Austin-based Skybridge Academy moved in June to a new campus on Fitzhugh Road and plans to team up with Stunt Ranch to develop a new hands-on science program, school founder and Director Ariel Miller said in July.

"Steve Wolf, who owns the ranch, is doing incredibly innovative things with science education. He does a lot of pyrotechnics for movies," Miller explained. "We decided to join forces, and I think it's going to be one of the most innovative science programs in the city."

Miller said Wolf reached out to her when Skybridge was at its original location, 710 E. 31st St. in Hyde Park, and asked if she would be interested in moving the school to the 20-acre Stunt Ranch property where Wolf teaches science and safety concepts through stunt demonstrations. Shortly after that call, her building manager told her the school's current site was going to be demolished, she said.

"We went out and looked at [the Stunt Ranch property] and realized that what he's doing out there is so in alignment with us in terms of really hands-on, individualized, experiential education," she said. "We decided it was just a fabulous collaboration."

Wolf will work alongside Wes Terrell, director of Skybridge's science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, or STEAM, program, to incorporate individualized teaching methods in the new program, Miller said.

Skybridge is a private junior high and high school that uses written evaluations instead of grades and its own benchmarks instead of standardized tests to support students in learning and developing a sense of what motivates them. Miller said the school plans to expand to offer evening and weekend classes in the 2013–14 school year.

Classes start Aug. 28.