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Compass Program


Advanced Learning Support

Odyssey Charter School is dedicated to supporting all advanced learners through our COMPASS program. Designed for gifted and advanced students, COMPASS enhances their unique educational journeys and provides meaningful, rigorous challenges.

This year, COMPASS is evolving into a blended model. Students may still receive some pull-out time, but enrichment will also extend into their classrooms with extensions tailored to specific subjects and student needs. Each grade level will look a little different, allowing students to receive the right kind of support where it matters most.

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The program continues to emphasize Collaboration, Opportunities, Mastery, Personalization, Academic Excellence, Support, and Success:

Compass Brochure
Collaboration:

Students connect with peers in a safe, positive environment—sharing ideas, problem-solving, and working together in both pull-out sessions and classroom-based projects.

Opportunities: 

Identified students have chances to stretch their learning through enrichment activities, subject-based extensions, and meaningful real-world applications.

Mastery: 

With a rigorous approach that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, students deepen strengths in areas such as language arts, mathematics, and creative or productive thinking.

Personalization:

Instruction is tailored to each learner, with individualized support and personalized academic goals to help every student grow and build independence.

Academic Excellence:

Through high expectations and engaging curriculum, students are challenged to go beyond the basics, fostering curiosity and deep learning across all subjects.

Support:

The COMPASS Program Coordinator partners with teachers to create extensions within classrooms, while also providing targeted pull-out support where needed.

Success:

By nurturing talents, fostering a love of learning, and encouraging a growth mindset, COMPASS empowers students to achieve personal and academic success.

Critical Thinking for All Students

In addition to COMPASS, all Odyssey students will attend a Critical Thinking class once a month. Each session will highlight a different type of learning and encourage students to think creatively, problem-solve, and “look outside the box.”

These lessons directly support Odyssey’s mission by helping students “discover patterns and relationships, build critical thinking skills, and become independent learners.” We start the year with Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, helping every student recognize their strengths and see how they shine in unique ways.

Types of Learners

Identification and Placement

Because COMPASS now includes both pull-out and classroom-based extensions, placement may change from year to year depending on student needs and subject areas. To qualify, students must meet criteria in two or more of the following areas:

  • Scoring well above average in reading Acadience testing
  • Scoring well above average in math Acadience testing
  • Teacher recommendation
  • Parent recommendation
  • Student recommendation
  • Prior involvement in the program

Please note: Odyssey does not officially diagnose giftedness. Identification is based on testing data and surveys from teachers, parents, and students, ensuring a fair and balanced process.

For questions or to request a survey for recommendation, please reach out to our Advanced Learner Support Coordinator, Rachel Wilkinson, at rwilkinson@odysseycharter.net.

We look forward to partnering with you and helping your student grow, shine, and reach their fullest potential through COMPASS.

Hello 🙂 I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for doing such an amazing job with COMPASS club. I love going through all the papers Cy brings home. I can tell you have invested so much time and effort into making it an exceptional program. Your investment shows in the quality of instruction/activities you are providing for your students. I am a big fan of COMPASS club and a big fan of YOU.

best, t.p.

Just wanted to say thank you for running the COMPASS Club and for being such an amazing teacher! Kai couldn’t stop raving about COMPASS Club after school. In his words, “I had the best day ever. COMPASS Club is so fun!!! I finally feel like I’m learning what I’m supposed to.”

best regards, J.R.