The Tara School's comprehensive curriculum includes mathematics, language arts, science, literature and social studies. Above all, the academic program emphasizes the capacity to think. Students learn to express themselves and to solve problems. They learn to write papers and ask key questions.

Language Arts
Children develop their reading skills through systematic instruction in phonics, sight-word recognition, and comprehension. In combination with sequenced readers, teachers use a wide variety of supplementary materials to make reading enjoyable and meaningful.

Careful attention is paid to spelling, grammar, and punctuation throughout the curriculum. All children work on printing and cursive writing skills. Creative and expository writing are important parts of our curriculum at all levels.

Students may participate in reading workshops designed to strengthen reading skills, leading to better achievement and self-esteem.

Mathematics
All children are introduced to number concepts, measurement, spatial awareness and problem solving. These areas, in addition to computation skills, are progressively developed throughout the math curriculum. By the time children graduate from Tara, they have a solid understanding of computation skills, including fractions, decimals, percentages, and ratios.

Teachers provide real, hands-on math experiences that promote math intuition. Math manipulatives play an important role in our program.

Problem-solving experiences that build higher-level analytical skills are incorporated throughout the Tara curriculum.

Science
The science program develops children's process and inquiry skills. We encourage experimentation and investigation. Through hands-on learning situations, students gain exposure to four major disciplines: life science, physical science, earth science, and the human body. Lessons focus on the familiar in the student’s environment, for example, plants and animals, sound and light, the water cycle, rocks and minerals, the desert and electricity and magnets. Our science program includes an extended one-week field research project each year. Field projects have included biological fieldwork at the Keystone Science School in Colorado and archeological exploration at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

Social Studies
The social studies curriculum helps children understand their social and physical environment. Students gain an understanding of themselves, their world and their heritage. New Mexico history and culture is studied both through specific social studies lessons and integrated into other areas of the curriculum. Community service plays an important role in the Tara social studies curriculum. Through service projects with local organizations, including St. Elizabeth’s shelter, the local community farm, animal shelters, and nursing homes, the children experience meaningful connections with our community.

Enrichment Program
In addition to the core curriculum, the Tara School provides instruction in Spanish, art, dance, music and theater taught by specialists in these fields. For physical education, as a complement to traditional group games and sports, our students travel off-site to ice skate, rock climb and ski.