Quest Programming

In grades 2 and 3, Quest students learn advanced thinking skills and begin using them as tools they can apply across all areas of learning. They explore creative thinking, practice intellectual risk-taking, and learn that growth often comes from revising ideas and trying again. Students learn alongside like-minded peers from across the city and regularly learn from community experts, receiving feedback and sharing their thinking with authentic audiences. Students in grades 2–5 are bused from their neighborhood elementary school one day per week to the Washington Innovation Center for this collaborative learning experience.

In grades 4 and 5, students deepen and apply their advanced thinking skills through more complex, in-depth studies. Learning emphasizes Depth & Complexity as students analyze systems, examine multiple perspectives, and connect ideas across disciplines. Students continue to learn with intellectual peers at the Washington Innovation Center and work closely with community experts, collaborating, presenting their work, and receiving feedback that mirrors how real professionals think and work.

At the middle school level, students are served at their neighborhood schools, where learning is woven into the school day. Students apply advanced thinking skills to real-world problems through research, design, collaboration, and expert mentorship. Community experts play an essential role as students refine ideas, receive feedback, and present their work with purpose. The focus is on independence, innovation, and preparing students to engage thoughtfully with an increasingly complex world.