Admissions Overview
Ready to join Barefoot Technology Academy?
Ready to join Barefoot Technology Academy?
We will be starting our first school year in September 2027 with our founding cohort. We're not just building a school, we're building a learning community, and the first students to join us will shape everything that comes next.
The Founding Cohort will be a small, passionate group of learners who are excited to try something new, help shape school traditions, and be part of something meaningful from the beginning.
The Founding Cohort will help test and improve our school, have a voice in designing school culture, activities and processes, get extra support and attention as we launch together, and be a part of a bold experiment in rethinking what school should be.
Students should be aged 13 - 16 on September 1, 2027.
Students must be fluent in English, and we accept students from around the world.
This is a full-time academic program. Students are expected to engage in core coursework, collaborative meetings, independent projects, and mentorship every week.
We admit students who are formally or informally identified as gifted. We embrace gifted students with learning disabilities.
While we support students with any learning disaiblity, we require reading, writing and mathematics skills to be at 8th grade level on admission.
Students are expected to have familiarity with at least one coding language by the start of their first year.
We admit students who are motivated, passionate, and ready for our academic environment.
Students should be ready to transition into having a high degree of self-direction. We recommend that applicants have some experience with synchronous online learning.
We understand that some brilliant students may have past experiences of school trauma, masking, or burnout. We aim to create a space where they can recover, grow, and thrive.
Have regular access to a computer (laptop or desktop), camera, microphone and reliable internet.
Chomebooks and tablets are not usually acceptable. Computers must be able to run Windows or MacOS. Students must be able to download and install software.
Be able to work in a home or local environment with minimal distractions.
Be able to attend classes, have meetings and do group work within a US-based schedule.
A supportive home environment and open communication with mentors are key to student success.
We do not require standardized test scores, grades, or formal "gifted" identification. Instead, we look for evidence of potential: passion, projects, questions, or ideas that show the student is ready to do meaningful work.
Loves to explore ideas, ask questions, and follow rabbit holes. Needs to understand the big picture.
Thinks in unexpected ways and has niche or divergent interests they want to explore in depth.
Enjoys complexity and nuance over easy answers, with a broad interest in a variety of subjects.
Confident taking initiative, working independently, and collaborating with peers.
Open to feedback, self-reflection, and trying again. Embraces the idea that mistakes are part of learning.
An inventive, entrepreneurial spirit with a continuous drive to excel.
We cater to gifted and twice exceptional students who need something different.
At Barefoot Technology Academy, we believe in fit, not force. We’ve designed this school for a very specific kind of learner. While we support a wide range of needs and neurodivergent profiles, we also know that our approach isn’t right for everyone.