Phoenix FAQ

Phoenix Middle School is a public, lottery-based middle school in the Worthington City School District serving students in grades 7 and 8. Phoenix offers an alternative, innovative learning experience focused on deep thinking, student voice, and personal growth.

Our address is:

Phoenix Middle School, 2341 Snouffer Road, Worthington, OH  43085
Phone 614.450.4100

Phoenix serves approximately 165 -  7th and 8th students, which allows for strong relationships, close monitoring of student progress, and a tight-knit school community.

Phoenix Middle School is a lottery-based school within Worthington City Schools. Families who are interested in Phoenix must apply through the district’s middle school lottery process during the designated application window.

The lottery is open to eligible Worthington City Schools families, and application timelines, eligibility requirements, and sibling preference information are shared by the district each year. Families should review the lottery information carefully and submit their application during the published window.

Lottery applications typically open in January, with family events through February and early March. Applications close in mid-March, and the lottery is held in late March. Dates are shared each year by Worthington City Schools.

See How to Apply for more information

Apply during the district’s published middle school lottery window, which Worthington City Schools announces each year on its lottery information page.

See How to Apply for more information

Yes.  Transportation to Phoenix is provided through Worthington City Schools for eligible students. Families should refer to district transportation guidelines for details.

Phoenix is intentionally designed for middle school students around five core pillars:

• Intellectual Discipline

• Global Awareness

• Creative Expression

• Wellness

• Character

Learning is interdisciplinary, discussion-based, and grounded in real-world application. Students are encouraged to think deeply, ask questions, and take ownership of their learning.

Students have meaningful opportunities to:

• Share ideas and concerns through Student Forum

• Make choices in how they demonstrate learning

• Help shape school culture and community expectations

This philosophy guides instruction, assessment, and daily interactions.

Mastery-based learning focuses on understanding and skill development, not points or averages. Students are expected to demonstrate mastery of concepts and skills, using feedback to revise their work until it meets the standard.

Mistakes are viewed as part of the learning process, and feedback is central to growth.

Learn more about Mastery Assessment

No. Phoenix does not use traditional points or letter grades. Instead, academic work is assessed as:

• M – Mastery:  The student has demonstrated a solid understanding of the concept or skill.

• P – Progressing:  Student work is incomplete and/or there seems to be a misunderstanding of the concept/skill.

• NP – Not Progressing:  The student's work shows a profound misunderstanding of the concept or skill, or the assignment is missing.

Assessments not at Mastery level must be revised. Work habits and behaviors (organization, timeliness, engagement, etc.) are assessed separately to give clearer, more meaningful feedback.

Yes. Phoenix can be very demanding for some students.

Our mastery approach requires students to revise and resubmit work that does not yet meet the teacher’s mastery standard for the concept or skill. This expectation is non-negotiable and central to how learning works at Phoenix. While this process builds persistence and deep understanding, it can feel intense, especially for students who are used to completing an assignment once, receiving a grade, and moving on.

Phoenix can feel difficult because:

• Revisions are normal and expected when work is marked “Progressing” or shows misunderstandings.

• Work that is not at mastery does not go away. The students continue learning new material while also revising earlier work.

• Deadlines matter, and falling behind can quickly become stressful if revisions and missing work accumulate.

Some students need strong support at home to be successful with the revision process. This may include help with:

• planning and time management,

• organizing assignments and feedback,

• breaking revisions into manageable steps,

• and following through until work meets mastery.

Families are not expected to do the work for students, but consistent adult support can make a significant difference, especially early in the year or for students still developing executive functioning skills. Advisory teachers and classroom teachers work closely with students, but Phoenix works best when school and home are aligned.

Yes. Phoenix students should expect some homework, especially in classes where regular practice matters (like Math or Spanish) or when students are working on longer projects (for example, a science fair experiment that requires work outside of school).

Our schedule includes daily support time when students can work on assignments, revisions, and studying with access to teachers and peers. During these blocks, we actively encourage students, help them make a plan, and offer the support they need. But we don’t force students to work. How much gets finished during the day depends on how they use that time.

Because of that, families are sometimes surprised to see missing work or revision needs even though there is time built into the day. Those support blocks are a strong resource, but they don’t automatically eliminate homework. Checking in regularly and helping your child build steady work habits makes a big difference.

Phoenix uses a mastery-based assessment system, so families do not see traditional letter grades. Instead, parents and students track progress through the Mastery Assessment Portal, which shows:

• mastery status in each course,

• assignments that are progressing or need revision,

• teacher feedback,

• and work habits such as organization and timeliness.

This system allows families to see how learning is progressing in real time and to support students as they revise and improve their work. We do not post student grades, grade reports, or attendance to Infinite Campus.

Learn more about Mastery Assessment

Discovery Days are special learning days at the end of each quarter when students participate in self-designed, real-world learning experiences, such as:

• service learning,

• career shadowing,

• passion projects,

• or curriculum-related field experiences.

All Phoenix students are part of the Discovery Day program. However, students must be on track with mastery work by the deadline to participate in a two day, off-campus, Discovery Day experiences. Students who are not yet at mastery remain on campus on the first day to work in small group or directly with teachers on revisions and missing work.

Phoenix takes a holistic approach to wellness, supporting physical, emotional, and social health. Wellness classes, Advisory, and a strong sense of community are essential parts of the program.

Every student belongs to an Advisory group led by a staff member who serves as an advocate. Advisory focuses on:

• academic check-ins,

• organization and planning,

• social-emotional support,

• and communication with families.

Yes. Phoenix has a dedicated school counselor who supports students with academic concerns, peer relationships, decision-making, and emotional well-being.

Phoenix is designed to support a wide range of learners, and our schedule includes daily time for students to get help. Students have built-in support time during the school day to revise work, meet with teachers for feedback, get help with skills or assignments, and manage their workload.

In addition:

• students with IEPs or 504 Plans receive required accommodations and services,

• English Learners receive appropriate language supports,

• and all students have access to counseling and advisory support.

Many Phoenix courses are taught at an enriched level because our mastery-based approach expects students to revise their work until it meets a high standard. The built-in support time during the school day helps make this level of challenge sustainable for students.

Gifted students are supported through flexible grouping, enrichment opportunities, interdisciplinary projects, and choice-driven learning. Rather than simply completing more work, gifted learners are encouraged to deepen their thinking, improve quality, and extend their learning through the revision process.

The school hours are:

• Monday - Thursday: 8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Fridays: Early dismissal at 1:40 p.m. for staff collaboration and professional learning

Phoenix uses a flexible schedule designed to support mastery-based learning, student voice, and built-in time for support and revision.

• Monday–Thursday are full days with our core academic schedule, along with wellness, reading, the arts, and daily time for academic support and revisions.

• Friday is an early-release day (dismissal at 1:40 p.m.) with a shorter academic schedule and dedicated time for community learning, such as Student Forum, flexible learning time, and support.

While the schedule may look different from a traditional middle school, all students receive the same total instructional minutes each week, and the structure is intentionally designed to support how middle school students learn.

Learn more about Our Schedule here

• Monday - Thursday: 8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• Fridays: Early dismissal at 1:40 p.m. for staff collaboration and professional learning

Students must sign in or out through the main office, and a parent or approved adult must be present with valid identification.

Yes. Phoenix students can participate in athletics (and many after-school activities) through their neighborhood middle school. We designed it this way so students can stay connected with friends they’ve known since elementary school while still being part of the Phoenix community. For the most up-to-date information, families should follow their neighborhood school’s athletics website for tryouts, schedules, locations, and registration details, or visit our Athletics page for more information.

Phoenix students who have afternoon practices or activities at their neighborhood school can use a district shuttle that typically leaves Phoenix around 3:50 PM and transports students to their practice/activity site.

Important: Families are responsible for pickup after practice or the activity ends. End times vary by sport, season, and team, so parents should confirm the release time and pickup location with the coach or neighborhood school.

Worthington Schools’ eligibility policy is aligned with Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) guidelines. At Phoenix, eligibility is tied to mastery learning and is tracked both by quarter and week to week. Families can monitor eligibility in the Mastery Assessment Portal, including a daily green/red indicator.

For the full details (quarterly and weekly expectations, warning week, and how students regain eligibility), please see our Athletics page.

Joining the Phoenix Middle School Esports team is easy! At the beginning of each school year, Coach Kabealo shares all participation details with students, including tryouts, meeting times, and available games. Students who are interested in participating must also maintain the school’s athletic eligibility requirements, just like other extracurricular activities. Families and students can expect this information to be communicated through school announcements and class channels early in the fall. For the most up-to-date schedules, match information, and league details throughout the season, please visit Esportsohio.org