Forms Vs. Grade Levels

Learning is the constant, time is the variable.

Rather than place or advance a child based on age or number of months spent in one grade level, Delphian takes the approach that each level of a student's education involves the acquisition and demonstration of particular abilities and knowledge. Spending exactly a year at one level may be fine for some children but not for others. Some students thrive at a faster pace, and some need more time. In fact, most students experience a little bit of both from month to month, depending on the subject matter, their age, or any number of variables.

Delphian School utilizes the concept of Forms as a way of getting excellent learning results without forcing all students to move at exactly the same pace through the material. We realize each student is an individual and needs to be addressed as such in his or her education. 

Delphian School has a defined set of rigorous standards which must be met for a student to complete a Form. These standards are called the Delphi Program Graduation Requirements. Though Forms can be roughly equivalent to grade levels and ages, it is possible for a younger student to move on to a higher Form once all the requirements for the current Form have been met. In this way, each student can get the full benefits from the curriculum and keep advancing as rapidly as he or she is maturing. This type of educational format is sometimes called competency-based or proficiency-based education.

How Grades Translate to Forms

The below guide gives the approximate student ages and grade equivalents for each Form in the Delphi Program.

Upper School

Middle & Elementary School

Lower School