Ottawa’s Premier Micro-School: How Académie de la Capitale Leads the Shift to Personalized, Purposeful Education
At Académie de la Capitale, our journey has always been driven by a simple but powerful belief: education works best when it’s tailored to each learner’s unique strengths, challenges, and interests. We have always prioritized flexibility, innovation, and connection, between students, educators, families, and the community. This innovative approach has shaped everything we do, from our curriculum choices to our learning spaces, and our commitment to bilingualism and inclusion. We believe in creating flexible learning environments that prioritize personalized learning and meet the diverse needs of every student.
Now, as a natural evolution of this journey, AcadeCap has found its place as a micro-school, a designation that fits us perfectly. Defined generally as schools with no more than 70 students, micro-schools blend the personalized feel of homeschooling with the structure and academic rigour of traditional school’s formal programs.
For us, this means offering four strong curricula: the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), our Pre-Secondary School Programme (PSSP), the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), and our proprietary 21st Century Learning Curriculum© which will include a tiered AI curriculum developed with input from educators and parents who bring valuable expertise from across the industry.
Being recognized as a micro-school helps us connect with families who are looking for a modern, community-focussed, student centered and adaptive educational environment that delivers a truly personalized approach to their child’s education.
What are Micro-Schools? Old Roots, New Growth
Micro-schools are, in many ways, a revival of the classic one-room schoolhouse, small, community-centered, and personal, but reimagined for the 21st century. Across Canada, the US, and the UK, these alternative education models have been quietly revolutionizing education for decades.
Now, they are gaining renewed attention as families and educators search for alternatives to increasingly overcrowded classrooms and bureaucratic education systems within the traditional education system.
Unlike traditional schools, micro-schools offer agility in education through individualized learning. Large institutions, constrained by layers of policies and scale, often struggle to evolve quickly enough to meet changing educational needs.
Micro-schools thrive because they can pivot swiftly to fit with students’ needs. Whether it’s adopting new teaching methods, using digital tools, or tailoring programs to student passions, these schools offer tailored instruction through student centered learning that fosters deeper student engagement and real world application.
In a world where information and social demands are quickly shifting within the education landscape, schools must be able to adapt to prepare students effectively.
What is Micro Schooling? Why (Small) Size Matters
At AcadeCap, our intentionally small size is our defining strength. With fewer than 70 students, our educators form meaningful connections with each of our students, allowing for a more personalized learning experience than in conventional schooling. This close-knit community allows us to design personalized learning paths and tailored learning experiences suited to each learner’s unique strengths and areas for growth, offering individualized attention that larger institutions can’t easily replicate.
Our multi-age classrooms embody the multi-level teaching and learning approach, where students from different grades learn together. This structure encourages peer mentoring and collaboration, making learning more meaningful and social growth more authentic. Especially at the PYP, by mixing ages and abilities, we foster a supportive environment where learners challenge and inspire each other, enhancing both academic achievement and interpersonal skills. It removes preconceived ideas and assumptions of what a learner can do and with whom; the emphasis is on what the learner can do, more than on age and grade level expectations.
Our educators have the expertise to manage and facilitate multi-level classrooms effectively. They skillfully differentiate instruction and create engaging learning experiences that meet the diverse needs of all students, ensuring every learner receives the guidance and support they need to thrive. This emphasis on individualized instruction and ongoing adaptation allows learners to progress at their own pace.
Educators at AcadeCap do more than teach! They observe, guide, and co-create learning experiences with students. Because we’re small, communication is constant and meaningful. Our team meets regularly to discuss each student’s progress, share insights, and develop coordinated support plans that evolve naturally with the learner. By working like this, AcadeCap leverages the micro-school model to ensure every learner receives the guidance and support they need to thrive academically, socially, and personally.
Curriculum with Purpose: Integrated, Bilingual, and Forward-Thinking
AcadeCap’s academic programmes offer a robust foundation that is both internationally recognized and locally relevant. Our early and primary years engage students through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), which encourages inquiry, creativity, and global awareness. We continue this trajectory with the Pre-Secondary School
Programme (PSSP) in grades 7 and 8, designed to bridge foundational inquiry with the more structured OSSD pathway.
Our secondary school programme culminates in the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), but with an important distinction: our curriculum is infused with the academic outcomes of 21st Century Learning Competencies (21st CLC©) such as adaptability, collaboration, complex problem-solving, diverse literacies and higher order thinking. This ensures that students graduate not only with knowledge but with the well rounded education they’ll need to thrive in rapidly changing environments, equipped with strong critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities.
Bilingualism is a key part of who we are, with instruction delivered roughly 60% in French and 40% in English during the early and primary years, growing to balanced bilingual fluency in the later grades. Language is integrated seamlessly across subjects, which gives a deeper understanding of communication and cultural literacy.
One of our most exciting innovations is our AI curriculum, based on the resource Education for the Age of AI developed by Center for Curriculum Redesign © 2024. This newest addition to our curriculum is being developed with thoughtful input and ongoing feedback from educators and parents who bring valuable expertise from across the industry. Our goal is to equip students with not only technical skills but a critical understanding of AI’s role in society. We want them to be informed users and ethical thinkers prepared for a future where AI touches every aspect of life.
Learning Spaces That Inspire
Our new home reflects our belief that the learning environment, often called the ‘Third Teacher’, plays a vital role in shaping learning. The heritage farmhouse offers a warm, welcoming ‘home away from home,’ while our purpose-built spaces inspire curiosity, movement, and creativity. These innovative learning environments help foster a greater sense of engagement, enhance exploration, and make room for a wide range of learning experiences.
Students benefit from:
- STEAM and Maker labs where they can tinker and prototype.
- A dedicated martial arts dojo fostering focus, discipline, and mindfulness.
- Outdoor classrooms and nature trails, which connect learning to the environment.
- Open-concept classrooms designed for flexibility and collaboration.
- Smaller focus rooms for the PSSP and OSSD students
This combination of tradition and innovation creates a setting where students feel grounded yet free to explore, reflect, and grow.
Our home, an adapted heritage farmhouse nestled on a beautiful property in west Ottawa, embodies this approach. The blend of tradition and innovation, the connection to nature, and the calm yet dynamic spaces are all providing students with a daily reminder that learning thrives where children feel safe, supported, and inspired.
Responsive and Reflective: Continuous Improvement
One hallmark of a micro-school is the ability to assess and adjust constantly. At AcadeCap, program evaluation is an ongoing team effort. We see students’ progress every day and meet regularly to discuss how best to support them. This continuous reflection contributes directly to improved student performance and refined learning outcomes.
When new tools or approaches, whether AI technologies or pedagogical strategies, show promise, we explore them thoughtfully and pilot them quickly. With guidance from industry experts, especially in our AI curriculum, we ensure that innovations are purposeful, ethical and effective. Our commitment to improvement includes thoughtful use of resources and continuous professional development.
This ability to adapt rapidly to new insights while maintaining a strong foundation is among our greatest strengths.
A Community That Grows Together
We believe education doesn’t happen in isolation. Our small size fosters a community where teachers, students, and families work together. Older students mentor younger ones, teachers collaborate across grades, and families are active participants. Our emphasis on building relationships and community engagement supports academic and emotional development alike.
This collaborative culture helps build resilience, empathy, and social skills alongside academic achievement. It creates a “village” where students are supported holistically, academically, socially, and emotionally.
Enrichment That Matters
While micro-schools may face challenges in offering the wide range of age-specific team sports available at larger institutions, AcadeCap provides a rich variety of clubs, activities, sports, and summer camps that prioritize quality and align closely with our educational philosophy.
Our enrichment activities include:
- The arts: music, drama, and visual arts integrated into the daily rhythm.
- Language Learning: English, French, Spanish; opportunities to learn Arabic, Mandarin, and more.
- STEM activities: robotics, coding, and design thinking.
- Wellness programmes include jiu-jitsu, cross-country skiing, and running clubs.
- Student clubs such as TED-Ed, chess, AcadeMUN, D & D, Natural History, Drawing and Art, and junior and senior coding clubs.
- Intramural seasonal sports practised across-the-ages
These activities are carefully selected to deepen learning, foster purpose, and support well-being. They bring in hands-on experiences, offer real world application, and align with our goal to provide a comprehensive education.
Mathematics as enrichment at AcadeCap fosters a deep conceptual understanding that prepares students, not just for academic success, but also for future professional opportunities requiring logical reasoning and analytical thinking. We follow a progressive “concept-before-code” approach, transitioning from visual and tactile methods in the IB PYP to context-based learning in the Pre-Secondary School Programme (PSSP) and application-driven problem-solving in secondary school.
Looking Ahead: Preparing Students for the Real World
Families often ask, “What happens after AcadeCap?” Our answer is that students leave us well prepared for success in diverse post-secondary settings. They graduate with a strong academic record, a growth mindset, and the ability to adapt and lead in uncertain environments.
Our graduates just won’t be accepted into top universities and colleges, they’ll be ready to meet the challenges of post-secondary life, stay on track, and pivot successfully if their path changes!
Whether pursuing university, college, apprenticeships, or entrepreneurial ventures, our students bring with them not only knowledge but confidence, collaboration, and curiosity. Through personalized attention and a strong sense of purpose, they are equipped for future success.
A Model for the Future
We’re proud to be part of a growing conversation about what a private school in Ottawa can be. Micro-schools offer a meaningful alternative to the conventional system, not just for students who feel out of place elsewhere, but for any family seeking an education that evolves with the times.
The needs of today’s learners are different from even a decade ago. Adaptability, collaboration, and well-being are just as essential as academic achievement. Families aren’t simply looking for a better version of the status quo, they’re seeking something more thoughtful, more personal, and more future-ready.
At AcadeCap, that’s what we strive to deliver, every day, in every decision we make. Contact us to learn more, and we will gladly answer any questions.
Lucie Lalonde and the AcadeCap Team
