Big News: A New Name, Same Bold Vision

As we get closer to August, we are excited to announce that the school formerly known as Heights Academy is now Forest City Academy. While a C&D letter wasn’t on our starting a school bingo card, this is a name that honors our community’s history, connotates our values and allows us to distinguish ourselves as different by design.

✅ Honors our Community’s History – “Forest City” has been a nickname for Cleveland going back to the 1850s. We’re committed to ensuring families across the region have access to a truly different kind of school.
✅ Reflects our values – Trees in a forest symbolize growth and strong roots. A hike through the woods reveals beauty and wonder, inspires thankfulness and is challenging yet worthwhile (agency). Ideally you’ll leave no trace (perhaps a little stretch but it does tie to our value of ownership).
✅ Further distinguishes us-  We’re built from the ground up to be different by design. How so: 

• First-principles design - we start with our end goal- learners who have the knowledge, skills, and character to maximize their unique gifts and abilities and design backwards from there. Is a strong foundation in reading, writing, arithmetic essential? Absolutely. Does this mean every child is taught the same thing at the same time ignoring their background knowledge, interests, and needs? Absolutely not.  

• Mastery-Based Learning – Kids advance when they’re ready—not on a fixed timeline. A kindergartner’s path is based on what they need, not on what someone in Columbus assumes they need.

• Learning for Life- The toughest questions don’t have one right answer. Suppose a town gets an unrestricted grant? A parent may want it to go to parks. A small business owner may want to boost local entrepreneurship. A teacher may advocate for school funding. A doctor champion health eating. Our daily schedule is designed to help students wrestle with ideas, embrace ambiguity, and respectfully stand for their believes. We teach students how to think, not what to think.

ICYMI: 3 Things

1️⃣I had the chance to connect with Anand Sanwal, founder of CB Insights and the Formidable Fellowship. Check out what he had to say about education and what he’s building as he climbs his “second mountain.” (Join me in pitching him on Cleveland so our students can attend his school after graduating from Forest City!) 

2️⃣ Khan Schools Network: We are a proud founding partner school of the Khan Schools Network. We’re able to leverage the resources and tools of the most forward thinking educators on the planet. 

3️⃣Time to Connect The collective wisdom of this group is incredible, and every conversation I’ve had so far has been invaluable; ideas, feedback, introductions, or tough questions that push our thinking forward. If you’re open to a quick chat, I’d love to share more and hear your thoughts.

📅 What’s Coming Up?

🚨March 14- BIG day in regards to the authorization process with Ohio. More to come. 

🏀March 16- Cleveland Cavs Score with STEM - join us and other organizations for hands-on STEM activities prior to watching the Cavs take on Orlando 

💻 March 19- join us for a virtual info session

📢Ongoing:

• Enrollment- huge appreciation to those families who have already said “We’re In!” Know someone else looking for something different? Send them our way.

• We’re hiring. Know a “crazy one” who dares to “think different”? Send them our way.

Thanks for reading!
Ben