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REALM Creative Academy
REALM, nominated by Clayton Christensen Institute, is a elementary/middle/high school in Santa Monica, California that describes itself as a independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily urban area.
Location Santa Monica, California
Governance Independent (private) school
Grades Elementary, Middle, High
Students 153
Locale Urban
Founding Director Jessica Slayback
Demographics
Percentage of students*
2%
English Learners
—
Free/Reduced Lunch
19%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black 28%
American Indian/Alaska Native 2%
Asian 6%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 1%
Hispanic or Latino 4%
White 59%
2+ Races —
Why REALM Creative Academy was nominated
REALM has offers families a flexible bundle of learning options that can range from 1-2 classes in an area of interest to all-day schooling. Learning and relationships are joyful and inspiring.
Student experience design
At REALM, Choice, Challenge, and Community form the foundation of an education that is personal, intentional, and empowering. REALM is redefining what education can be: individualized, flexible, meaningful, and transformative. REALM has positioned itself as a vibrant marketplace of ideas, opportunities, and relationships. We’ve removed the traditional barriers that stifle innovation in education—rigid grade levels, mandatory curricula, and top-down decision-making. Instead, we’ve replaced these with a model that thrives on choice, autonomy, and direct feedback from the community we serve. Students are not passive recipients of knowledge but active participants in their learning journey. They make decisions that shape their educational experience, which, in turn, shapes REALM itself. This mutual influence ensures that our model stays relevant, dynamic, and valuable. There is no fixed curriculum that every child must follow, no mandatory sequence of classes, and no rigid adherence to a predetermined schedule. Instead, we offer a diverse array of classes—122 unique offerings this spring—that allow students to "Lego block" their schedule around their interests. This means families can craft an educational path that suits their individual needs, from as little as one hour per week to full-day immersion. By allowing students, parents, and teachers to tailor their experiences, we ensure that REALM remains valuable, innovative, and focused on actual needs. Our student body is diverse in every sense—homeschoolers, unschoolers, public schoolers, divergent thinkers, creative spirits, and students recovering from educational trauma all find a welcoming environment. At REALM, no one is turned away; our inclusive approach ensures that every student has a place to learn and grow.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Self-paced Learning |
5+ years
|
|
Universal Design For Learning |
5+ years
|
|
Multi-age Classrooms |
5+ years
|
|
Individual Learning Paths |
5+ years
|
All Practices
Adaptive Learning Software
Advancement On Mastery
AI For Learning Materials
AI For Teacher Productivity
Anti-racist Practices
Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning
Assessments For Deeper Learning
Assessments For Social-emotional Skills
Blended Learning
Co-leadership
Community And Business Partnerships
Family And Community Support Services
Competency/mastery-based Education
Competency Framework
Culturally Responsive Practices
Early College High School
Extended Learning Opportunities
Extended Learning Time
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles
Hiring For Equity And Inclusion Values
All Courses Designed For Inclusion
Interdisciplinary
Individual Learner Profiles
Mental Health Services
1:1 Mentoring
No Tracked Classes
Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery
Project-based Learning
Peer To Peer Support
Performance Based Assessment
Physical Well Being Services
Place-based Learning
Reallocation Of Resources For Those Most In Need
Restorative Practices
SEL Curriculum
SEL Integration School-wide
Social Justice Focus
Student-led Goal Setting
Students Develop Projects
Trauma-informed Practices
Tutoring
key reasons for innovating
Improve student mental health
Date Updated: 4/1/2025
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.