Saved Schools

Colossal Academy

Colossal Academy, nominated by Clayton Christensen Institute and an anonymous organization, is a middle/high school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that describes itself as an independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban area.

View Website

Location Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Governance Independent (Private) School

Grades Middle, High

Students 66

Locale Urban

Director Shiren Rattigan

Demographics

Percentage of students*

18%

English Learners

75%

Free/Reduced Lunch

33%

Students with Disabilities

African American or Black 59%

American Indian/Alaska Native —

Asian 12%

Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —

Hispanic or Latino 20%

White 5%

2+ Races —

Why Colossal Academy was nominated

This microschool is effectively balancing student engagement, interests, and passions with ensuring that students master critical content., This is a placed-based micro-school for middle schoolers that is inclusive, offers real-world experiences, and has a philosophy of emergent learning., Colossal Academy places the student at the center of their learning whereby teachers teach to the student and not the test utilizing modern techniques and intersectionality of best practices and through a student-centered curriculum in a safe and student empowered learning environment., They are a progressive microschool that is dedicated to providing individualized, learner-centered education to students. They offer a hands-on approach which allows them to focus on each individual student's unique strengths and needs, ensuring that they have the opportunity to thrive academically and personally., The environment has an inspiring focus on entrepreneurship. It also maintains high expectations for its students around basic literacy and numeracy., Colossal takes student and community centered learning to the next level. Young people have autonomy in what and where they learn as well as being exposed to entrepreneurship at an early age. They move through the design process and develop products to take to market and conduct market research within their community. The actually make their community their classroom and take the richness of their neighborhood and honor it's assets.

Student experience design

At Colossal Academy, the student experience is designed to blend strong academic foundations with real-world learning so that young people develop both competence and confidence in who they are becoming. Students engage in rigorous core academics while also participating in experiential, project-based learning that connects them to their community, nature, and real-world challenges. Small learning environments allow for personalized instruction and meaningful relationships with teachers, while hands-on opportunities—such as entrepreneurship projects, creative arts, outdoor education, and collaborations with community experts—help students see the relevance of what they are learning. We intentionally cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration while supporting students’ emotional well-being and sense of belonging. At Colossal, education is not just about preparing students for the next grade level; it is about empowering them to become thoughtful, capable individuals who can contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Blended Learning
5+ years

Competency/mastery-based Education
5+ years

All Courses Designed For Inclusion
5+ years

Individual Learning Paths
5+ years

Multi-age Classrooms
5+ years

All Practices

Advancement On Mastery

AI For Teacher Productivity

AI-assisted Tutoring

Anti-racist Practices

Apprenticeships

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Career Readiness

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Career Advising & Support

Career Exploration

Co-leadership

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Culturally Responsive Practices

Early College High School

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Industry-recognized Credentials

Industry-aligned Learning Pathways

Individual Learner Profiles

1:1 Mentoring

Micro-credentials And Badging

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

Project-based Learning

Peer To Peer Support

Performance Based Assessment

Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need

Restorative Practices

Service Learning

Student-led Conferences

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

Tutoring

Career Prep

key reasons for innovating

Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools

Improve academic achievement

Improve school culture

Date Updated: 4/1/2026

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.