Students at Compass Academy will:

  • Engage in "hands-on" project-based learning throughout all courses
  • Have a voice and choice in personalized learning activities
  • Attend school on a schedule that is flexible and built around their needs
  • Be able to work at their own pace - whether they want to delve deeper into content or take additional time to learn a concept
  • Be part of a small learning community

Support services available to students at the district’s comprehensive high schools will also be available to students at Compass Academy, including:

  • Special education and related services
  • English language support
  • Embedded social-emotional learning and counseling
  • Post-secondary planning

Students who attend Compass Academy will continue to have opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities at their home high school.

Key Features

At Compass Academy, students advance in coursework by demonstrating mastery of competencies. The curriculum addresses all of the Illinois Learning Standards just as it does at the comprehensive high schools, but the way in which instruction occurs and the learning activities in which students engage are different. The coursework students complete at Compass Academy enables them to meet all graduation requirements, and students who complete those requirements will receive a diploma from either St. Charles East or St. Charles North High School upon graduation.

∎ Flexible Schedule - Students have the opportunity to build a schedule around their needs and preferences, so they may have:

  • a later start and/or earlier end to their day
  • a break in the middle of the day
  • one day a week for learning opportunities outside the school
  • the opportunity to take remote, blended, and/or evening courses, along with courses at other locations (ECC, FVCC, EHS/NHS)

Impact on students:

  • Access learning at times that meet their needs
  • Increased exposure to post-secondary options and environments

The schedule at Compass Academy was intentionally designed to complement the schedules at the comprehensive high schools and Fox Valley Career Center. (Because classes are offered throughout the day and evening at Elgin Community College, that schedule is not shown.)

Flexible Schedule (Daily Model Comparison)

∎ Competency-Based Education - The positive impact on students is evident because:

  • Students at Compass are active participants in their learning. They make choices about what and how they learn, and how they demonstrate their understanding through projects and real-world application.
  • Assessment is built into the learning process and provides timely, actionable feedback that helps students grow.
  • Students receive personalized support based on their individual needs, ensuring they are challenged and supported along the way.
  • Progress is based on mastery of skills and concepts—not time spent in class. Students move forward once they demonstrate readiness.
  • Learning happens through multiple pathways and flexible pacing, allowing students to engage in ways that best fit how they learn.
  • Clear, consistent expectations guide what students should know and be able to do, with skills that transfer across courses, careers, and life.
  • Equity is embedded in all aspects of the school experience, so every student has access to the support and opportunities they need to succeed.

Compass Academy Core Competency Areas