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Academics, Homework & Partnering with Teachers
Published July 27th, 2026
Dear APA Eagle Mountain Families,
Now that you’re officially part of the APA community, we want to give you a look at what academic life looks like at school!
APA’s mission is to prepare students for lives of meaning and happiness. This requires that school be a place where learning is joyful, engaging, and challenging! We hold students to high standards and we believe every child is capable of meeting them! Our curriculum and methods are research-backed, nationally recognized, and proven to produce results.
How We Teach Reading
At the elementary level, reading instruction at APA is built on the Science of Reading — the most research-supported approach to literacy development available. We use many proven programs, but three primary ones are:
- Reading Mastery — a structured, direct-instruction reading program with a proven track record of accelerating reading fluency and comprehension
- Spalding — a phonics-based writing and spelling method that teaches the rules of the English language systematically
- Heggerty — a phonemic awareness program that builds the foundational listening and sound skills every reader needs
These aren’t trends. They’re methods with decades of evidence behind them — and they’re a big reason APA students consistently outperform state and national averages in early literacy.
Achievement-Based Grouping
In math, reading, and spelling, APA uses achievement-based intensive classes — meaning students are grouped by skill level, not just grade. This allows teachers to move at the right pace for each group, ensuring no student is held back and no student is left behind.
Intensive classes begin after the first two weeks of school, once initial assessments are complete. Depending on enrollment, history and science may also be structured as intensives to make sure every student is learning at grade level.
Homework — What to Expect
Our homework philosophy is centered on students practicing what they have learned at school, sharing it with parents, and receiving daily encouragement. Each day students will be assigned independent work in their reading and math classes, and some days in history, science, literature or poetry. Students are often able to complete their independent work at school, but most days they will bring home some amount of homework. This work will be something they have already been taught, and can do independently. Students benefit from parent encouragement and motivation to get it completed! These habits of consistent work and accomplishment make a big difference as students grow in their scholarship throughout their school years.
The goal of homework is practice and learning to initiate and sustain their own work habits in a different environment than school.
Students will bring home a learning plan each day that outlines any work they need to complete as well as messages from the teacher. Parents are asked to sign the learning plan every day, indicating they reviewed their child’s work and any messages from the teacher.
General time expectations by grade:
- Grades K–2: 20–30 minutes per night
- Grades 3–4: 30–45 minutes per night
- Grades 5–6: 45–60 minutes per night
Tips for supporting your student at home:
- Set a consistent homework time and location each day
- Minimize distractions during homework time
- Check completed work and help your student focus more on areas they need to improve
Partnering with Teachers
APA teachers are accessible and want to hear from you!
As a general guideline: email is the best way to reach teachers. Teachers respond within 24 hours. If something is urgent, contact the front office.
Want to Learn More About the APA Model?
You can read more about our academic approach — including curriculum philosophy, grade-level expectations, and instructional methods — on our website:
americanprep.org/our-model/elementary
Your family’s Eagle Mountain Parent-Student Handbook will be available before school begins. It covers academic policies, grading, and expectations in full detail. In the meantime, you can review a sample handbook from one of our established campuses at:
americanprep.org/parent-student-handbooks
Countdown to School — Meet Your APA Community
Weekly Meetings — Come with Your Questions
Our weekly info meetings are open to enrolled families too — not just prospective ones. If you have questions about academics or anything else, come meet us in person or hop on Zoom.
📍 Tuesdays — In Person at Firefly
7:00–8:00 PM · 2988 W. Wander Lane, Eagle Mountain, UT 84013 · No RSVP needed. Directors on-site to answer every question.
💻 Wednesdays — Live Q&A on Zoom
8:00 PM · bit.ly/4dll62j
Questions? EagleMountainInfo@apamail.org
Missed an email? No worries. Visit the Eagle Mountain Communications page to review previous communications about APA Eagle Mountain.
The APA Eagle Mountain Team
APA Eagle Mountain Campus · EagleMountainInfo@apamail.org · americanprep.org