About Cascades Academy
At Cascades Academy, an independent PK–12 school in Central Oregon, students thrive in small classes where exceptional teachers know them well, challenge them deeply, and support them personally. Our college-prep program goes beyond mastering content to develop critical thinking, communication, and other durable skills essential for college, career, and life. Learning extends far beyond the classroom through internships, community-based projects, outdoor education, field trips, and travel, giving students authentic opportunities to apply what they know. The result is a uniquely powerful blend of rigor, relevance, and relationships that prepares students for what’s next.
What We Know
Belonging is essential.
Students thrive when they are known, valued, and supported by a caring community.
Engagement fuels learning.
Competency-based, experiential, and real-world learning enhances comprehension, builds confidence, and fosters joy.
Challenge leads to growth.
Deep and meaningful academic pursuits help students embrace complexity and develop resilience.
Preparation matters.
More than test readiness, true preparation nurtures intellectual, social, and emotional growth, empowering students to shine inside and outside the classroom.
How We Bring This to Life
Lower School (PK–5th): Our Lower School nurtures each stage of childhood development, from the wonder and curiosity of the early years to the growing independence of the upper grades. In PK–2, students build foundational skills through immersion, inquiry, and hands-on discovery. By grades 3–5, engagement deepens through more complex projects, reflection, and collaboration, developing self-awareness, regulation strategies, and confidence as they prepare for middle school.
Middle School (6–8th): Our Middle School’s supportive and engaging environment allows students to explore who they are, make meaningful contributions, and grow into inquisitive learners. Our advisory program, experiential learning, and challenging academic program empower students to tackle difficult problems and develop self-confidence and resilience, all while refining their critical thinking skills and metacognition in preparation for high school.
Upper School (9–12th): Our college-prep high school is a time to engage deeply in academics while connecting learning to the real world. Students pair rigorous coursework with internships, research, travel, and service that build purpose and agency. Here, our competency-based approach measures success beyond grades, while experiential learning sharpens critical thinking, reflection, and adaptability, key competencies for college and career success.
At Cascades Academy, students are more prepared, more engaged, more challenged, and more connected.
Supported by Research and Leading Thinkers
- Research shows that students learn more deeply when they are actively engaged, not passively memorizing. Education thought-leaders from John Dewey and Jal Mehta to Tony Wagner and Rebecca Winthrop affirm that curiosity, resilience, and purpose grow when learning connects to real-world challenges and students have agency in the process. Cascades Academy’s competency-based model delivers exactly that.
- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and the modern work of Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond and CASEL confirm that students thrive and take intellectual risks when they feel known, supported, and engaged in both cognitive and social-emotional learning. This philosophy comes to life throughout Cascades Academy.
- The World Economic Forum and Oregon Employability Skills identify critical thinking, collaboration, complex problem-solving, and creativity as essential for the future of work and citizenship. Cascades Academy’s programming develops these skills every day.
Teachers Who Make the Difference
At the heart of Cascades Academy is a team of exceptional educators who choose to teach here because they do so much more than deliver lessons — they mentor, guide, connect, and coach. Our intentionally small size allows teachers to know each student well and build trusting relationships that allow for deeper learning and personal growth. This individual attention, combined with a safe and supportive environment, makes a profound and lasting impact on our students.
Outcomes that Matter
At every stage of the Cascades Academy journey, growth is measured by more than academics. Students develop confidence in their abilities, cultivate self-awareness, and are ready to tackle new challenges. Families consistently share that their children feel engaged, connected, and prepared for what’s next, while alumni report feeling better equipped than peers to navigate college and life beyond high school.
Families as Partners
Families are true partners in learning at Cascades Academy. We foster close, collaborative relationships so parents and guardians are connected to their child’s experience. From classroom activities and conversations with teachers to school-wide events, this partnership supports students at school and at home, while also helping families find a community of their own.
From our youngest Pre-Kers to our graduating seniors, every student deserves to be deeply known, inspired to learn, challenged to grow, and prepared to thrive in the 21st century. That’s what drives us, and that's why families choose Cascades Academy.
Video: Experience Our Community
History, Governance, & Accreditation
Cascades Academy was founded in 2003 in order to fulfill the need for an independent, PK-12 college preparatory school in Central Oregon. The school opened its doors on Studio Road in mid-town Bend with 61 students. In the fall of 2013, the school moved to a 14-acre campus in Tumalo, and added a third wing to its campus in 2017. Since 2019, the school has added an additional 31 acres to the campus, bringing the campus size to 45 acres.
The school is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. Cascades Academy is an accredited member of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) and Cognia, and also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
