Realms may have elements in common with other schools, but our program is unique in the Salt Lake area. The most notable elements of this uniqueness are:

• Community Atmosphere: Because of the small size of the school, our small class sizes, and many shared experiences, people at Realms know each other. Students of different ages interact with each other, and there are several all-school events throughout the school year. Students tend to be accepting of one another because their interactions go beyond the superficial level that is frequently the norm in large classes and schools. Parents are involved in classes, as volunteers for events, and in the school’s parent organization (Realms Community Council).
• The Outdoor Program: The Outdoor Program is unique and essential to the Realms experience. The Outdoor Program is a place for students to have fun, to safely take risks and challenge themselves. The Outdoor Program engages students in their school experience, and connects them in a deeper way to the world and the people around them.
• Gifted academic programs, Realms style: It is commonly recognized that bright students don’t need a lot of repetition to learn, yet there is more to a gifted academic program than “acceleration,” or moving students through information rapidly. We believe that bright students need opportunities to explore their own interests within a subject and to develop the skills that will make them autonomous learners (thinking and communication skills, research, and creating end products).
• A “Whole Child” Focus: We recognize the importance of strong academic programs, but also believe that rich opportunities in the arts and early exposure to foreign language are essential. Our classrooms are important forums for learning social and communication skills, and students of all ages are participants in this process. It is common for bright students to have highly developed skill areas as well as less developed skill areas; at Realms, students are recognized for their strengths, helped to work on their weaknesses, and accepted for who they are.

It is not our purpose to be a school for “problem kids,” and our teachers have no special training for working with behavioral or emotional issues or learning disabilities. One of our guiding principles is “Students have the right to learn and teachers have the right to teach.” Behavior that impacts other students’ ability to learn or a teacher's ability to teach is not accepted. We are a school that works on the fundamental premise that the students are here because they want to be here.

That said, we also know that behavior problems can be a logical response for many bright young people who find themselves in an educational situation that fails to meet their needs. Some students who have had behavioral problems in another school setting are able to function well at Realms because they are engaged, challenged, accepted, or simply no longer bored. We also know that it is common for some very bright students to have exceptional intellectual development and below-age social or emotional development.

We believe that our small class sizes, close relationships with teachers, an emphasis on respect and acceptance, and plentiful opportunities in the outdoor program, as well as active classrooms for meaningful interaction with others, provide the ideal environment for these bright students to develop socially and emotionally.

In the Lower and Middle School, classes are limited to 14 students per each full-time teacher. On occasion, a class might grow by 1-3 students, with the addition of a teacher’s aide. The Upper School has a total enrollment of between 35-40; academic classes typically average between 5 to 10 students and never exceed 14.

 

In the Lower School, students take field trips as often as once a week. The activities on field trips might be outdoor activities (hiking, climbing, an outdoor science activity) or a non-outdoor activity related to an area of study in the class. Beginning in 1st or 2nd grade, classes typically do an overnight trip during the year. The length of trips increases as students get older. Middle School students do a 3-6 day backpacking trip in the fall as well as a 2-4 week trip in the spring.

The Upper School students do a 10-day backpacking trip, a month long trip in the spring, usually to another country, and 2-3 shorter trips during the year, as well. The activities in the Outdoor Program can include hiking, rock climbing, caving, boating, biking, and more. Outdoor experiences are designed to build particular social, emotional, and academic skills, which make the program meaningful to students individually as well as enhancing their entire educational experience.

Yes, but exceptions are made occasionally for unique situations that might arise.

More than 90% of Realms graduates go to college. Many Realms graduates go on to travel extensively on their own or with other groups. Many Realms graduates have chosen to enter service-oriented professions. Some fields well represented by Realms graduates are the arts, teaching, sciences, law, and technology. But Realms graduates are, above all, unique individuals, and it is not possible to describe them well with generalizations. We hope that a Realms education will help any student make his own dreams real, whatever they may be.

Yes, Realms is accredited through the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. Maintaining accreditation involves a yearly written assessment, and periodic on site evaluations. Realms had an on site visit during the 2003-04 school year and received a very positive report.

Please see the Admissions/Tuition & School Hours section for current tuition rates.

Realms urges parents needing financial aid to apply through Children First Utah, a scholarship fund for children. Scholarships are awarded to Utah children applying to private schools in grades K-8 and are based on financial need. For more information, please visit the Children First Utah website at www.childrenfirstutah.org.

Students may be eligible for the Special Needs (Carson Smith) Scholarship. For further information, please visit www.schools.utah.gov/admin/specialneeds.htm.

Loans may be available through an organization (not affiliated with Realms) called prepGATE. For more information, please visit their web site at www.prepgate.com.

For financial assistance from Realms of Inquiry, a partial waiver may be granted on a per case basis by the Board of Trustees. For more information, please contact Laurie Bragg, Head of School.

Realms assesses a Program Fee and a Textbook Fee in addition to tuition. Since these costs vary from grade to grade and year to year, please find details on our Admissions/Tuition & School Hours page.

Costs associated with the following Realms activities are also not included in tuition rates, and are the responsibility of parents:

• Ski and snowboard program (Lower and Middle Schools)
• Food budgets for extended trips (overnight or longer)
• Required equipment for the Outdoor Program
• International trips (including language immersion trips)

The primary purpose of testing is to help ensure that every student is placed in the educational setting that is best for him or her. Test scores are one of several measures used to evaluate how well the Realms program would work for a potential student. Other factors we look at include self-motivation and self-discipline; previous school experience; interests, passions, and hobbies; and development in non-intellectual areas, such as social, emotional, spiritual, and physical. These are assessed through a written application, an interview, and a classroom visit.

Realms does not require testing for preschool students. Testing is required for any student entering Kindergarten or above, including currently enrolled preschool students.

Testing is done privately, outside of Realms. Parents are welcome to use the qualified professional of their choice. On the Admissions/Enrollment page, we list professionals who have done admissions testing for many Realms students. In some circumstances, we can accept previous I.Q. test scores, but achievement test scores must be from the current school year. Charges vary from one professional to another, but typically range between $150 and $300.