Fast Facts & FAQs
Head of School: Nigel Taplin
Campus: Our lower school is conveniently located in Paradise Valley, Arizona, in the greater metropolitan Phoenix area; our new middle and high school campus is located around the corner at 40th Street and Shea Boulevard.
School Type: Non-profit, independent, non-denominational, co-educational private day school.
History: Tesseract was founded in 1988. It was established as a not-for-profit organization in 2001.
Grades: Early childhood (age 3; age 2 at our educators' discretion*) through high school. Applications are being accepted through 11th grade for fall 2010; all high school grades, 9-12, will be offered by fall 2011.
Enrollment: Approximately 350 students
Student/Faculty Ratio: Overall student-teacher ratio of 8:1.
Faculty: All faculty have undergraduate degrees, many have master degrees.
School Hours: Every Friday, students are dismissed by 1:30 to allow educators to use this time for professional development.
| Program |
Hours: Monday - Thursday * |
Hours: Friday |
| Early Childhood Program |
Morning program 8:30-12:30 |
8:30-12:30 |
| |
Full day program 8:30- 3:00 |
8:30-1:00 |
| Kindergarten |
8:15-3:10 |
8:15-1:10 |
| Grades 2 - 4 |
8:15-3:15 |
8:15-1:15 |
| Grades 5 - 11 |
8:30-3:45 |
8:30-1:30 |
*Please note: Drop-off and pick-up times are listed; please do not wait in the pick-up line early.
Accreditations and Memberships: Tesseract School is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Arizona Association of Independent Schools (AAIS).
Non-discrimination policy statement
Tesseract School embraces diversity and does not discriminate in the administration of any of its admission policies, financial aid or employment in violation of the law. It admits students of any race, color, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
Do you have different options in preschool and pre-K?
Yes, our early childhood education program is a five-day a week school, and offers morning or full day options. The children who are applicants must be 3-years-old and toilet trained in order to be admitted; 2-year-olds* who are toilet trained and ready for a school environment may also apply.
Do you have a full-day Kindergarten?
Yes, Tesseract has an outstanding full-day kindergarten program that combines structure with flexibility. It is a balance of free-choice and more direct instruction. The program supports the children in the transition from pre-K as they are guided in the development of new learning skills.
Do you have before and after-school care?
Yes, our extended-day program includes before and after school care. Students may arrive as early as 7:15 a.m. There is no fee for before-school care. Our after-school extended-day program runs until 6:00 p.m. We also offer enrichment programs after school.
What are “Specials”?
For early childhood and kindergarten students specials include music, Spanish, library and physical education. For first through fourth-grade students, specials include visual arts, performing arts, music, library, Spanish and physical education. For fifth through 12th-grade students, specials include music, art studio, drama, chorus, band, library and physical education.
When does Spanish begin?
All students, beginning with our early childhood program, learn Spanish. Lower school students have Spanish four times per week, and starting in middle school, Spanish becomes a core subject. Due to the hybrid/block system, Spanish class, like other core classes, meets four times a week.
Do you offer foreign languages?
In addition to Spanish, Tesseract has been offering Mandarin since 2006. Originally offered as an enrichment program for all grade levels, Mandarin is now offered as a foreign language choice for high school students.
Do you offer computer or technology programs?
At Tesseract, technology is a tool for learning. Students have access to a variety of technologies, and educators are encouraged to integrate technology into their curriculum to enhance their teaching methods, and to encourage and cultivate student creativity. The technological vision for Tesseract is to infuse technology into students’ daily lives. This includes utilization of online research and collaboration, PowerPoint presentations, word processing, artistic endeavors, digital portfolios, pod casting, 3-D software, Smart Technologies Airliner Tablets, the TI Navigator system and the ninth-grade one-to-one laptop program.
Where do the students eat their lunch?
At the Doubletree campus, early childhood students start the school year eating in their classroom until they are familiar with the school and independently eating their own lunches; children in kindergarten through grade four eat outside at the picnic tables. At the Shea campus, middle and high school students eat outside in a designated lunch area. Students at both campuses may subscribe to the catered hot lunch program or bring lunch from home.
Are parents encouraged to participate in their child’s experience?
The participation of parents in the experience at Tesseract is critically important. As the adults in the child’s world, we work in cooperation to ensure your child’s success. Learn more about the Tesseract Parents' Association.
How do the educators and parents communicate?
The school follows a policy of the “24 hour rule” and “no surprises.” This means the educators respond to questions and/or issues within 24 hours, without exception, and through consistent and timely communication, ensure that parents are kept informed.
*Children must turn 3 by the end of the calendar year.
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