By: Kai Payne

The IA Way. We’ve all heard that phrase before. It represents the ability to think, perform, and excel according to Innovation Academy’s core principles. The IA Way is the code students live and breathe—it shapes every action we take, every class we attend, and even the words we speak. Everyone at IA follows The IA Way. For freshmen entering this environment for the first time, it can feel overwhelming. To many, IA’s environment is intensely focused on education and learning, and only a smaller group might see it as a place for fun. But the real question remains: How does The IA Way actually influence its students? And more importantly, what is IA’s impact on its students through its environment?

IA is a school rooted in excellence, environmental responsibility, community engagement, and research-driven development. All of these pillars demand a significant amount of work from its roughly 1,500 students (Source: IA Counseling / Ms. Paxton), as well as from those navigating its eight-period schedule. Students are “forged through the fire,” often emerging stronger—like hardened steel. However, this raises important questions: How does this forging process affect students and teachers? Is IA too demanding with its course load, or is it actually reasonable despite the workload it assigns?

IA chooses to have a course load that challenges students in order to help them see their true potential.

-Chloe Jacobi

The course load at IA is rigorous and challenging to ensure students are prepared for next steps after high school. Many graduates of IA have commented that their experiences at IA made them more prepared for their post secondary pursuits

– Niki McKenzie

I feel like the course load is not too harsh because of the amount of resources available to help students and the fact that students have choice and control over the classes they take. I think that the level of rigor is appropriate and prepares students for success in the world after IA.

– Avery White

It’s alright, it’s a lot, but doable.

Anonymous 10th Grader

I think its a decent course load, not too much, but definitely not easy

Arjun Nair (11th)

IA has a high work load however I do also believe teachers try to be generous about assigning work such as on flex Fridays

Preston Lee (9th)

Most students and teachers agree that IA’s workload is challenging but absolutely manageable. This difficulty is part of what creates IA’s strong, community-based environment. Students support one anothe and the staff to meet expectations, improve their work, and grow together. Some even say that the rigorous work at IA is what shapes its culture entirely. Unlike other schools, where the environment may be defined by sports teams, community traditions, or general social groups, IA’s culture is built on shared effort and academic collaboration.

Beyond its commitment to hard work, another defining feature of IA is the individuality and freedom given to students. As long as they follow The IA Way and county guidelines, students have the freedom to explore, create, and take initiative. This level of independence is uncommon in other schools, where students are often far more restricted in what they can and cannot do. This freedom is a major contributor to IA’s reputation as a superior environment for learning, enjoyment, and personal growth.

IA’s sense of community and engagement is also central to its environment. Students regularly interact with field professionals and peers who may have deeper knowledge in certain subjects. This cultivates confidence, support, and collaboration—areas where many other schools struggle. At IA, seeing groups of students gathered with notebooks, discussing ideas, and helping each other is a normal, everyday sight. This overall affects the students to strive themselves to do better, and want to help and assist others as much as possible, and receive assistants as much as possible if needed. Which boost the environmental comfort of IA, letting introverted students speak up and out. Inspiring those around them. It lets those who never had the opprutitnity to give an opinion or change a fact they did not like. Most importantly, it gave the compassionate a way to reach out, and help as Admiral McRaven once said.

But, if every one of you changed the lives of just 10 people — and each one of those folks changed the lives of another 10 people — just 10 — then in five generations — 125 years — the class of 2014 will have changed the lives of 800 million people.

Admiral William H. McRaven

In conclusion, IA has built its principles since its founding on student-led support, leadership, and guidance. The atmosphere of IA revolves around student skill, success, and the collective dedication to improving themselves and those around them.