Gifted kids soak up content quickly, ask questions, and apply what they learn to make something new. We value their spirit of inquiry. Learning flourishes through discussions, hands-on projects, and simulations, fostering connections to what matters. This inspires students to become problem-solvers, innovators, and leaders, developing skills that will make them impactful contributors in the future.

We know gifted kids can understand big ideas, so why make them wait? Acera is an intellectual candy store where students can learn and explore without limits according to their abilities and interests.

Ability-based learning spans all disciplines, catering to students substantially above grade level, including elective opportunities and placement in ability-based math classes.

Our learning approach fosters intrinsic motivation, inspiring a sense of purpose in school. We rapidly move from knowledge acquisition to conceptual thinking and applying ideas to broader, real-world problems and projects. Learning is satisfying, meaningful, and joyful.

Core and specialist teachers create an interdisciplinary, project-based program centered on essential questions like “What makes us human?” and “How can we redesign our environment?” These inquiries drive meaningful discussions and purpose in learning.

Teachers adapt their curriculum based on class interests to promote academic growth and core skills. Past units have explored topics like the role of law in society, energy and motion, the foundations of democracy, and global health issues. Specialists enhance learning in lower school (K-5) by aligning topics like visual arts, physics, engineering and lab sciences with core themes. Upper School (6-9) offers a variety of elective courses across myriad subjects each trimester.

Students in grades 6–9 can choose from dozens of high-engagement electives in sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities. Our teachers develop these courses to align with student interests, strengths, and current events. Using primary sources and emphasizing real-world applications, these electives foster core capacities and academic skills while ensuring high school-level content and rigor.

Gifted students often show remarkable potential in mathematics, making differentiation in mixed-ability classrooms challenging. Why should an 8-year-old curious about negative exponents wait until later to explore? At Acera, we create learning environments that match our students’ capabilities.

We assess students at the start of the year and consider insights from prior teachers to understand their readiness. Some students may be at grade level and hesitant about math, while most are one to four years ahead. Our focus is on curiosity and love for mathematics. We create courses beyond mere vertical acceleration

Students learn in small groups, enhancing conceptual understanding and computational thinking. With an average class size of 8, students dig into advanced topics like algebra, geometry, number theory and calculus. National math competitions showcase skills. New students enjoy engaging with challenging material; for many it is the first school experience in which they can show their mathematical capacity; they feel elated, engaged and understood.

Once a week, Acera students take part in Creativity Stations—a dedicated time for arts and creative courses. Students choose activities that spark their curiosity, experiment with new materials and equipment, and embrace the joy of learning through making. Students choose new offerings each trimester,  including Woodworking, Theatre, Jazz Band, Cooking, Fine Arts, Stop Motion Animation, CAD, Filmmaking, Fiber Arts, and more! Each trimester closes with the beloved Museum Walk, an open showcase of student work.

We dedicate time to outdoor recess every day in all kinds of weather. Our adventure and nature playground enables kids to build, invent their own games, and work as teams. The playground evolves as kids envision and initiate new components to add, making our outdoor space yet another place where Acera gets to be a school of YES for students’ ideas and leadership. 

Teachers enhance learning by organizing relevant field trips, inviting thought leaders into classrooms, and utilizing long-term partnerships. Students can engage in activities that cater to their interests beyond the conventional classroom environment.

As a Lab School, we collaborate with researchers and innovators to test new educational approaches, enriching student exposure to experts and extending learning opportunities through our outreach initiative, AceraEI. 

Key partners include Tufts Center for Engineering Education Outreach, Arduino, MIT’s Tami Lieberman Microbiome Lab, Boston University Social Learning Lab, and One Brave Idea, led by Calum MacRae.