Learning at Thrive Academy doesn’t stop at the final bell. For most students at the state-sponsored public boarding school, education continues in the dorms, on athletic fields and through daily routines that build skills extending beyond academics.
More than 97% of Thrive students live on campus during the week, participating in a six-day residential program designed to blend structure, support and enrichment. After classes, they shift into afternoons that balance downtime with clubs, tutoring and extracurriculars. Most students return home on weekends and during school breaks.
“Students can just be kids and focus on their activities and their studies,” said Residential Director Tierra Harrison. “They don’t have to worry about acting as the head of the household or where their next meal is coming from.”
That holistic approach of helping foster a child’s whole development extends to athletics. Thrive has teams in football, basketball, track and field, baseball, softball and volleyball, who compete against charter and independent schools. Coaches emphasize discipline, teamwork, accountability and leadership.
“The structure is a huge benefit to the kids,” said Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Devon Breaux. “The things they are learning today are not just about a particular sport or game. These lessons can be applied to how they will need to conduct themselves in the real world.”
The Thrive model also consistently delivers strong academic results. Students regularly outperform state averages on LEAP assessments, and Thrive has earned state recognitions as a Comeback School and Top Gains campus. An independent study last year found that Thrive students are significantly more likely to graduate from high school and earn college credits than their peers from similar backgrounds.
“The founding mission of Thrive is to provide under-resourced students with the same opportunities that students from well-resourced communities have. We have proof that when these resources are provided, students can flourish,” said Superintendent Paul Sampson.
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