About Us

A: We are located at 1040 Camp Phillips Road in Weston and share a building with the DCE Idea Charter School. 

A: Odyssey is not a charter school. We are one of seven public elementary schools that are part of the D.C. Everest Area School District and therefore follow the guidelines of our District school board. 

A: Each grade level has a cap of 12 students. With four teaching staff, one special education teacher, and one paraprofessional we offer an 18:1 student ratio.

A: In general, learning is delivered by grade level at other elementary schools. In comparison, at Odyssey mixed-grade learning takes place in two large rooms. Our students progress in their learning at their own pace and as they complete grade level standards, they progress to instruction at the next grade level’s standards. We have children of multiple grade levels engaging socially and academically throughout the day and strive to create a supportive “Odyssey Otters community” by beginning and ending our day with an all-hands-on-deck community circle. 

A: Learners are in mixed grade levels for all instruction.  We use targeted, skill based groupings that are dependent on standards, not grade levels. 

A: We use specific data to focus our instruction when targeting what learners need in each core area including social emotional skills. We strive to foster independence, advocacy, and leadership in all our learners.

A: We have a 72-student capacity.

A: At Odyssey we have a DCE administrative liaison, but not have an administrator — similar to a principal — on site. Thus, each of our instructors is a teacher lead, which means they make many of the day-to-day decisions within our school and have a direct say in how to best meet the evolving needs of the student populations we work with. This includes choosing learning methodologies and curriculum resources as well as behavior management practices.

A: Families interested in having their child attend Odyssey Elementary must first attend a mandatory parent meeting held in January of each year. After attending the meeting, families will receive a link to complete a lottery application that is due in early March. In March, DCE District staff who are not associated with Odyssey conduct the lottery drawing to fill available spaces at each grade level. Please note grade level enrollment is capped to ensure we maintain our student-teacher ratio.   

Once a grade level is filled, names also are drawn for the Odyssey waiting list. Waiting list families will be contacted in the order their name was drawn as spaces become available. Families can then accept or decline the open seat. By declining the seat, the learner is removed from the waiting list.

A: We do NOT offer before or after school care at this time.