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Academic Excellence Rooted in
Arizona State Standards

​At Essential Principals Learning, our K–8 academic program follows the Arizona State Standards, ensuring every student receives a rigorous, well-rounded education. Our approach combines high expectations with small class sizes and personalized instruction, helping students reach their fullest potential in a supportive environment.

Creative Enrichment (K–8)

We value creative exploration as a vital part of the learning experience.

  • Art: Drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed-media projects

  • Music: Group and private lessons in piano, drums, and guitar

  • Creative Writing: Journals, short stories, and poetry

  • Clubs & Enrichment: Chess, drama, storytelling, student council

Elementary Academics (Kindergarten–5th Grade)

Our elementary program focuses on foundational learning while nurturing a love of learning and strong character development.

English Language Arts (ELA)

  • Phonics and word recognition for early readers

  • Fluency and reading comprehension strategies

  • Writing personal narratives, informational texts, and opinion pieces

  • Grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure

  • Listening and speaking skills for presentations and discussions

In the Classroom

Mathematics

  • Number sense, place value, and operations

  • Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division mastery

  • Fractions, decimals, and basic geometry

  • Problem-solving strategies and reasoning

  • Hands-on math games and tools to support conceptual understanding

Child at school
Children in Science Class

Science

  • reading and math

  • Inquiry-based investigations of earth, life, and physical sciences

  • Weather patterns, ecosystems, force and motion, and the human body

  • Hands-on experiments and STEM challenges

  • Emphasis on observation, data collection, and scientific method

  • Cross-curricular connections with reading and math

Happy Kids with Books

Social Studies

  • Community, state, and national history

  • Introduction to government, citizenship, and civic responsibility

  • Geography, map skills, and cultural studies

  • Economics and needs vs. wants

  • Integration of local Arizona history and heritage

STEM Integration (K–8)

STEM is woven into all subjects to develop innovation, logic, and real-world problem-solving skills.

  • Weekly STEM labs with age-appropriate engineering challenges

  • Robotics, coding, and technology-enhanced lessons

  • Scientific inquiry, data analysis, and graphing

  • Design thinking and prototyping in Makerspace-style activities

  • Cross-subject projects integrating math, science, and creativity

Middle School Academics (6th–8th Grade)

In grades 6–8, students prepare for the transition to high school through increasingly complex content, independent work, and real-world application.

English Language Arts (ELA)

  • Literary analysis of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama

  • Writing structured essays, research reports, and persuasive arguments

  • Grammar, syntax, and vocabulary development

  • Group discussions, Socratic seminars, and public speaking

  • Text-based evidence and close reading strategies

Mathematics

  • Pre-Algebra and Algebra concepts

  • Rational numbers, expressions, and equations

  • Ratios, proportions, and percentages

  • Coordinate graphing and data interpretation

  • Real-world problem-solving and mathematical reasoning

Science

  • Earth Science (tectonics, weather, natural resources)

  • Life Science (cells, genetics, body systems, ecosystems)

  • Physical Science (energy, forces, motion, matter)

  • Use of scientific tools, labs, and inquiry projects

  • Integration of STEM and engineering principles

Social Studies

  • U.S. and World History, from ancient civilizations to modern events

  • Government structure, Constitution, and citizenship responsibilities

  • Geography and global interdependence

  • Civics and current events discussions

  • Economics, trade, and financial literacy

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

We create a safe, respectful space where students can thrive emotionally and socially.

  • Daily morning meetings and check-ins

  • Emotional literacy and self-regulation lessons

  • Peer conflict resolution 

  • Schoolwide values: responsibility, kindness, and resilience

  • Positive reinforcement and behavior supports

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