13212 106 Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5N 1A3, Canada
3450 Boundary Road, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5M 4A5, Canada
1983
1993
340
32
Nursery/Toddler to 12
8 to 12
Coed
Coed
Day
Day
English
English
Academic
Progressive
17 to 22
3 to 6
Dedicated gifted school
$8,700 to $19,500
$8,900 to $21,000
No
Yes
0%
0%
None
8 to 12
$0
$5,000
20
6
0%
0%
100%
0%
JK, SK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Rolling
Rolling
Not available
Not available
Yes: grades Preschool - 12
Yes: grades 8 - 12
No
No
information not available
information not available
Progressive Academy hits a lot of the sweet spots that parents are looking for when considering private education. The size of the student body is smaller than the mean for schools across Canada, and affords a more individual, personal approach to instruction. The students are known by faculty, staff, and peers, and therefore quickly gain a sense of place and belonging. That said, the school is large enough to provide a good range of curricular programs and extracurricular activities. Students have the opportunity to try activities that they perhaps wouldn't attempt in larger, more competitive settings. A strong academic program is delivered in consort with an attention to interpersonal skills and social and emotional development. The school is a particular draw for families looking for a balanced program, one that builds from the students’ interests and creativity, yet supports them to reach a bit beyond their immediate comfort zones.
View full reportWhytecliff is different, something the youth and families who attend deeply appreciate. … For students with diverse learning needs, especially those who have struggled with anxiety or depression, Whytecliff is a refuge—an island of stability in a turbulent world. The hallmark of the Whytecliff program is that it’s community-based and anchored in real relationships.
The school began operations in 1993, though is an expression of a larger program of activity that dates back to 1975 with the creation of the Focus Foundation, a non-profit intending to provide social and educational support for youth aged 13-19. Since the beginning, the force of the programs was in working with assets, rather than deficits: finding talents and passions, and using those as the means of developing skills and engagement. The school extends that mandate, providing a positive, understanding environment for students who, for a range of reasons, haven’t been able to thrive in prior academic settings. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding, and that’s demonstrated through high rates of attendance, course and degree completion, and academic success. Students arrive with a range of challenges, though also with a shared experience of finding themselves on the periphery of their various social circles. In that sense, while they may be different from each other, here they are different in the same way. The school, for many, is the first truly positive, inclusive community they’ve been a part of. That forms the basis of the work of the school, as does a faculty that brings a wealth of professional and therapeutic accreditation and experience.
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"Progressive Academy is a multicultural, coed, academic school for students from age 3 to grade 12. We connect learning with living, explore interests and pursue passions. Creating with purpose, energy and joy are the hallmarks of Progressive Academy students. Rigor in core subjects, at the best pace for each student, provides the foundation for pursuit of knowledge and skills. Choice in a wide range of subjects such as robotics, musical theatre, and sports is the fuel to inspire learning."
"Whytecliff Centres in Langley & Burnaby offer a highly successful Gr. 8-12 curriculum tailored for youth with diverse learning/personal challenges. Our caring and competent staff gently weave the academics with a positive strengths-based therapeutic program, paving the way for whole-life success. Despite struggling in other schools, attendance here soars, and course completion increases 4 to 8 times. 95% of students entering grade 12 graduate, and later self-report as 9.3 out of 10 for being on a solid life path!"
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"We reach kids on an emotional level. We’re not bound by a lot of the same rules and structures that some schools are. Everything that we do here, in the end, comes down to relationships. And the program that we’ve created here is a family. What we do here is create a warm, caring environment. It’s like a home."
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"Most students are at Whytecliff because things didn't go well at other schools. Students chose us because they're looking for a fresh start, a new approach; a school that might have success where others hadn’t. And once here, both parents and students find it life altering."
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"Since the beginning, the force of the programs was in working with student assets, rather than deficits: finding talents and passions, and using those as the means of developing skills and engagement. It’s unlike any school in the region or, for that matter, the country."
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"Parents are always surprised with the changes they see in their child and how quickly thrive at Whytecliff. Despite struggling in other schools, student attendance at Whytecliff soars, and course completion increases 4 to 8 times. 95% of students entering grade 12 graduate, and later self-report as 9.3 out of 10 for being on a solid life path."
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There are so many benefits to sending your child to a school that recognizes the incredible potential of each individual.
Progressive Academy strives to develop well-rounded advanced learners, capable of becoming the entrepreneurs of the future. We develop confidence with intention. Our approaches to education stress understanding through discovery, yet ensure that the necessary base skills are well developed, opening the door for students to pursue subjects as far forward as they are want.
Students are exposed to many required classes including French and Mandarin as second languages, art history, music (including concert band in Junior High), robotics, as well as many options including public speaking, programming, photography, and sports like fencing and equestrian. Our students perform regularly during the school year to build their confidence and comfort with being in front of crowds.
Our school is best characterized as academic. Students are encouraged to learn beyond their grade or age might dictate. We follow the passion for learning of the student, rather than hold them back based on age. Our highly individualized approach helps students learn at an early age that they are directly responsible for their own development.
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Progressive (sometimes called "in- quiry-based") curricula attempt to place children's interests and ideas at the heart of the learning experience. Instead of lessons being driven by predetermined pathways, progressive curricula are often "emergent", with learning activities shaped by students' questions about the world. Instead of starting with academic concepts and then tying it to everyday experience, progressive methods begin with everyday experience and work back to an academic lesson. Teachers provide materials, experiences, tools and resources to help students investigate a topic or issue. Students are encouraged to explore, reflect on their findings, and discuss answers or solutions.
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Progressive Academy implements the Alberta Provincial curriculum as a starting point. Students are not bound by grades or constrained by time in their forward progress through the curriculum. High expectations for full understanding and ability to use what has been learned determine forward progress. Authentic learning opportunities provide meaning for curriculum expectation. Students are often in multi-grades classes and are encouraged to perform at their highest level while mentoring younger student in their work.
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These math programs feature an equal balance of “Traditional” and “Discovery” methods.
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Systematic-phonics programs teach young children to read by helping them to recognize and sound out the letters and syllables of words. Students are then led to blend these sounds together to sound out and recognize the whole word. While other reading programs might touch on phonetics (either incidentally or on a “when needed” basis), systematic phonics teaches phonics in a specific sequence, and uses extensive repetition and direct instruction to help readers associate specific letter patterns with their associated sounds.
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Early literacy begins at age three, where our students start to read and write using phonics. Our expectations by grade school are that students are one or several years ahead of norms for reading levels.
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Programs that balance systematic and process approaches equally likely have an emphasis on giving young students ample opportunities to write, while providing supplementary class-wide instruction in grammar, parts of sentences, and various writing strategies.
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Science programs that balance expository and inquiry learning equally will likely have an equal blend of tests and experiments; direct, textbook-based instruction and student-centred projects.
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Evolution as consensus theory
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
Evolution is not taught
Evolution as consensus theory
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
Evolution is not taught
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Ancient lit
English lit
World (non-Western) lit
European (continental) lit
American lit
Canadian lit
Ancient lit
English lit
World (non-Western) lit
European (continental) lit
American lit
Canadian lit
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Hebrew
ESL
Spanish
Russian
Latin
Japanese
Italian
Greek
German
French
Chinese-Mandarin
Chinese-Cantonese
Hebrew
ESL
Spanish
Russian
Latin
Japanese
Italian
Greek
German
French
Chinese-Mandarin
Chinese-Cantonese
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These programs have an equal emphasis on receptive and creative learning.
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Fine arts are integral to our program for a well balanced student. Art history, performing in French and Mandarin, drama and musical theatre are all part of developing our students' confidence.
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Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
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A major effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy throughout the curriculum and in everything students do. Digital literacy is understood to be a fundamental skill in the 21st century: it therefore follows, the idea goes, that teachers should find ways to connect every lesson back to technology. Effort is made to ensure the use of technology is meaningful and advances students’ skills beyond what they would otherwise be from using computers outside the classroom.
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Progressive integrates FIRST Robotics programs into our curriculum, so all students get exposed to technology in a fun, competitive environment. All students are required to have laptops starting in grade four, as our program includes teaching such skills as computer programming, CAD, computer graphics editing and publishing. Additional instruction is available for accelerated students in things like electronics, web design and advanced programming.
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Web design
Robotics
Computer science
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Academic-based preschools and Kindergartens are the most structured of the different types, and have a strong emphasis on math and reading readiness skills. These programs aim to expose children to what early-elementary school is like. While time is still allotted to free play, much of the day is built around explicit lessons guided by the teacher. Classrooms often resemble play-based ones (with different stations set up around the room), but at an Academic program the teacher leads students through the stations directly, and ties these activities to a whole-class lesson or theme.
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By creating engaging environments and providing authentic learning experiences our young learners actively engage in learning and reflection. Whether it is a tour of the city to examine 2D and 3D shapes in Edmonton's architecture, or a study of bugs in the yard - Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten students learn the basic of research - observation. Literacy, communication skills and numeracy are woven into your students daily activities. Our high interactive phonics programs find most of our students with beginning reading skills before they enter Kindergarten.
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The main curriculum pace is non-standardized and is HIGHLY responsive to the pacing of individual students, (via differentiated instruction, differentiated assessment, etc). In theory, some students outpace the default/normalized curriculum, while others spend periods "behind schedule" if they need the extra time.
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A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.
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At Progressive Academy we have high expectations. We expect our students to understand what they are learning and demonstrate their ability to incorporate their learning into their lives. We expect our students to learn how to learn, to take responsibility for their learning, to reflect on their learning and to help others. We expect our students to help shape a better world in their daily lives as students.
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"We honour and distinguish our brightest students, using them as examples for other students to follow."
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Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
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Intellectual
The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."
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At Progressive Academy we believe that all of our students can shine in all domains. Each student is naturally more capable in some domains than others, but by providing tools and working together, everyone can succeed intellectually, emotionally, socially, physically, and spiritually.
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CompetitiveComp. |
RecreationalRec. |
CompetitiveComp. |
RecreationalRec. |
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Badminton |
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Baseball |
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Basketball |
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Canoeing/Kayaking |
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Cricket |
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Cross-country skiing |
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Cycling |
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Downhill skiing |
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Equestrian |
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Fencing |
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Field Hockey |
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Figure Skating |
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Football |
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Golf |
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Gymnastics |
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Ice Hockey |
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Ice Skating |
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Lacrosse |
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Martial Arts |
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Mountain biking |
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Racquet Ball |
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Rowing |
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Rugby |
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Running |
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Sailing |
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Skateboarding |
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Snowboarding |
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Soccer |
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Softball |
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Squash |
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Swimming |
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Tennis |
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Track & Field |
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Volleyball |
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Weightlifting |
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Wrestling |
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Archery |
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Curling |
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Ultimate |
Ballet and Classical Ballet
Yoga
Yearbook
Student Council
Scouting
Science Club
School newspaper
Round Square
Robotics club
Radio club
Poetry/Literature club
Photography
Paintball
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Club
Online Magazine
Musical theatre/Opera
Math Club
Jazz Ensemble
Habitat for Humanity
Foreign Language Club
Environmental Club
Drama Club
Debate Club
Dance Club
Computer Club
Community Service
Choir
Chess Club
Band
Audiovisual Club
Astronomy Club
Art Club
Animation
Ballet and Classical Ballet
Yoga
Yearbook
Student Council
Scouting
Science Club
School newspaper
Round Square
Robotics club
Radio club
Poetry/Literature club
Photography
Paintball
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Club
Online Magazine
Musical theatre/Opera
Math Club
Jazz Ensemble
Habitat for Humanity
Foreign Language Club
Environmental Club
Drama Club
Debate Club
Dance Club
Computer Club
Community Service
Choir
Chess Club
Band
Audiovisual Club
Astronomy Club
Art Club
Animation
8 - 12
0%
0%
$0
$5,000
100%
0%
JK, SK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Rolling
Rolling
Not available
Not available
Yes: grades Preschool - 12
Yes: grades 8 - 12
No
No
No
No
Yes: grades 3 - 12
No
Yes: grades 10 - 12
No
No
No
Whytecliff considers applications of any child in the Lower Mainland or Fraser Valley, age 13-18, who is not being successful or engaged in school. The majority of children we accept have challenges with anxiety & depression and are seeking an environment where they can feel safe ⎯ a real school offering Dogwood and Evergreen graduation that doesn’t seem remedial or like an ‘alternative school’, and a place where they can begin to relax, feel normal, and develop their personal abilities and self-esteem. Many of the children who are successful and qualify for acceptance at Whytecliff have been labelled within a diagnosed category such as: –ADHD –FASD –Dyslexia –Dyscalculia –Dysgraphia –Language Processing Disorder –Nonverbal Learning Disorders –Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit –Chronic Health Impairment –Gifted –High Functioning Autism –Asperger’s Syndrome –Behavioral and Emotional Challenges –Troubled Behavior –Clinical Depression –Clinical Anxiety –Suicidal Thoughts –Drug and Alcohol Abuse –Oppositional Defiant Disorder If you don’t see your child’s challenge listed above, that doesn’t mean they won’t qualify; we have a policy of actively considering all applications to the program.
To apply for a place in one of our programs, contact us, ideally by email.
Most of our intake occurs in August or early September, for the full school year, and in January and before February 10th for the Spring session.
We’re also happy to call you and get further details if you would prefer to apply that way. As we’re seeking to build a real community, we like to make sure the program is a good fit for each student.
We also have several Open Houses during the year. To find out our next open house date or arrange a private tour, please contact us.