Life School Provides K-12 Education with Strong Academics
The Life School Academic Approach
The Life School academic approach prepares students for high school, college and beyond. We offer K-12, and our high schools hold a 100% graduation rate.
Fundamentals of Learning
Science
Science plays a critical role in preparing students for the future. Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge. Life School develops critical thinking through science. Students explore through hands-on exploration and by learning to ask strong questions, plan experiments, collect data, analyze information, collaborate, and solve problems.
Social Studies
Quality social studies instruction is a powerful way to teach informed citizenship. Quality social studies instruction is the best method to successfully educate students on what it means to be productive members of society. It provides a safe place for students to logically work through social issues from the past and consider the social issues of today.
Fine Arts
Research shows that time spent in art, music, or physical education enhances a student's success in school. Fine arts education is a vital part of the curriculum at Life School, which begins in elementary and continues through high school. Students are given opportunities to celebrate their culture and develop their natural talents.
Math
Math helps us think analytically and develop stronger reasoning abilities – thinking critically about the world around us. Analytical and reasoning skills are important because they help us solve problems and look for solutions.
Reading & Writing
We use a blended literacy and workshop model for reading and writing. Our structured literacy curriculum practices the Science of Reading, using authentic reading and writing experiences so that students learn to use literacy skills for all areas of learning. This allows teachers to differentiate instruction to meet individual student needs and centers the work around student choice.
Special Education
The mission of Life School Special Education Program is to promote successful learning for all students who are eligible for Special Education services through effective instructional level interventions, access to the general grade level curriculum, and experience with appropriate life and career skills.
Gifted and Talented
Life School offers special services for Gifted and Talented students in grades K-12. All elementary general education teachers receive 30 hours of professional development designed to help them better understand the nature and needs of gifted and talented students. Elementary school students are served in their classrooms through differentiated instruction. Additionally, third through sixth grade students benefit from weekly small group classes led by a GT specialist. Middle school GT students are served through GT Honors courses and benefit from extracurricular academic and GT opportunities. High school GT students are served through Honors and Advanced Placement courses. Students may also enroll in Dual Credit courses which allow them to earn college credit during each year of high school. Staff who provide GT services at the middle and high school levels are trained to meet social, emotional, and academic needs of GT students.
Life School 1-to-1 Electronic Devices
Life School is a 1-to-1 district. Electronic devices are provided to each student to enhance the learning experience and equip families to meet learning expectations.
Bilingual
Bilingual education at Life School Oak Cliff helps students become proficient in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English by developing skills in English and in Spanish. Students who enter the program in kindergarten or the first grade receive most of their instruction in Spanish to develop literacy skills in their primary language. Those skills are later transferred to English language instruction. Teachers in the bilingual program are also bilingual and have been trained to make content more understandable as students develop English proficiency.
Secondary Education
Dual Credit
Dual Credit allows high school students in grades 9-12 to take college courses while still in high school. College courses are taken through a local community college. High School students can take up to 60 hours, earn an associates degree during high school, and save money toward the cost of a four-year college degree.
Athletics
Life School is a proud member of the University Interscholastic League (UIL). Life School has won numerous district championships and each year advances teams to regional and state competitions. But, it isn't just about competition. We follow four core principles – leadership, integrity, sense of family, and excellence in everything we do. Students learn teamwork and group responsibility. They also learn to deal with success and overcome adversity.
Career and Technical Education
In Life High Schools, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs allow students to explore career pathways during high school and are organized into programs of study. Life School offers classes in many nationally-recognized programs of study including: Arts, Audio Visual Technology and Communications, Business, Marketing & Finance, Education & Training, Health Science, Information Technology and Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM).
