Levels
Discover more about the Thales Academy curriculum
Pre-K
Thales Academy Pre-K develops an early love of learning and provides a robust preparation for the Kindergarten year. Pre-K students are taught age-appropriate Direct Instruction lessons in core subjects, with character development thoughtfully embedded throughout the school day. Each week, students explore themes that foster creativity and curiosity, such as holiday traditions, American heroes, outer space, seasons, and literary elements. Students participate in crafts, activities, story time, songs, games, and daily outdoor play (weather permitting).
Thales Academy Pre-K is currently offered at select campuses for students who are 4 years of age by September 30 of the registering school year. The Pre-K school day runs from 8:00 to 11:45am, Monday through Friday. Classes are small, so we recommend applying early to reserve your child's seat.
Direct Instruction
Elementary (K–5)
The Thales Academy K–5 curriculum provides an excellent foundation of learning and a thorough preparation for the upper grades. Direct Instruction lessons in Reading, Spelling, Language Arts, and Math are combined with interactive Science and History courses. Daily reinforcement of character development and outdoor play (weather permitting) as well as weekly courses in Technology, Art, Music, Spanish, and Physical Education round out the K-5 curriculum.
All parts of our curriculum are reviewed and vetted to meet our standards. Our elementary lessons are scripted, relieving teachers of the duty to create lessons and also ensuring students the same high-quality experience regardless of campus location or teacher assigned. Parents are often astonished to see how quickly their students learn concepts in the K-5 years; e.g., most Thales Academy kindergartners are reading by January. Our robust curriculum gives students the knowledge and continual practice they need to confidently master content and advance to the next level. To learn more about the Thales Academy K-5 curriculum, see our K-5 Grade Level Goals.
Direct Instruction
Culture
Community is one of the most valuable aspects of Thales Academy. Our close-knit campus communities of students, staff, and families form strong relationships, and each Thales Academy student benefits from personalized attention and a wholesome environment, not to mention fun!
From fall festivals to student-performed concerts and field days, our K–5 students and families enjoy a variety of fun activities, performances, and community-building events together every year. Spirit shirt days are popular, and our Character Awards and LiveSchool points reward good choices and nurture positive leaders.
Extracurricular Activities
Thales Academy supports a healthy balance of extracurricular activities in math, science, foreign languages, arts, athletics, and other areas. These activities, which vary by campus, provide an opportunity for students to exercise leadership skills and expand their horizons, learning concepts and skills not commonly reviewed in the classroom.
Please note that not all options may be offered at all campus locations. Parents and students are always welcome to suggest additional activities to their local school administrators.
Junior High (6-8)
Thales Academy's junior high program (grades 6-8) moves beyond the Direct Instruction method of our K-5 program and introduces more dialogue, analysis, and debate with frequent use of the Socratic Method of discussion. Rather than learning primarily through lecture methods, our junior high students are steeped in the habits of listening, interrogating, and discussing texts in the classroom daily at a time that their minds are naturally inquisitive and increasingly capable of abstract thought. Our goal is for our junior high students to build upon their foundation of factual knowledge from elementary school and emerge with a deep understanding of causation and logical reasoning when they move into high school.
Curriculum
Our junior high program offers a well-balanced curriculum of courses taught by instructors who are experts in their fields.
We maintain a learning environment with personalized attention and rigorous academics that challenge students to develop a strong work ethic.
Our math program is tiered based on skill level, allowing students to master math fundamentals at the pace that works best for them individually, and our science program blends conceptual lessons with hands-on investigations. We offer a classical cross-curricular alignment in Literature and History, allowing our students to read material in literature from the same time period they are studying in history. Our history courses also place a significant emphasis on the study of primary sources. Finally, students develop strong writing and language skills in required literature and Latin/grammar coursework each year.
All sixth grade students may choose from a year-long participation in Band* or a fine arts rotation which includes courses in Choral Performance, Studio Art, Musicianship, and Drama. Seventh and eighth graders may choose between a year of Band* or a semester of a fine arts or personal fitness elective. All junior high students will also participate in PE, Vocational Arts, and Industrial Arts.
Junior High Academic Course of Study
| 6th GRADE | 7th GRADE | 8th GRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HISTORY | Ancient & Classical History | Western Civilization | American History & Government |
| LITERATURE | Classical Literature & Composition | Western Literature & Composition | American Literature & Composition |
| MATHEMATICS | Course 1 Course 2 Pre-Algebra | Course 2 Pre-Algebra Algebra I | Pre-Algebra Algebra I Geometry |
| SCIENCE | Earth Science | Life Science | Physical Science |
| LATIN | Intro to Latin & Grammar | Latin & Grammar 1A | Latin & Grammar 1B |
| PE & Vocational Track | PE, Vocational Arts, & Industrial Arts 6 | PE, Vocational Arts, & Industrial Arts 7 | PE, Vocational Arts, & Industrial Arts 8 |
| GENERAL ELECTIVE(S)* | Band or Fine Arts Rotation | Student Choice | Student Choice |
| READING LISTS | View | View | View |
*Elective offerings & selection process vary by campus and may include electives such as Studio Art, Theatre Arts, Choir, Band, Musicianship, and/or Music History.
Culture
Thales Academy fosters a unique junior high culture complete with a close-knit community of peers and mentors and a variety of extracurricular opportunities. These opportunities vary by campus and include junior high-specific clubs, sports, dances, student council, honor societies, and athletic events. Our junior high students benefit from the small, supportive community and positive environment at Thales Academy during this critical stage, and enjoy the variety of fun school activities offered on campus.
Extracurricular Activities
Thales Academy supports a healthy balance of extracurricular activities in math, science, foreign languages, arts, athletics, and other areas. These activities, which vary by campus, provide an opportunity for students to exercise leadership skills and expand their horizons, learning concepts and skills not commonly reviewed in the classroom.
Please note that not all options may be offered at all campus locations. Parents and students are always welcome to suggest additional activities to their local school administrators.
Athletics
For students interested in athletics, our JH/HS campuses offer a variety of sports opportunities at both the junior high and high school levels. Our teams are a part of the Raleigh Area Athletic Conference (RAAC), which is a part of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA). All students in sixth through eighth grade are eligible to try out for our junior high teams if a JH/HS campus is nearby.*
*Junior High students at our Knightdale campus are eligible for athletic tryouts and participation at our Flowers Plantation campus; Junior High students at our Raleigh campus are eligible for athletic tryouts and participation at our Rolesville JH/HS campus; Junior High students at our Holly Springs and Cary campuses are eligible for athletic tryouts for/participation in sports not offered at their main campus at our Apex JH campus. (Due to state association rules, this is only available for JH level sports, NOT JV or Varsity level.)
Junior High sports offered at Thales Academy*:
- Fall: Boys' Soccer, Girls' Volleyball, Boys' Cross Country, Girls' Cross Country
- Winter: Boys' Basketball, Girls' Basketball, Co-ed Cheerleading, Girls’ Swimming, Boys’ Swimming
- Spring: Girls’ Soccer, Boys’ Baseball, Girls’ Softball, Boys’ Tennis, Co-ed Golf
*NOTE: Not all sports are available at all campuses. Please check with your campus Head of School for a complete list of sports for your campus.
High School (9–12)
Thales Academy's high school program (grades 9-12) continues the use of the Socratic Method used in our junior high program and nurtures more original and convicted thinking, as well as astute articulation and use of persuasion in communication. High school students are guided to develop new knowledge on their own rather than merely absorbing existing information. After completing our rigorous high school sequence, our seniors enter the world as adept, confident, and independent thinkers and communicators.
Curriculum
Thales Academy's high school program offers a rigorous and well-balanced curriculum of courses.
Our students benefit from expert instructors, personalized attention, honors options in all core courses, various concurrent enrollment, dual enrollment, and Advanced Placement course options, 1:1 iPads (at no extra charge), and elective choices including the Luddy Institute of Technology pre-engineering program. Our math program offers a variety of math courses/levels per grade, and our science program provides a firm foundation across the sciences including Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
As with our junior high program, we offer a cross-curricular alignment in Literature and History allowing our students to read material in Literature from the same time period they are studying in History, and we place a strong emphasis on the study of primary sources throughout our courses. A key component of classical education is chronological repetition, meaning that students will study a complete timeline of Western civilization twice: first, in junior high, and again at a deeper cognitive level in high school. Students' research, writing, language, and analysis skills are sharpened in required annual coursework in Rhetoric, Logic, Philosophy, and Ethics as well as in the student's choice of either Latin or Spanish.
All ninth grade students participate in PE, Health, and Luddy Industrial Arts (LIA) courses. Tenth through twelfth grade students are given the choice of one fine arts or personal fitness elective per semester or a year-long participation in Band or our unique Luddy Institute of Technology (LIT) elective sequence. The Luddy Institute of Technology is a pre-engineering program designed to prepare students to succeed in a variety of technical careers and degree programs. Many of our students enjoy the opportunity to take college level instruction in engineering and master the use of SolidWorks software to develop and test their own product prototypes. Additionally, high school students take a College Preparedness course that includes studies in economics, civics and government, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
High School Academic Course of Study
| 9th GRADE | 10th GRADE | 11th GRADE | 12th GRADE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| History | The Near East & the Greek World | Rome & the Medieval World | Western Civilization | American History & Government |
| Literature | Ancient Literature & Writing | Literature of Rome & the Medieval World | Western Literature | American Literature |
| Mathematics | Algebra I Geometry Algebra II | Geometry Algebra II Pre-Calculus | Algebra II Pre-Calculus **AP Calculus AB | Pre-Calculus **AP Calculus AB **AP Calculus BC Statistics |
| Science | Earth Science | Biology | Chemistry | Physics **AP Physics |
| Humane Letters | N/A | Humane Letters: Logic & Writing | Humane Letters: Civics & Philosophy | Humane Letters: The Senior Thesis |
| Foreign Language | Latin II Spanish I | Latin III Spanish II | Latin IV Spanish III | AP Latin*** Spanish IV*** |
| PE & Vocational Track | PE, Industrial Arts, & Vocational Arts 9 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Luddy Institute of Technology | Fundamentals of Engineering Design | Principles of Engineering | Engineering Applications | Engineering Design Project |
| General Elective(s)* | Student Choice | Student Choice | Student Choice | Student Choice |
| READING LISTS | View | View | View | View |
*Elective offerings & selection process vary by campus and grade.
**Students must be recommended for AP or Dual Enrollment courses (as well as for Honors and Concurrent Enrollment course options) and meet all requirements.
***A 12th grade foreign language may be replaced with an elective if desired if all foreign language graduation requirements have been met.
High School Graduation Requirements
Physical Education
Luddy Institute of Technology
The Luddy Institute of Technology (LIT) is an optional elective sequence of pre-engineering and STEM coursework for the upper grades. The LIT curriculum covers a wide range of engineering-related content, beginning with the fundamentals and gradually moving toward more complex content and a capstone course. Students are welcome to enter LIT at any time during their high school career. LIT allows students the opportunity to explore STEM-related career fields and hone their technical skills.
Course of Study
Industrial Arts - 6th-9thGrade
The Industrial Arts sequence is required for all junior high and 9th Grade students at Thales Academy, providing an introductory education in practical skills for the modern world. The sequence exposes students to the engineering design process and teaches them to handle the tools and materials necessary to solve problems and create finished products. Topics include basic design and building skills, technical drawing, woodworking, mechanical engineering and motion, simple machines, coding and robotics, basic tool use, and household maintenance.
LIT I: Fundamentals of Engineering - 9th Grade
This course explores and applies the skills, concepts, and fundamental principles of engineering. Students learn the basics of various technological systems and engineering processes in engineering career fields. Instructors reinforce the value of an engineering notebook to document and capture ideas. The design process is introduced to solve problems and understand the influence of creative and innovative design on daily life. Students learn traditional drafting techniques as well as the industry-standard CAD software package, SolidWorks, to create images of their designs and produce a portfolio to showcase their creative solutions.
LIT II: Principles of Engineering - 10th Grade
This course explores various technological systems and engineering processes and exposes students to major concepts typically covered in a post-secondary engineering course of study. Topics include mechanisms, energy, statics, materials, and kinematics. Students develop problem-solving skills and apply their knowledge of research and design to create solutions to various challenges, document their work, and communicate solutions. Students utilize CAD (SolidWorks) and physical and virtual modeling concepts to construct, test, collect, and report data.
LIT III: Engineering Applications - 11th Grade
This course details various technological systems and engineering processes in related career fields by studying various questions: How are things made? What processes go into creating products? Is the process for making a water bottle the same as it is for a musical instrument? How do assembly lines work? How has automation changed the face of manufacturing? While students discover the answers to these questions, they learn about the history of manufacturing, robotics and automation, manufacturing processes, computer modeling, manufacturing equipment, and flexible manufacturing systems. Students utilize CAD (SolidWorks) and physical and virtual modeling concepts to construct, test, collect, and report data.
LIT IV: Capstone Engineering Design Project - 12th Grade
Note: Students must complete LIT I: Fundamentals of Engineering prior to enrolling in this course.
In this course, students develop and complete a year-long capstone project involving the design, fabrication, and testing of a device or machine encompassing all skills and knowledge previously learned in order to meaningfully impact the world around them.
Senior Thesis
To graduate from Thales Academy, all twelfth graders will write and defend a senior thesis of substantial length and depth of thought. Students will craft this thesis from a careful analysis of at least three works drawn from the literary canon of the Western Tradition. Through the process of reading, writing, editing, and presenting, participants will become more conversant with what is true, good, and beautiful. As such, this project intends to provide space for the graduate to meditate upon and demonstrate his or her understanding of our First Principles within the context of the 'Great Conversation' that has ennobled mankind throughout the ages. In employing all the skills of scholarship attained during his or her time at Thales, the senior thesis serves as the capstone project of our curriculum and a foundation for the academic life to come.
At the end of the school year, seniors must cogently, expressively, and confidently defend their unique scholarship before a panel of educators. In that moment, they are the authoritative voices in the room and join their panelists in thoughtful contemplation upon what it means to be human. The defense, then, represents a rite of passage in the life of our students, as they make the transition from a pupil taught by educators to a fellow academic in the pursuit of wisdom.
Given our zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism and the use of artificial intelligence, students should not use AI to do research or summarize texts for them in the completion of this multi-faceted project. Their work must properly and sufficiently cite another person’s ideas, and it should not contain any AI generated content nor be supported by editing software tools.
College Preparation
As students progress through our rigorous curriculum, we believe they will develop the habits necessary for college preparedness and a variety of career paths. Among these are personal responsibility, magnanimous service, and pride in achievement. Starting in ninth grade, courses will also incorporate practical lessons that should help students understand the cost of college, consider the importance of debt management, and review personal finance strategies as they make their post-graduation plans. Essential to this process is a robust partnership with parents. We will offer support and resources for families as students begin to explore and map out their long-term education and professional goals.
Working together, we hope to promote a feeling of community, meaningful civic engagement, and a passion for lifelong learning.
Thales Academy is a
college preparatory school.
Throughout their fourteen years at Thales Academy, students are prepared for the rigors and expectations of post-secondary academics. In the high school years, college preparation takes a prominent role, becoming more intensive as students advance toward graduation.
Learn more about Thales Academy's college readiness guidelines.
Thales Academy graduated
its first class in 2016.
Thales Academy students have been accepted to a wide array of prestigious colleges and universities.
See the full list here.
Culture
Our high school students value the close-knit community and personalized experience Thales Academy provides throughout their high school years. Thales Academy high school students can choose to participate in a variety of varsity sports and high-school extracurricular opportunities, including clubs, dances, honor societies, and events. From high school movie nights to homecoming dances and proms to class trips and festivals and events, Thales Academy high school students enjoy a supportive community of lifelong friends and mentors.
Extracurricular Activities
Thales Academy supports a healthy balance of extracurricular activities in math, science, foreign languages, arts, athletics, and other areas. These activities, which vary by campus, provide an opportunity for students to exercise leadership skills and expand their horizons, learning concepts and skills not commonly reviewed in the classroom.
Please note that not all options may be offered at all campus locations. Parents and students are always welcome to suggest additional activities to their local school administrators.
Athletics
For students interested in athletics, our JH/HS campuses offer a variety of sports opportunities at both the junior high and high school levels. Our teams are a part of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA). All students in ninth through twelfth grade are eligible to try out for our Varsity high school teams. Our athletic programs are growing, and we are excited to have an increasing number of students participating in our athletic programs each year.
High School athletics offered at Thales Academy*:
- Fall: Men's Soccer, Women's Volleyball, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
- Winter: Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Co-ed Cheerleading, Men's Swimming, Women's Swimming
- Spring: Women's Soccer, Men's Baseball, Women's Softball, Men's Tennis, Co-ed Golf
*NOTE: Not all sports are available at all campuses. Please check with your campus Head of School for a complete list of sports for your campus.
Due to state association rules, students may only play Varsity and Junior Varsity level sports at their own campus.
