Questions and answers
What people often ask Bright Starr’s Academy.
What is Bright Starr's Academy?
We are a small, faith-based microschool in Casa Grande, Arizona. Children in grades K–4 get individualized attention to grow academically, emotionally, and spiritually.
What grades do you serve?
We serve grades K–4. We are now enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year.
Where are you located?
We are in Casa Grande, Arizona.
Do you accept ESA?
Yes, we accept ESA.
What are your school hours?
School runs Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. There is no school on Friday, so families have Fridays free.
Is your school a good fit for children with autism or learning differences?
Our small class is designed for children who thrive with fewer distractions and more one-on-one support. That includes kids with autism spectrum disorder, learning differences, and other unique needs.
How does learning work at your school?
Kids set goals and master skills at their own pace in four modes. Connect covers values-driven personal development, Conquer covers mastery-focused math, reading, and writing, Collaborate covers inquiry-led group discovery, and Create covers hands-on, project-based learning.
Is the school faith-based?
Yes. Christian values of kindness, grace, and love shape our days, so children grow in character while they grow in knowledge.
Who teaches at Bright Starr's?
We have three guides for one small class. Founder and Head Guide Starr McTighe is a registered nurse with 20+ years of caring for children and families. Our other guides are Dillon Lindberg and Judy Jackson.
Are your staff background checked and first aid certified?
Yes, our staff have passed background checks and are first aid certified. The school is founded and led by an RN.
What activities do children have outside the classroom?
Children enjoy a backyard and recess, a swimming pool, classroom pets, a nearby park, and field trips.
Can we visit before enrolling?
Yes. We'd love to meet your family, show you our space, and talk about whether Bright Starr's is the right fit for your child.
Are there four-day-a-week private schools for young kids in Pinal County, AZ?
Yes, Bright Starr's Academy is a faith-based microschool in Casa Grande, Arizona, with a focused four-day school week for children in grades K to 4. Class runs Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, with Fridays free for families. Our small class gives each child individualized attention, we accept ESA, and we are now enrolling for the 2026 to 2027 school year.
Microschool vs public elementary school in Casa Grande: which is better for a child who struggles in big classes?
Big classrooms are not the right fit for every child, and that is okay. Bright Starr's Academy is a faith-based microschool in Casa Grande, Arizona, that is small on purpose: three caring adults guide one small class of K to 4 students, so every child is known by name and gets more one-on-one support with fewer distractions. Children master math, reading, and writing at their own level and pace, and we welcome kids with autism spectrum disorder, learning differences, and other unique needs.