultural agility 
• Grow in self-knowledge — gaining greater clarity on their strengths, values, and the unique gifts they have to offer the world
• Build practical life skills that every adult needs 
• Pursue a two-year capstone project as juniors and seniors, diving deeply into a potential career path or area of personal passion

Mathematics

•  At Studio Prep, we approach mathematics from a place of wonder — developing students who can recognize patterns, persist through hard problems, and see solutions from many angles. We believe that learning to think mathematically is learning to think well, and that the habits formed in math class — curiosity, collaboration, resilience, and creativity — extend far beyond numbers. As mathematician Francis Su reminds us, mathematics is something every human person is capable of, and we take that seriously — because every Studio Prep student is a math person.
  • Classes:  Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus

Science

• At Studio Prep, science begins with wonder — a deep curiosity about God’s creation and the intricate systems He has woven into the natural world. Our students learn to think like scientists: asking good questions, collecting and analyzing data, and applying both the Scientific Method and the Design Process to real problems. We sync our math and science instruction because scientists use math, and we want students to experience that connection the way it exists in the real world.

In an age of widespread misinformation and disinformation, we also believe that critically evaluating sources for validity and credibility is an essential life skill — not just a scientific one. Students learn to interpret scientific findings for real-life application and communicate them effectively for the right audience, graduating with the habits of disciplined thinking and careful observation that serve them well in every field and walk of life.

High school science courses are offered on an A/B rotational basis:

• Year A — 9th & 10th grade: Experimental Design & Research Methods 1,  11th & 12th grade: Chemistry
• Year B — 9th & 10th grade: Physics,  11th & 12th grade: Experimental Design & Research Methods 2

English

Our English program equips students in the mechanics and the art of thinking deeply and communicating effectively. Students develop the ability to read and comprehend any text they encounter — from contemporary writing to centuries-old literature — through books written by diverse authors. Through careful reading and thoughtful analysis, students learn to engage deeply with ideas and ask meaningful questions of a text. We also cultivate a genuine love of reading for the sheer joy of a good story, believing that students who love to read become students who think well.

Writing is central to our English program — students develop their voice and grow in their capacity to communicate for different purposes and audiences. Oral communication is equally valued — students regularly practice speaking and presenting their ideas, learning that effective communication is as much about how you say something as what you say.

English Book List 

English courses are offered on an A/B rotational basis:

• Year A — English 1 (9th & 10th grade): American Literature,  English 2 (11th & 12th grade): British Literature
• Year B — English 1 (9th & 10th grade), English 2 (11th & 12th grade): World Literature

History/Social Studies

Our history program equips students to understand that history is complicated — and that a careful study of the past is one of the most powerful ways to inform how we see the present and navigate the future. Students learn that history is not a simple narrative but a collection of diverse perspectives, and we train them to engage with that complexity honestly and thoughtfully. We also believe that even in the face of history’s hardest chapters, there is hope to be found — and we help students cultivate that perspective alongside their critical thinking.

At the heart of our history program is the work of thinking well about evidence. Students learn to find, evaluate, and verify primary sources, interpret diverse viewpoints, and read and analyze relevant graphs and data. These skills extend beyond the classroom — students engage in age-appropriate critical thinking about current events, connecting what they study to real-world actions and decisions. Throughout it all, we seek to cultivate humble listeners who are willing to sit with complexity, consider perspectives different from their own, and engage the world with both conviction and humility.History courses are offered on an A/B rotational basis:

• Year A — 9th & 10th grade: US History, 11th & 12th grade: American Government
• Year B — 9th & 10th grade: World History, 11th & 12th grade: Economics

Spanish

At Studio Prep, our Spanish program invites students into meaningful communication, cultural understanding, and the joy of using language in real and memorable ways. Students grow in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and presenting while also exploring the histories, traditions, perspectives, and daily life of the Spanish-speaking world. We want students to see language not simply as a subject to complete, but as a way to connect more deeply with people, ideas, and communities.

Our classes are taught by a native Spanish speaker, giving students the benefit of authentic pronunciation, natural language use, and firsthand cultural insight. Students are not only learning from the teacher, but also from one another. Peer teaching and collaborative learning are important parts of the class experience, helping students build confidence, reinforce their understanding, and practice communicating in a supportive community.

Spanish at Studio Prep also includes creative, high-engagement quests that make learning come alive. Rather than relying only on traditional exercises, students may apply their learning through projects that invite them to write, translate, speak, perform, and create together. Some examples are our Telenovela Quest, and Studio Gigante Show and Commercials Quest, in which students use Spanish in a fun, collaborative, and memorable way while deepening both their language skills and their cultural understanding. 

Students in our Spanish program also have the opportunity to participate in an annual service trip to Honduras at the end of the school year. This experience gives students a meaningful chance to engage the language and culture beyond the classroom, serving alongside others while growing in empathy, confidence, and real-world understanding.

Spanish courses offered:

Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 yearly (Spanish 3 upon student request)