New sports academy opens in Lake Travis
LAKEWAY, Texas (KXAN) – In most schools you will find students sitting in the classroom learning about math, English or science, and now there's a new school in Central Texas that is changing things up.
"We came to Texas Sports Academy because he (her son) is just an active kid and sitting in a traditional classroom we just saw him struggle," said Christy Griswold.
Her son spends about two hours a day going over core academics online.
"Reading, language, math, math facts," said North Griswold, who is in first grade at the school.
Texas Sports Academy is a private K-8 grade school that opened in Lake Travis this year.
"They are only supposed to do two hours, but he brings home his laptop and I wake up every morning to him working on his laptop," said Christy.
After the academics they get to play sports, but also have more time for other activities.
"Two-hour learning has been around for a decade now and it all revolves around this principal that if we make learning more efficient, if we go from six hours of classroom work and shrink it down to a fraction of that, all the while not sacrificing academic achievement, but if anything enhancing it, then you get more hours to do life skills," said Jamal Gross, chief ambassador for Texas Sports Academy.
Gross said students learn at different levels and need different environments to thrive, one of those being more activities and sports.
"When it comes to teaching life skills, grit, financial literacy, teamwork, public speaking, we believe the best way to deliver this is via sports," Gross said. "When you get a kid outside and you get them active you teach them this is what is in bounds and this is what is out of bounds and now they are getting lessons of critical thinking. When you teach them this is where you are at and this is where you are trying to get to, now we are learning lessons about goal setting."
Gross said they have to get creative, but it is making an impact on the students.
"When it comes to things like financial literacy you have to get a little creative, so now we have our kids negotiate NIL deals with local colleges to get an awareness of this is how money works and this is how you can save," Gross said.
While some students might be looking to get a competitive advantage or excel the school is also for those looking to be active.
"So Kindergarten through fifth grade, play. Lets be dynamic. Let's try it all," Gross said. "Once you hit middle school and you are ready for something a little more athletically intense, fortunately enough we have coaches that have been to the highest levels and can help you in those areas."
Next year they expect to have about 75 to 100 students with plans to continue growing in the future.