The curriculum at CIS is not structured into grades like many other public and independent schools. In contrast, CIS allows students to progress academically on the basis of their ability, rather than age or grade. Since all children have strengths and weaknesses and progress at different rates, the CIS curriculum supports and works with these differences. CIS continually monitors and supplements its curriculum with activities based on educational research and results. In addition, the school keeps abreast of state and local curriculum frameworks and issues.
All children enter the world as self-directed learners.
Other students model self-directed behaviors and help classmates who initially find it difficult. CIS is a community. As in all communities, relationships among students develop for different reasons. Some students share interests or similar abilities. Some students forge relationships by helping one another.