(1) Unique Academic Calendar: The school year comprises a Fall Intensive (1 week), Fall Semester (17 weeks), Winter Intensive (2 weeks), Spring Semester (17 weeks), and Spring Intensive (1 week). An Intensive is an immersion into a single class for a period of 3-7 days. Intensive classes are either art- or nature-based. Previous Intensives have included sculpture, backpacking, theatre, photography, painting, canning, botanical drawing, orienteering, and culinary arts.

(2) Arts-Integrated Curriculum: KCA integrates the fine, performing, and literary arts into all content areas, offers arts-focused extracurriculars, and coordinates collaborations with community artists.

(3) Teacher-Run Organizational Structure: KCA is run by Teacher Leaders who combine teaching (50%) with collaborative administration (50%).

(4) Restorative Justice Disciplinary Model: conflicts and transgressions are addressed through the lens of reconciliation, righting wrongs, and building community. Suspensions and expulsions are used in only the most extreme circumstances.

(5) Youth Decision-Making Power: The KCA school board designates two seats for current students, who serve one-year terms and have full voting power.

(6) Report Card Narratives: Mid-semester conferences and semester report cards include both letter grades and written narratives from the teacher for each class.

(7) Place-Based Learning: At KCA, we localize the curriculum, conduct field-based studies, collaborate with local fine/literary/performing artists, hike and backpack in our wild places, and incorporate place-based learning into the curriculum whenever possible.