Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if Cyprus is the right school for my child?  

At Cyprus, we cater to families seeking an exceptional educational experience for their highly advanced or gifted children. We understand the importance of allowing these young minds to thrive at their own pace and level of aptitude. Our educational approach is designed to meet the needs of students who require a more accelerated and intellectually stimulating environment than than public, private, or magnet schools can provide - including specialized gifted programs.

hildren who are gifted often display signs that they need more from school.  
  • Is your child intellectually bored in school?
    • It's important to distinguish between occasional boredom and intellectual boredom. Children may experience times when they experience boredom, which is perfectly normal. However, intellectual boredom arises when your child consistently encounters material they already know, or when the curriculum doesn't challenge their abilities, leaving them with little to pique their curiosity.
  • Do you believe your child is capable of achieving more, but their motivation seems to be lacking, resulting in underachievement?
    • This is a common issue among bright children who have endured prolonged intellectual boredom. At Cyprus, we address this challenge by offering an engaging and stimulating learning environment that encourages students to excel.
  • Is your child achieving top grades without much effort?
  • Has your child demonstrated early academic prowess, such as reading fluently at a young age or displaying expertise in specific subjects, like memorizing the periodic table?
  • Is your child known for their enthusiasm in learning environments that engage and challenge them, but they exhibit behavioral issues in traditional school settings?
  • Does your child have a unquenchable thirst for information?
  • Has your child been identified as gifted through IQ testing or by the school system?
  • Has your child taken a test and not qualified for gifted programs due to asynchronous development in different subjects?  (e.g. They scored high enough in Math, but the overall score wasn't high enough)
  • Do you feel your child should have qualified for a gifted program but did not?
  • Is your child frequently put to use as a "tutor" or "helper" of other children?  (While it's common for gifted students to assist their peers, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn without the added responsibility of teaching. All children have a right to learn in school.)
  • Does your child grasp new information quickly, often needing just one or two repetitions to understand concepts that others may take days or weeks to comprehend?
If you have a student who will be 4 or 5 on September 1st of the school year, see the Super K page for more information.

What is ability-based education?

Ability-based education is the cornerstone of our approach at Cyprus. We understand that every child is unique and possesses their own set of strengths and abilities. To ensure each student receives a tailored learning experience, we implement Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) based on both formal and informal assessments for every academic subject.
Key aspects of our ability-based education model at Cyprus:
  1. Personalized Learning Plans: We craft personalized ILPs for each student, taking into account their individual abilities and learning styles. These plans serve as roadmaps to guide their educational journey.
  2. Small Class Sizes: Our commitment to small class sizes ensures that students receive the attention and support they need to excel. This allows us to create a conducive learning environment that fosters growth and engagement.
  3. Homogeneous Groups: In each academic subject, we group students with peers who share similar achievement and ability levels. This approach promotes a dynamic learning atmosphere where students can progress at their own pace.
  4. Age-Appropriate Classes: We make every effort to create classes without significant age disparities. This helps maintain a cohesive and comfortable learning environment for all students.
  5. Customized Education: Our ability-based education approach guarantees that every student's unique needs and abilities are met. We aim to provide a customized educational experience that nurtures their potential.
At Cyprus, we are committed to delivering an educational experience that caters to the individual strengths and talents of each student. Our ability-based education model ensures that your child receives the support and guidance necessary to thrive academically and personally.
Example Student Schedules
​
5 year old  Joseph (Kindergarten Age)
1st Period:   Super K Circle Time
2nd Period:  2nd Grade Language with high-level independent reading component 
3rd Period:  Montessori Inspired Activity Time
4th Period:  Music/Creative Arts Class
Lunch/Recess
5th Period:  Kindergarten Math
6th Period:  Chinese
7th Period:  Science
8th Period:  History

5 year old Jane (Kindergarten Age)
1st period:  Super K Circle Time
2nd Period:  2nd grade level Language with high reading component 
3rd Period:  Activity Time
4th Period:  2nd Grade Math
5th Period:  Creative Arts Class
6th Period:  Spanish
7th Period:  Science
8th Period: History

8 year old Shana (3rd Grade Age)
1st Period:   Language Arts 
2nd Period:  Mandarin Chinese
3rd Period:  Pre-Algebra
4th Period:  Language/Literature/Composition
Lunch/Recess
5th Period:  Spanish
6th Period:  Advanced STEM Program
7th Period:  History
8th Period: Music/PhyEd

9 year old Jessica (3rd Grade Age)
1st Period:  5th grade Language
2nd Period: Middle School level Literature/Composition
3rd Period:  3rd Grade Math
4th Period:  Work Period
Lunch/Recess
5th Period:  Mandarin Chinese
6th Period:  Science (Late Elementary)
7th Period:  History (Middle School Level)
8th Period: Music/PhyEd

10 year old Jack (5th Grade Age)
1st Period:  Language Analysis
2nd Period: Work Period
3rd Period:  Algebra 2
4th Period:  Mandarin Chinese
Lunch/Recess
5th Period: Literature Composition
6th Period:  Art
7th Period:  History/Science Block (alternating days)
8th Period:  History/Science Block (alternating days)

11 year old Brianna (Bridge Program)
1st Period: Algebra 2
2nd Period:  ACT test prep
3rd Period: High School level Language (Grammar, Vocabulary)
4th Period:  Mandarin Chinese
Lunch/Recess
5th Period:  Literature/Composition
6th Period History/Science Block (alternating days)
7th Period:  History/Science Block (alternating days)
8th Period: Art 

12 Year old Anne (Bridge Program)
1st Period:  Electronics & Programming
2nd Period:  ACT Test Prep/Grammar
3rd Period:  Instrument Practice
4th Period:  Instrument Practice
Lunch/Recess
5th Period:  Spanish
6th Period:  Pre Calculus
7th Period:  Humanities (History, Literature/Composition)
8th Period: Humanities

13 Year-Old Jason (Bridge Program)
1st Period:  College Level Language
2nd Period: Instrument Practice
3rd Period:  Calculus
4th Period:  Literature/Composition/Presentation
​Lunch/Recess
5th Period: Work Period
6th Period:  Art
7th Period:  History/Science Block (alternating days)
8th Period:  History/Science Block (alternating days)

About Cyprus Classical Academy

​​It can be a challenge deciding what to do if your child is gifted and traditional schools are not a good fit.  The solution is to provide advanced and gifted students with ability-based education and a customized school schedule specifically designed to meet the unique needs of your each gifted learner.

Cyprus Classical Academy is an award-winning, ability-based school, in Burnsville, Minnesota and online world-wide that provides a premium, ability-based education that meets the needs of academically advanced through highly gifted students ages 4-14 years, in pre-k, elementary, and middle school. Cyprus students love to learn and need a faster pace of learning and higher level of academics than traditional schools and gifted programs can offer.  Cyprus Classical Academy students have customized school schedules and the opportunity for unlimited acceleration while maintaining an organized school structure and rigorous curriculum taught by highly qualified teachers and experts in their fields. Cyprus Classical Academy offers a unique and comprehensive education and places emphasis on building a strong community both on-site for in-person learning and online for distance learning.
Contact Us to Discuss Your Child's Education

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​Cyprus Classical Academy is a not for profit school which admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, and athletic, musical, artistic or other school-administered programs.