Paradigm – 15 Years In The Making!

Paradigm Schools first opened its doors in 2006. Since then, we’ve had the opportunity to welcome many wonderful scholars and their families through our doors. It’s truly thanks to them that we’ve been able to be so successful. We wanted to create a unique learning environment, one that taught students how to think, not what to think.

Our History

It all started with a group of homeschool families who were looking for school options for their high school students. Dissatisfied with what was available, they decided to start their own charter school. In 2005, they founded Paradigm, and a year later they opened their doors to students and families who had a passion for learning.
Paradigm was one of the first charter high schools in Utah and started in a warehouse with cubicle walls separating the classrooms. It wasn’t till 2008 that we moved into the building we’re currently in. Originally, we started as a 9th – 12th program, but we soon realized that we could make impactful changes in the lives of younger students as well. That’s why we started our preparatory school for 7th and 8th graders in 2013-14.

Here we are in May 2021, and Paradigm Schools is now celebrating its 15th anniversary! We wouldn’t be here without our amazing administrators, staff, scholars, and families. Getting here wasn’t easy, but we are so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish and even more excited about what the future holds.

Paradigm Over the Years

Paradigm has been successful as a result of staying true to ourselves and thanks to our amazing scholars and families. We are still very much homeschool friendly and we are flexible in our class scheduling. If a family wants to attend part-time, we are more than willing to make that happen for you!

We have used our two core texts as a foundation for our school for many years. These texts are A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille and The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Institute. We encourage all incoming families to read these texts to get a better understanding of our school philosophy and culture.

Paradigm’s Culture

Over the past 15 years, we’ve created an environment that is unique compared to other schools. We’ve created an environment where scholars can feel they are heard and cared for. We promote a culture of growth that our scholars thrive in.

Individualized Learning

One thing that makes Paradigm so unique is that we are focused on individualized learning. We know every scholar learns differently, and that is why we offer different modes of learning. We believe in scholar-led learning and allow scholars to choose the projects and models that work best for them.

Scholars & Mentors

Unlike other schools, public and charter, we refer to our educators as mentors and our students as scholars. Teachers are seen as an expert in their subject and their job is to make sure their students memorize all their information. However, a mentor is someone who will guide you through your education and point you in the right direction, but they will still allow you to find the answers for yourself.

Similar to our mentors, we call our students “scholars”. This is because scholars are finding and exploring their path to education. They have a choice in their education and are dedicated to their learning. However, don’t just take our word for it! Here’s what some of Paradigm’s alumni have to say about their experience with us.

“When you’re in high school, sometimes you just want to fit in and you can’t imagine a different world from the one that you know. Mentors at Paradigm taught me that it wasn’t a bad thing to have an unusual background or to deviate from the status quo. My first leap into the unknown was fueled by the many books and encouraging words I received from my mentors.”
– Anna Bell OKeefe

“I felt passion and enthusiasm for my education at Paradigm, and a large part of that was the perspective of the mentors and staff. They sincerely wanted me to succeed, and they showed me that many times. This inspired me to want to do the same, and now I am pursuing a career in academia. The ability to empathize with someone, to see them as a person worth loving and worth helping, was the greatest lesson I learned from Paradigm, and they taught by example. I won’t ever forget how the school made me feel, and I won’t ever stop endeavoring to use that lesson to empathize, validate and love those I interact with throughout my life.”
– Luke Beckstrand

Family Values

Here at Paradigm, we love our families! It is because of our families that we have been so successful over the past 15 years. We believe that families are the primary educator of their scholars and that we are just a resource for them. Families have the freedom to make decisions, and we honor those decisions.

Our 15th Year Celebration

We will be celebrating our 15th anniversary on May 22nd, 2021. Our celebration will be open to past and current students, as well as past staff and mentors. We will have mentor and class reunions, food trucks, face painting and activities for kids, and live music from Waterside Road!

This celebration is a huge thank you to our scholars and their families. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them. We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to mentor, educate, and grow with their children. Learning never stops, it continues for our lifetime.

Is Paradigm the Right Choice for You?

We love families and look forward to meeting new ones every year. If you’re looking for a public charter school option, then consider applying with us. If you’re looking to transfer, reach out to our staff and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have. We’ve already got 15 years’ experience under our belt, come be a part of the next 15 years!