Weilenmann School launches hybrid academic program for student athletes, artists

Weilenmann School of Discovery is launching its PEAK Program in the 2026-27 school year, offering grades 4–8 students a hybrid schedule that combines morning academics with afternoon training blocks for athletes, artists, and performers. A town hall is set for March 25. Photo: Weilenmann School of Discovery

Park City charter school's PEAK Program aims to keep high-level training kids connected to core academics and peers

PARK CITY, Utah — Weilenmann School of Discovery is launching a new academic track for students in grades 4 through 8 that would allow high-level athletes, artists, and performers to pursue intensive training without leaving a traditional school environment.

The PEAK Program — Performance, Engagement, Access, and Knowledge — begins in the 2026-27 school year. Students would complete core academics on campus in the morning before transitioning to training sites in the Park City area in the midday. Parents handle end-of-day pickup.

Park City Ski & Snowboard is among the first confirmed partner organizations.

School leaders say the program addresses a real tension in a community where youth athletics and specialized training have grown increasingly time-intensive — and where families often face a choice between academic consistency and competitive development.

“The transition into high school environments built around training demands can be incredibly stressful for families,” said Tess Miner Farra, head of school at Winter Sports School. “Programs like PEAK help students develop the academic independence, structure, and balance necessary for long-term success.”

The program operates under an “Academics First” policy, with students expected to maintain strong academic performance in the classroom. School leaders describe middle school as a critical developmental window and say the structure is designed to protect academic integrity while giving students space to pursue high-level work outside school.

“Middle school represents a critical developmental window,” said Scott Stewart, WSD executive director. “The PEAK Program provides a structure that protects academic integrity while fostering balance, independence, and sustainable excellence.”

A practical advantage of the model, the school says, is Weilenmann’s existing bus infrastructure, which already serves families in Kamas, Heber Valley, and Salt Lake City. PEAK families would use standard morning routes, with students transitioning midday to training sites rather than riding home in the afternoon.

Tommy Eckfeldt, athletic director at Park City Ski & Snowboard and a Weilenmann parent, said the model reflects a logistics approach the community already understands — similar to coordination long used by the Winter Sports School for older students.

“This model opens up a smarter use of the day,” Eckfeldt said. “It allows students to train during daylight hours, make better use of world-class facilities in Park City, and access the kind of programming that has helped develop Olympic athletes and other top performers.”

The launch comes as Park City looks ahead to the 2034 Winter Olympics. Following the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games, Park City athletes made up 16% of Team USA’s delegation — and would have ranked 10th in overall medal standings had the city competed as its own nation, according to the school.

Weilenmann alumni include Olympic mountain biker Haley Batten. The school’s staff includes Abby Ringquist, a former Olympic ski jumper who helped break barriers for women in the sport.

Weilenmann is a tuition-free public charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade, plus a preschool program, at 4199 Kilby Road.

Families can attend a PEAK Program Town Hall and Community STEAM Night on Wednesday, March 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the school. The evening includes program information, campus tours, and hands-on activities. More information is available at wsdpc.org/academics/peak-program.