Rosewood Academy, Dallas

Rosewood Academy's teachers spend as much time learning as instructing. Using a blend of Montessori method and traditional, structured classes, they help preschool-aged children figure out how they learn best. Then, they use that knowledge to introduce kids to the full range of academic subjects: reading, writing, music, language, math, science, and arts. They tailor lessons to each child's preferred styles of learning to produce academic excellence.

The teachers don't let the end of the school year slow them down in their work, though. During the summer, the run academically focused summer camps with fun, hands-on themes. For example, they provide opportunities for kids to learn about wild animals, blending biology and art into classroom lessons that culminate in a trip to the zoo. They also encourage inquisitiveness through an inventor's workshop, teach practical kitchen skills and chemistry to young chefs, and explore watery ecosystems with those too young to recall Kevin Kostner's Waterworld.