Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Indigo Program is located at 530 Gettysburg Drive, San Jose, CA 95123, on the Frost Elementary campus.
Indigo shares a campus with Frost Elementary School and access to some district resources, but Indigo operates as its own K–8 public school within Oak Grove School District.
Indigo serves students in Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Indigo is a tuition-free parent participation public school Program Choice within Oak Grove School District. It is not a charter or private school.
A Program Choice allows families to apply to a specialized educational program outside of their assigned neighborhood school.
Indigo maintains a low student-to-adult ratio through credentialed teachers, support staff, and active family participation in classrooms and school programs.
Yes. Indigo supports students with IEPs and 504 plans, with services provided through Oak Grove School District.
Yes. Students have access to district meal services, including free breakfast and lunch programs when available through district or state funding.
Yes. Oak Grove School District offers a tuition-based before and after school program called BASE.
Transportation services are managed through Oak Grove School District. Families should contact the district for current eligibility and transportation availability.
Yes. Indigo hosts community events throughout the year, including Open Houses, Harvest Festival, Plant Sale, and other family-friendly events that are open to the public. Attending an event is a great way to experience Indigo’s unique community and culture firsthand. Follow Indigo on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated on upcoming public events.
Enrollment & Eligibility
Students from any school district may apply to Indigo.
No. Students living outside Oak Grove School District may apply through the interdistrict transfer process.
Families outside the district must first receive an approved interdistrict transfer release from their home district before enrollment can be finalized.
Yes. Indigo hosts Open Houses and classroom tours during the enrollment season, which is usually between November and March. Check our Visit Us page for upcoming dates.
Enrollment dates vary each year but are generally between January and March for the following school year.
If applications exceed available openings, students are selected through a district-managed lottery process.
Yes. Students who are not immediately offered placement may be added to a waitlist and notified as space becomes available.
Mid-year enrollment may be possible if space is available. Families should contact Indigo for current availability.
Families will receive enrollment instructions and must complete district registration and required paperwork within the designated timeline.
Indigo is a tuition-free public school. Families will be invited to make donations upon enrollment to support enrichment programs and materials.
Yes. Sibling priority is provided according to district enrollment policies.
Learning
Yes. Indigo is inspired by progressive education principles that emphasize hands-on learning, collaboration, creativity, inquiry, meaningful experiences, and student engagement.
Constructivist learning is based on the idea that students learn best by actively exploring, questioning, experimenting, discussing, and reflecting on experiences rather than passively memorizing information. Teachers guide students in building understanding through meaningful learning experiences.
Whole-child education means supporting all areas of student growth, including academic, social, emotional, physical, and creative development. Indigo values each child’s unique learning style, strengths, interests, and developmental pace.
Indigo’s teaching philosophy is rooted in progressive education, constructivist learning, and Positive Discipline. Students learn through hands-on, theme-based instruction that integrates academics, creativity, collaboration, social-emotional learning, and real-world experiences. Indigo also emphasizes strong family participation and educating the whole child.
Multi-age learning allows students from different grade levels to learn together in the same classroom community. This model encourages collaboration, leadership, peer mentoring, relationship-building, and individualized learning at each child’s developmental level.
Positive Discipline emphasizes respect, responsibility, problem-solving, and social-emotional learning through encouragement, connection, and mutual respect.
Project-based learning gives students opportunities to explore real-world topics through hands-on, integrated experiences across multiple subject areas.
Teachers use a variety of assessment methods including observations, projects, classwork, student reflection, and standards-based evaluations.
Yes. Physical Education is part of the student experience and enrichment offerings.
Yes. Indigo incorporates gardening and outdoor learning experiences into student learning opportunities.
Assessment practices vary by grade level and include standards-based feedback designed to support student growth and learning.
Indigo uses differentiated instruction, hands-on activities, movement, collaboration, art integration, and flexible teaching strategies to support diverse learners.
Homework is designed to be meaningful and developmentally appropriate and may include reading, reflection, practice, or project work.
Indigo teaches California state standards through integrated, in-depth learning experiences that also support readiness for state assessments.
Class sizes vary by grade level and enrollment, but Indigo maintains a low student-to-adult ratio through credentialed teachers, support staff, and active family participation.
A typical day at Indigo includes exploration, collaboration, hands-on learning, reflection, movement, and student choice. Teachers use differentiated instruction, integrated projects, and real-world experiences to help students actively construct knowledge as participants in their own learning.
Outdoor learning is integrated throughout the program whenever possible. Students may participate in gardening, science exploration, outdoor projects, field trips, nature-based learning, and community activities connected to classroom themes and curriculum.
Indigo offers a variety of enrichment opportunities including gardening, visual and performing arts, music, cooking, science, field trips, Physical Education, STEM activities, and other project-based learning experiences.
Indigo uses a Positive Discipline approach focused on problem-solving, communication, mutual respect, and helping students learn from mistakes. Teachers use class meetings, collaborative conversations, buddy classrooms, and restorative strategies to help students work through challenges and develop social-emotional skills.
Technology is incorporated as a tool to support collaboration, research, communication, creativity, and project-based learning. Indigo balances technology use with hands-on learning, outdoor experiences, and interpersonal interaction.
Indigo helps students develop strong academic foundations along with critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity, problem-solving, and self-advocacy skills. Middle school students also participate in project-based learning and opportunities that support independence and responsibility.
Indigo’s middle school is a small learning community focused on supporting the whole child while helping students become independent, responsible, collaborative problem-solvers. The middle school program incorporates project-based learning, integrated academics, 21st century skills, Physical Education, and leadership opportunities.
Parent Participation
Families participate in the community through weekly classroom shifts, classroom jobs, and broader community support roles. Indigo offers flexible opportunities to match different schedules, skills, and interests.
Parents are active participants in the Indigo community and may support small group learning, enrichment or elective activities, classroom projects, field trips, gardening, art, STEM activities, and school events. Family participation helps strengthen the collaborative learning environment.
Parent participation is part of Indigo’s community-centered philosophy. Family involvement helps create a strong support network for students, teachers, and families while enriching learning opportunities throughout the program.
Indigo offers flexible volunteer opportunities, including evening, weekend, remote, and event-based roles. Families who cannot volunteer during the school day can discuss alternative participation options with school leadership.
Classroom shifts may include supporting small group learning and enrichment or elective activities such as art, gardening, STEM projects, and more. Community jobs can include helping with events, photography, garden or naturescape maintenance, parent training, fundraising, campus projects, and other school support activities.
Yes. Some volunteer opportunities can be completed remotely or outside regular school hours.
Yes. Families can contribute through fundraising, event coordination, donations, committee work, affiliate programs, or take-home projects.
At Indigo, we understand that life can be busy. Families experiencing challenges should communicate with school leadership to discuss alternative ways to support the community.
Volunteer commitments may be fulfilled by one parent, caregiver, or participating family member.
For the safety of our students, all parent volunteers are required to complete district clearance, pass a background check and complete parent training before volunteering on campus.
Yes. Volunteers receive guidance, expectations, and any required training before participating on campus. In addition, we have parent education training in Positive Discipline throughout the year.
Yes. Extended family members may volunteer if they complete any required background check procedures.
Family Resources & Support
The school calendar can be found here and through weekly school-wide and classroom newsletters.
On the morning of the absence, families should contact the school office at (408) 225-1882 or follow the instructions in the voicemail.
Please bring your student to the office to fill out and timestamp a tardy slip before heading to class. Be sure to give a copy to the school secretary.
Breakfast and lunch menus are available through the Oak Grove School District Nutrition Program.
Supporting Our School & Fundraising
There are many ways to get involved! Families can support Indigo by volunteering in the classroom or garden, attending community events, making purchases through our affiliate partners, participating in corporate matching programs, or making direct donations.
100% of the money raised directly supports our students, classrooms, and community. Key programs funded include:
- Staff & Programs: Funding for our Art Teacher’s salary and art supplies.
- Field Trips: Subsidizing monthly class field trips and upper-grade overnight trips.
- Classrooms & Enrichments: Supplies for teachers, parent-led enrichment programs, and electives.
- Garden & Campus: Soil, tools, and maintenance for our garden program, along with campus improvement projects.
- Community Events: Special traditions like NatureScape, Community Tie-Dye, Olympic Day, and the Talent Show.
Direct, tax-deductible contributions can be made in a few easy ways:
- Online via Zelle: Send payments directly through your bank app to financialsecretary@indigoprogram.org. (Please write the purpose in the memo line, e.g., “Annual Donation” or “Fun Run”).
- Membership Toolkit: Log into your parent account to submit annual donations or pay open balances.
- Check: Make checks payable to Indigo PTA and drop them off or mail them to the school office (530 Gettysburg Dr, San Jose, CA 95124).
Yes! Many companies match employee donations to our non-profit parent group (Indigo PTA). You can double your impact by checking with your employer’s HR department or corporate giving platform (such as Benevity).
Yes. School fundraising is managed through the Indigo PTA, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Tax ID: 11-3763937). Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
You can support Indigo during your regular shopping at no extra cost to you. When you order through our partners—including Mabel’s Labels, Farm Fresh To You, and Box Tops for Education—a percentage of your purchase goes directly back to our school. We also host local “Dine-Out Nights” and event food trucks where a portion of sales supports Indigo.
- General Fundraising Questions: fundraising@indigoprogram.org
- Financial & Donation Inquiries: financialsecretary@indigoprogram.org