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MIRUS ACADEMY
Private Micro-School for 8th - 12th grade
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the questions we hear most often, but please do not hesitate to contact us if you have a question not listed here. After all, Mirus is a school that is as unique as its students.
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What are the school hours?MONDAY - THURSDAY: 7:45 - 9:00 am Doors open to early arrivals 9:00 - 1:30 pm Class Periods 1:30 - 3:15 pm Work Period 3:15 - 5:30 pm School is open for late pick-up and for After-School Activities FRIDAY: School meets two Fridays a month, 9:00 - 1:30 pm
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What is the tuition? Is financial aid available?Please read the TUITION & FEES page for information
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Is Mirus Academy a religious school?No. Mirus Academy is an independent, secular school with no religious affiliation. The school uses a non-religious curriculum (similar to the curriculum used in public schools).
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Does Mirus Academy accept students year-round?Yes, Mirus Academy accepts new students year-round, as long as space is available.
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Does Mirus Academy accept all students who apply for admission?No, Mirus Academy has a selective admissions process and is unable to accept every student that applies. The requirements for admissions can be found on the ADMISSIONS page of this website.
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Can my child try out the school without enrolling?Yes, we believe school should be a "good fit" in order for each individual student to thrive and excel. As part of the application process, students spend 1-2 "Trial Days" at the school, so they can experience our unique learning community first-hand. Trial days are scheduled only after the completed application is fully submitted and approved.
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Is Mirus accredited?Yes, Mirus Academy is fully accredited by the National Association of Private Schools
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What is the average class size?Mirus classes vary in size from 3 -15 students, but the average is about 7-8 students per class. At Mirus Academy, students always receive the personal attention they need for academic and personal success.
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How many students are at Mirus? Is the school growing?Mirus Academy is a small school ("micro-school") by design. Although our exact school population changes from year to year, we typically have around 6 students per grade level and around 25 students total. This small, family-like environment is essential to the Mirus Academy school philosophy! The school has been this small size for over a decade, and we have no plans to become a large school.
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To what colleges have Mirus graduates been accepted?Mirus Academy graduates have been accepted to many select private and public universities both in Texas and out of state. Please read the "COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES" document (found in the "Resources" section of this website) for the complete list.
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What about the STAAR test? Does the school "teach to the test"?"No. As a private school, Mirus Academy does not participate in STAAR testing. Instead, students participate in nationally-normed tests each fall and spring: Fall Semester: PSAT or SAT Spring Semester: Pre-ACT or ACT Mirus students perform very well, with the school's average scores in the top 25% of the nation. Mirus students and teachers do not consider these exams to be a stressful, high-stakes affair-- they are simply a tool to help us better understand our student's academic growth and needs. Mirus does not "teach to the test" or pressure students to score high. The teachers simply provide quality instruction all year, and the students master the course objectives, resulting in test scores that naturally reflect the high potential of Mirus students.
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Can Mirus admit highly gifted students younger than 8th grade?Mirus Academy is set up as a high school and is not equipped to support the needs of younger students. All students must be at least 13 years old by September 1 of the school year.
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Does Mirus allow homeschoolers to enroll part-time?Mirus cannot accept "part-time" students who want to enroll in just one or two classes. All students are required to be fully enrolled at the school and fully participate in all classes.
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What curriculum does Mirus Academy use?Mirus Academy uses curriculum from a variety of resources that meet state and national standards. These resources are generally published by major curriculum providers such as Pearson, Savvas, K12, TCI, etc.
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Are college-level courses (A.P. and Dual Credit) classes available?Mirus seniors are encouraged to enroll in college level courses, and most seniors graduate with at least 6 college credits. Mirus Academy has a "dual credit" agreement with McMurry University, a four-year university whose credits easily transfer to public and private universities across the country. Students attend these classes on the Mirus campus, with the coursework facilitated by Mirus staff and graded by the university instructors. Like many high schools across the nation, Mirus has chosen to no longer offer AP courses. These courses are known for being high-stress and notoriously have a larger-than-necessary homework load. In addition, we disagree with the idea that AP students do college-level work all year long, yet they only receive college credit if they receive a high score on the AP exam in May. Because of this, our juniors and seniors strongly prefer to earn college credits through our Dual Credit program instead of the AP program. Please take note that we do NOT recommend that students fill their schedule with all college-level classes. We are a non-ranking school, so an "all-college classes" schedule is NOT necessary to maintain a class rank. We want students to have time to explore their interests and enjoy their teen years rather than spend every moment studying or doing homework.
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Can Mirus Academy accommodate my child's unique circumstances?Please read CAN MIRUS ACCEPT for details on special populations.
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Does Mirus follow the Katy ISD calendar?In general, Mirus Academy tends follows the Katy ISD calendar, although there may be some differences. In general, Mirus tends to be more generous with its school holidays.
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Do most students live in Katy?Approximately half of Mirus's students live within the boundaries of Katy ISD. The other half commute from areas such as Memorial, Sugar Land, Richmond, Sealy, Columbus, Cypress, Spring Branch, etc. A 20-30 minute commute is the norm for most Mirus students; however, as Mirus is the only school of its type in the area, some students drive over an hour to attend school at Mirus Academy.
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Do Mirus students wear uniforms?No, as part of the school's commitment to individualization, students are free to express their personalities through their clothing choices and do not wear a uniform.
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Does Mirus Academy have an athletic program?No. Mirus Academy has made the decision to not have traditional sports teams. Many students at Mirus are involved in after-school sports, but as a school Mirus places its focus primarily on academics and fine arts. NOTE: We do have an E-Sports team for our gaming students who want the challenge of competing in League Tournaments against other students.
"I have taught at many schools over the years, and I've never been as impressed with a school as I am with Mirus Academy. The standard is high but completely within reach because of all the support provided. It is my sincerest belief that Mirus provides the ideal environment for students to fully reach their academic and personal potential. " -- Mirus Teacher



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