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Academic Offerings

Academic Offerings at Sugar Grove Academy: Leveling Up Learning for Every Student

At Sugar Grove Academy Middle School, our academic programming reflects a bold commitment to equity, rigor, and excellence. As part of the New Education System (NES) in Houston ISD, our campus is strategically designed to deliver high-quality, standards-aligned instruction to every student, every day. Our academic offerings are intentionally structured to level up learning experiences, accelerate achievement, and prepare students to thrive in high school, college, and beyond.

📘 Core Content Instruction: Built for Mastery

Students at Sugar Grove receive daily instruction in the four core content areas:

  • English Language Arts (ELA)
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies

Each lesson is driven by a clear, measurable Learning Objective (LO)—a precise statement outlining what students are expected to know and demonstrate by the end of the lesson. Learning Objectives provide focus, clarity, and alignment across instruction, ensuring both teachers and students understand the intended outcomes.

Instruction is delivered using the NES 90-minute block model:

  • 45 minutes of Tier 1 Direct Instruction with embedded visuals, scaffolds, and engagement strategies
  • 10 minutes for Demonstration of Learning (DOL)—a non-negotiable mastery checkpoint aligned to the posted LO
  • 35 minutes of LSAE Teach Time, where students receive differentiated support or enrichment based on real-time performance data

Teachers are expected to grade the DOL during active administration to make immediate grouping decisions. DOLs are graded using the NES scale:

  • L = Learning (0–2 correct)
  • S1 = Support Level 1 (3 correct)
  • S2 = Support Level 2 (4 correct)
  • A = Accelerated (5 correct)

These daily checkpoints empower teachers to tailor instruction and group students for reteach or enrichment based on academic need. This system is critical to our mission of meeting students where they are—and moving them forward with urgency and precision.

🚀 Accelerated Learning and Intervention Support

Sugar Grove Academy believes that every student deserves the opportunity to succeed and grow. Our academic model ensures that no student falls through the cracks by embedding supports for struggling learners and pathways for acceleration.

Key elements include:

  • LSAE Differentiated Grouping: "L" and "S1" students remain with the teacher for reteach, while "S2" and "A" students transition to the Team Center for extension activities.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Instructional decisions are informed by real-time DOL data, ensuring timely intervention.
  • Ongoing Progress Monitoring: Teachers use AGMO trackers to monitor mastery and adjust support accordingly.

Through these systems, every student receives the right level of support at the right time—a foundational element of our Level Up philosophy.

💬 Emergent Bilingual and Language Supports

As an NES campus, Sugar Grove Academy is committed to supporting Emergent Bilingual (EB) learners through inclusive and responsive instruction. Our EB supports include:

  • Full implementation of the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS)
  • Daily use of sentence stems, visuals, and structured language supports
  • Personalized goal-setting and “EB Talks” to encourage growth and confidence
  • Review sessions and language scaffolds embedded in LSAE Teach Time

Our goal is for each EB student to advance at least one proficiency level per year, while building academic content knowledge and language skills simultaneously.

🧩 Special Education Supports

Every student at Sugar Grove deserves access to high-quality instruction—including those with special needs. In alignment with federal, state, and district policies, NES campuses are required to:

  • Provide all accommodations outlined in students’ IEPs or 504 plans
  • Monitor and track SPED referrals, dyslexia supports, and 504 implementation
  • Train all staff on differentiated practices to meet diverse learning needs
  • Collaborate closely with Special Education Coordinators and campus leaders to ensure compliance and effective support

Instruction is adapted and scaffolded to ensure all students, regardless of ability, have equitable access to rigorous academic content.

🎨 Enrichment & Elective Courses: Expanding Student Perspectives

In addition to core instruction, Sugar Grove Academy offers a wide range of elective courses designed to develop creativity, critical thinking, and whole-child development:

  • Art of Thinking (AOT) – cultivating logic, analysis, and philosophical inquiry
  • Art – developing fine motor skills, creativity, and visual literacy
  • Band – fostering musical talent, discipline, and teamwork
  • Dance – supporting physical expression, culture, and movement
  • Physical Education – promoting physical health and collaboration

These electives are more than extracurricular—they are essential experiences that support Destination 2035 competencies, helping students think critically, act creatively, and solve real-world problems.

📈 A Culture of Accountability, Growth, and High Expectations

At Sugar Grove Academy, every academic decision is made through the lens of student growth and achievement. We operate within a high-performance culture where:

  • Student engagement is expected daily
  • Academic discourse and critical thinking are non-negotiable
  • Data drives real-time adjustments to instruction
  • Teachers are supported through ongoing coaching and collaborative PLCs

As Principal Ortega emphasizes, “You are now a member of a high-performance culture where excellence is not optional—it is expected.” This mindset fuels our Level Up mission and drives daily instructional excellence.

🏁 The Sugar Grove Promise

We are proud to offer a rigorous, inclusive, and enriching academic program grounded in the NES model. Our goal is simple yet powerful: prepare every student to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Through focused planning, responsive teaching, and a commitment to continuous growth, Sugar Grove Academy is leveling up to meet the moment—and shape the future.