The educational philosophy and approach of The MASTERS Program was designed with a focus on Mathematics, Arts, Science, Technology, Engineering, Reading and Service (MASTERS). The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum will be the cornerstone of instruction.

Students will tailor their academic course load through a combination of:

• High school credit courses taught by certified teachers following the IDEAL-NM curricula;
• Dual credit and joint credit courses taught by Santa Fe Community College faculty; and
• Distance learning courses available through IDEAL-NM, a public education program that delivers eLearning services to New Mexico schools.

Teachers are trained in the Paideia Philosophy of education, which focuses on higher-level thinking and communication and divides learning into three sections:

• Lectures, demonstrations, videos, and reading provide foundational skills and knowledge
• Coaching that helps students apply what they have learned
• Seminars based on open-ended conversations about a subject that help students expand their understanding of ideas, concepts, and values.

Students who are enrolled in SFCC dual credit courses attend their SFCC classes and then return to The MASTERS Program classroom for group discussion with their high school peers regarding that particular subject. Study groups are formed where students, with the aid of their teachers, can deepen their understandings, solidify their knowledge and reflect on the learning experience.

As part of the school’s emphasis on science, each student is required to participate in

• The Sustainable Science program – the study of the preservation of the Earth’s natural resources
• The Nanoscience program – the study of materials on an atomic or molecular level, each with a laboratory component.

A formal exploration into Nanoscience, with an emphasis on microscopy and fabrication, creates a lifelong stimulus for students to always be in a state of discovery and learning. The school’s Nanoscience laboratory will complement student learning through SFCC’s Sustainable Technologies Center, part of the college’s intention of infusing sustainability across its curriculum.

Service Component and Career Exploration

Students are required to incorporate service as a central part of their education at each grade level. Through this component, students consider the relationship between their curriculum in the classroom and their service and its impact on their personal values and professional goals.

Work-related experiences, including cooperative education, job shadowing, work study and mentoring, also promote our belief that students take ownership of their overall education, their school and their community as a means of enriching their own lives and those of others.

Students are chosen for The MASTERS Program
via a lottery process.
Download the lottery application now!