There is no tuition. Student fees apply in middle and high school grades similar to all public schools.
Charter schools are State funded and are subject to the same laws and regulations as other public schools. Charter schools provide innovative school options for parents and students. Venture Academy is Utah’s first K-12 Expeditionary Learning school.
Charter schools are open to all students, regardless of race, religion, gender, status, or other preference just as any other public school.
Yes. Teachers maintain proper Utah licensure, and follow all state requirements. Additionally, Venture teachers receive further professional training through our affiliation with Expeditionary Learning.
Enrollment is on a first come, first served basis. Students are randomly chosen through a monthly lottery process and are placed on the waitlist. As seats become open, students are contacted according to their order on the waitlist. Siblings of currently attending students are placed on a priority wait list. The wait list is carried over from one year to the next so there is no need to reapply. We ask only that parents reply to our annual request to re-assert their interest in staying on the waitlist. Parents may contact the school to find out their student’s position on the list.
Is Venture’s curriculum aligned with the Utah State Core?
Venture is a member of the Expeditionary Learning Network of over 160 schools nationwide. The EL approach to education supports schools in developing in-depth, engaging study of topics while building a strong school culture that support the mission of the school.
Are Venture Academy and Venture High School the same school?
Yes. The official name of the K-12 school is Venture Academy. For practical purposes grades K-8 are often referred to as “the Academy” and grades 9-12 “the High School”.
What can I expect as a Venture High School student?
You can expect to be known well by teachers, students, and staff; valued for your individual strengths; challenged to stretch your mind and ability through deep questions and purposeful projects; prepared with the skills, knowledge, and attributes necessary for success in college and life, and able to take charge of your own learning.
Yes. Released time is available to students for individualized learning experiences for a variety of reasons that fit under the State released time option. The LDS church has placed a building adjacent to Venture’s property and provides LDS seminary instruction as a released time option.
Are the arts important at Venture?
Yes. In addition to the arts being integrated into other subject areas, Venture students also learn from master art teachers K-12. Music is taught and performed with excellence. Venture’s band has repeatedly been invited to perform, by audition, at the State Band Festival with the State’s top bands. Venture high is establishing a record of high quality performance in the arts and has performed productions such as Into the Woods and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Do you have sports at Venture?
Venture recognizes that skills, abilities, and characteristics gained through physical engagement are valuable and important. Our Adventure program develops skills and characteristics that create a foundation for lifelong enjoyment and physical fitness. Students at Venture can expect opportunities to engage in sports such as hiking, biking, rock climbing, kayaking and more. Students have hiked and camped to the top of Ben Lomond, kayaked through the red rock cliffs of Lake Powell, backpacked through the Grand Canyon and rock climbed at City of Rocks. Students in grades 6-9 may participate in competitive basketball, soccer, volleyball, and cross country. Through all of this, students learn to accomplish more than they thought possible while modeling leadership skills and developing habits of success.
Venture has a variety of quality after school club opportunities. Venture’s debate team is creating a strong foundation for excellence in their first year of competition within the UHSAA and Venture’s drama club has traveled to compete at the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City.
As with all Venture learning, travel is purposeful, intentional and tied to curricular goals. Venture students have traveled to Civil War sites and Washington D.C. In a joint effort with Utah State University, students have engaged in scientific research at a research station near Canyonlands National Park. Others traveled to Portland, Oregon to study their bike friendly city and research solutions for increasing sustainability in our own community of Ogden.
Do Venture students wear uniforms?
Venture K-8 students wear red, white or navy collared shirts and tan or navy pants. High School students follow a professional dress code.
No. Charter schools draw students from a wide area (4 counties for Venture) which makes daily bus transportation impractical. Parents are responsible for transporting their students to and from school each day. Our office staff may be able to connect you with a carpool in your area.
Yes. Venture Academy participates in the National School Lunch Program including offering free and reduced priced meals for qualifying students. We offer healthy food choices for breakfast and lunch daily.
Are parents welcome to visit and volunteer?
Yes! Parents are a vital part of each student’s education and our thriving learning community. We suggest families volunteer 30 hours each school year to contribute to the success of Venture.
I have a lot of questions. Can I talk to someone?
Absolutely! Send an email (contact us), or call 801-393-3900 to ask a question or schedule a tour.