Field Trip: Police Department

Photo credit: San Mateo Police Department

Where: San Mateo Police Department (200 Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403)

When : All year, with appointment

Who   : All ages. Max group size 20 (but consecutive tours can be scheduled)

Cost   : Free

Notes:  Photos are allowed, but may not contain text (e.g. schedules, notes). Tour involves multiple levels of stairs, so parents should preferably have little ones in a carrier.  

This was a popular field trip - we had to schedule three consecutive tours to keep the group size manageable. Because of that, we were also able to group students by age (early elementary vs middle/high), and tour content was customized for their maturity level.

We started out by viewing what looked like a large classroom with tables and chairs, but learned that it turns into an emergency operations center during a citywide emergency. There was an area which could be used for media interviews and press conferences.

The background you see on TV

Afterwards, we saw the atrium (not pictured), a gym for the officers, and peeked into a room where the officers were having their briefing at the beginning of their shift. We also saw some detention rooms which are currently unused since Redwood City's Maguirre Correctional Facility is so close. They had been cleaned up, but the heavy lock and open toilet (behind the white wall in picture) in each cell were sufficient reminders of their former use.

Outside of cell

Spartan interior

From a law enforcement officer's perspective, detention is also additional work - frequent checks through the door, and rules which determine how long a person may be detained.

Next, we saw some interview rooms (not pictured) - one room was carpeted and comfortable, while another had hard chairs and a desk, the standard interrogation rooms as pictured on TV. Our guide explained that the softer room was for communicating with victims or juveniles, or giving sensitive news. We appreciated the consideration for children. All rooms were monitored.

After the interview rooms, the guide brought us to the dispatch center (not pictured). Dispatch officers work in teams, and the job requires a steady temperament. They are on the frontlines for 9-11 calls (which could be for fire or police), and they are typically busy in the later half of the day when school and work are out. When you call 9-11, your signal is picked up by the nearest tower and location information is available to dispatch. A tidbit of information:

Q: What should you do if you accidentally (or prank) call 9-11, then hang up? 

A: Police will call back. You should answer this call, and be honest that it was a mistake, or a prank. If you don't answer, they have to send someone out to investigate which takes resources so it's better to 'fess up. 

Outside, we saw patrol cars, and the guide pointed out details like the push bar in front to clear debris, or the hard molded seats (allowing handcuffed passengers to sit back) and automatic seat belts. 

 

Each patrol car serves as the "office" for a patrol officer, but the building also has writing rooms where they may come in to write reports. Report writing is an integral part of the job. 

There was also a "command center" vehicle - when investigations take multiple hours, officers can meet inside - its interior is set up with multiple screens, network access, and massive floodlights which makes searching for evidence easier.

Command center vehicle

Underground, we also saw K-9 cars (unfortunately the dogs were out during our group's tour but another group did meet Elvis!), motorcycles, a van for drones and a massive rescue vehicle affectionally named "Bubba". 

Bubba - note the turrets on the side

Finally, one of the age-appropriate groups saw the shooting range where the guide told us gun safety guidelines. It was fascinating to see the props like barrels where the officers practice a variety of scenarios.

 We would like to thank the San Mateo Police Department for hosting our group. It was illuminating to see all the ways they are active in our community such as the Police Activities League which provides recreational activities for youth, as well as the skills required to be a good officer. There are multiple ways to work with the police - dispatchers are in demand (civilian), and students can look into the Explorer program if they want to learn more about officer training.

Org chart credit: San Mateo Police Department

Our Journey with Glenbrook Christian Academy: A Charlotte Mason Learning Pod

 

Our "real homeschool" series features local homeschoolers describing their routines. In this write-up, we hear from HEART member Joanna who started her own homeschool pod. This post is also part of our "local" series since her pod is available for local homeschoolers to join (as of Feb 2025). If you would like to find out more, please email GlenbrookChristianAcademy@gmail.com.

My name is Joanna, and I live in San Mateo with my family. Like many homeschooling parents, I wanted more than just academics for my child—I longed for a rich, relational education that would nurture their spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth. As I explored homeschooling options, I found co-ops and group learning opportunities, but I desired something more consistent, personal, and Christ-centered—a place where children could learn deeply, develop strong friendships, and grow in faith. That’s how Glenbrook Christian Academy was born—a small, Charlotte Mason-inspired learning pod that meets in my home, providing a nurturing, structured, and spiritually grounded education to 1st through 4th graders.

Why We Started a Pod

Our pod originally began during COVID, when I hired a teacher to work one-on-one with my daughter. 

The idea of a learning pod appealed to me because I wanted my child to regularly interact with the same group of families, rather than bouncing between different settings. Weekly co-ops were an option, but many felt too large or lacked the consistency I hoped for. Charlotte Mason’s approach, which emphasizes habit formation, relational learning, and living books, resonated with me deeply.

Charlotte Mason’s philosophy shares many foundational principles with Classical Christian Education (CCE), particularly in its commitment to great books, deep thinking, and biblical truth. Both approaches reject modern, progressive education in favor of a time-tested model that cultivates wisdom, virtue, and a love for learning.  However, Charlotte Mason’s method is distinct from traditional classical education in several ways. While classical models often emphasize rote memorization, Latin, and Socratic dialogue, Charlotte Mason focuses on narration (students retelling what they’ve learned), short and varied lessons, nature study, and habit formation. Her approach is considered to be more gentle and more relational, encouraging children to engage deeply with knowledge through real-life experiences and living books rather than formal recitation.  At Glenbrook Christian Academy, we blend the rich intellectual traditions of classical learning with the relational, discovery-based methods of Charlotte Mason, creating an education that is both rigorous and full of wonder. 

As I connected with other homeschooling families through Facebook groups, I noticed many were looking for a similar educational experience. I invited them to visit our setup, and what started as a small idea gradually grew into a thriving community of like-minded families.  

Finding the Right Teacher

One of the key factors in making our pod work was finding the right teacher. After searching through countless job websites—such as Craigslist, ChristianJobs.com, and Indeed— we were blessed to find our teacher Peter through mutual connections.  His training includes:

• The Ambleside Schools International Internship, where he gained hands-on experience implementing Charlotte Mason’s methods, focusing on habit formation, narration, and relational learning.
• The Ambleside Summer Institute, an intensive program that deepens educators’ understanding of child development, virtue formation, and wisdom-centered education.

With his deep understanding of Charlotte Mason’s methods and his ability to engage students in thoughtful learning, Peter was the perfect fit for our pod.

Building Community

Building a like-minded community was just as important as finding the right teacher. From the start, we wanted an environment where students could form meaningful relationships while still receiving individualized attention.  Most of our families found us through word of mouth or online groups. 

Our pod is intentionally small, with 6 to 8 students. Rather than grouping students strictly by grade level, our classes are structured like a one-room schoolhouse, where all students engage with the same material but at different levels. This allows for rich discussions, collaborative learning, and individualized challenges that meet each child where they are.  

A Peek Inside Our Days

Our classroom

By hosting our pod in a home setting, the children experience a familiar and comfortable learning environment. Our pod meets from Monday to Thursday from 9:30am to 2:30pm. 

Our mornings begin with:

• Greeting and listening to one another, teaching respect and attentiveness.
• Prayer and heartfelt sharing with Father God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Some children have already seen answered prayers, like protection from flight sickness!
• A new hymn each week, with regular solfège practice (hand signals and treble clef exercises).

Flower Press Project
The student’s names and their favorite memory verses were added 

Throughout the day, we explore:

• Literature/Poetry: The Pilgrim’s Progress, Beatrix Potter Tales, Eli Whitney, Brambly Hedge, A Children’s Garden of Verses, Nibble Nibble, and more.
• Bible & Hebrew/Greek Word Study: Learning core biblical words to deepen understanding as we engage Old Testament stories, the Gospel of Mark, and memorize passages for recitation.
• Math: Using Singapore Math for computation, fractions, time to the minute, and early geometry and algebra.
• Spelling & Grammar: Analysis of words by syllable, vowel, phonogram, and rule. Diagramming sentences into their grammatical parts.
• Phonics: Reading exercises to enhance an intuitive grasp of phonetic patterns.
• Penmanship: Intro to Spencerian cursive; transcription with print.
• Science & Nature Study: Observing plants, animals, and microscopic life through handheld microscopes, while discussing God’s intricate design and symbiotic relationships. General human anatomy.
• History & Geography: Peeking into culture and history as we learn about prominent figures whose contributions we have the privilege of enjoying. Using the world map to associate folktales/fairytales with their country of origin. An atlas to accompany biblical stories.
• Art & Handicrafts: Drawing with shapes, historical art study and replication, watercolors, wax modeling, origami, sewing.
• Art Appreciation: Utagawa Hiroshige; Van Gogh.
• Music Appreciation: Johann Straus II (the Waltz King); Joseph Haydn (Father of the symphony and String Quartet).
• Gardening: We are cultivating homegrown bonsai, plus a flower and vegetable garden.
• Physical Education: Ball games, playground activities, and outdoor free play.

Art Appreciation Study - Utagawa Hiroshige

Nature Study - Fly Agaric Mushroom

Art Study - Response to Pilgrim's Progress

Redwood Bonsai
Each student chose a sapling, named and cared for it over a semester

One of my favorite moments was watching my daughter’s excitement as we raised caterpillars and released butterflies. From the start, she was captivated, carefully observing their growth, sketching them in her nature journal, and asking thoughtful questions about their transformation. When the butterflies finally emerged, she stood in awe, watching them flutter into the sky. Inspired, she later told me she wanted to plant flowers to help more butterflies thrive. Seeing her curiosity turn into action was a beautiful reminder of why this pod exists—to ignite wonder, nurture discovery, and cultivate a love for God’s creation.

Summer Program

This summer, we are offering a specialized program with focused modules, giving children the opportunity to explore new skills, creativity, and enrichment in a joyful and engaging way. Topics may include cooking, arts and crafts, improv and theater, folk and square dance, and strategy games like Chess and Go. We will also explore poetry, learning short forms like limericks, haikus, and proverbs, as well as folktales and fairy tales. Additionally, we’ll introduce calligraphy, allowing children to develop artistic expression and fine motor skills.

Understanding the Costs

One of the most common questions we receive from prospective families is about the cost of joining our learning pod. We understand that homeschooling is a commitment—not just in time and energy, but also financially—so we strive to keep our pod affordable while ensuring a high-quality educational experience. While costs will vary depending on the number of days a student attends and specific materials needed, we aim to keep our approach reasonable, transparent, and accessible. 

Families are responsible for individual student supplies, which vary from year to year depending on the curriculum and activities planned. Additionally, each family pays the teacher an hourly fee, and we ask for a monthly tuition contribution to cover shared costs such as classroom supplies, teacher training, and other essentials that support the learning environment. These contributions allow us to maintain small class sizes, personalized instruction, and a well-equipped space where children can thrive.

Lessons Learned & Adjustments

While the pod has been a joy, we’ve made adjustments along the way. We’ve found that some of the most meaningful learning happens when we pause and allow for deeper exploration. We’ve also incorporated more outdoor learning, recognizing how nature enhances curiosity and engagement. Additionally, we’ve refined parental involvement, encouraging participation while maintaining a healthy balance between structure and community.

What began as a search for a better learning experience has grown into a thriving, Christ-centered community. Our children are not only learning reading, math, and science—they are also growing in confidence, kindness, and faith. It’s a journey I’m grateful to be on, and I look forward to seeing what God has in store next.

Interested in Joining Glenbrook Christian Academy?

If you’re interested in learning more about Glenbrook Christian Academy or exploring whether our pod might be the right fit for your family, we’d love to hear from you! We offer rolling enrollment throughout the year, so families are encouraged to reach out whenever they’re ready to begin their journey with us. Whether you’re looking for a place to start immediately or considering future enrollment, we’re happy to discuss how our Charlotte Mason-inspired education can support your child’s growth. Feel free to email us at GlenbrookChristianAcademy@gmail.com to ask questions, schedule a visit, or learn more about our program.

Field Trip: Santa Clara Historical Railroad Society

 

Where: South Bay Historical Railroad Society (1005 Railroad Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050)
When : All year, with appointment
Who   : All ages. Max group size 40.

Cost   : Free, donations gratefully received.

When Caltrain launched its electric train service in September 2024, there were several launch parties along the Peninsula. One of them was at an open house at the South Bay Historical Railroad Society. Since our group members couldn't all attend the open house which was on a Saturday, we reached out to the society, and they agreed to host a school group visit for us.

The Society is housed in the historical Santa Clara depot (right besides the Santa Clara Caltrain station), so it was logical to take the Caltrain down. This was a new experience for many families who hadn't taken the new trains. YouTube has several videos documenting the experience, including this one.

When we arrived at Santa Clara Caltrain, the South Bay Historical Railroad Society was ready for us. First, they explained about the rise of the railroads allowing fruit grown in Santa Clara Valley ("Valley of Heart's Delight") to be shipped nationwide. In fact, the first shipment of fresh fruit (pears) over the transcontinental railroad was sent from this depot to the east coast.

We also had the opportunity to hear about California High Speed Rail developments, thanks to representatives from the project.  They helped us understand how Caltrain electrification, besides improving speed/reliability and safety, is part of a larger plan to connect with the California High Speed rail network. As of January 2025, construction has started in Central Valley and the plan will ultimately allow passengers to ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in three hours (their full system map shows stops from Sacramento to San Diego). Students were excited about the prospect as some had taken high speed rail in other countries, while parents asked questions such as cost of tickets (~80% of an equivalent plane ticket) and overall cost. The HSR project has had a rough start (this Los Angeles Times' article discusses its funding challenges) but they are also trying to engage with the community more to give project updates and answer questions. 

Finally, the Historical Railroad Society had invited volunteers to run their model trains for us. Students could have stood there for the full hour of the field trip, there were so many details. They have a sample video (below), but being there in person allowed us to better appreciate the scope and scale. Also, they update their layouts so it's always novel to visit.

After the trip, we took the north bound train home, appreciating that we didn't have to deal with traffic . As of September 2024, Caltrain's youth fares are $1/one way, or $2/round trip (adult fares are considerably higher), making this a good option for field trips. If we had wanted to explore, Santa Clara University is 10 minutes walk from the train station and the De Saisset museum offers tours.   

We would like to thank the South Bay Historical Railroad Society as well as the California High Speed rail representatives for opening up the museum for our field trip, as well as offering the space for athe HSR presentation. This is an amazing opportunity for homeschoolers to learn about the past and future of rail transportation. 

Workshop: Thinkpads 4 All

Thinkpads4All is a volunteer organization that encourages all ages to learn about how laptops work through free hands-on workshops. When we saw one of their events advertised at a local library, we reached out and asked if they would host a workshop for our group - despite their busy schedule, they agreed and we were excited to start planning.  

We were able to find a space to host our event, thanks to Redwood Baptist Church. For signups, we suggested families to consider this for older students (middle school and up), though Thinkpads4All accommodates mixed aged groups from children to seniors.  

On the day of the workshop, the ThinkPads4All volunteers arrived with a cart full of Thinkpads with their batteries removed. After wiping down, each participant was given a laptop, a screwdriver and maps showing the location of screws and cables in the laptop. 

The first part of the workshop consisted in disassembly. The screw maps came in useful here - as we removed each screw, we would place it on the photo at its location. This part was unnerving for parents (can we really apply force here?), while the students took to it fearlessly. The volunteers circled around the room, giving tips when we were stuck.

At this point, the volunteers gave us a short talk about the components on the motherboard, and answering questions. They also pointed out how easy it was to upgrade the laptop by upgrading or adding components. This was also a good chance to ask questions. 

The next step was challenging: re-assembling the laptop from the explosion of parts. Although the diagrams helped, there were tricky parts such as pushing the wifi cable into crevices without getting in the way of the case hinges. Again, students were particularly adept at this, both in visual memory and fine motor skills to maneuver in tiny spaces when screwing back the covers. 

The workshop took two hours, and everyone was satisfied. Students new to teardowns felt more confident in exploring laptops; those who had prior experience had the opportunity to discuss with the volunteers. So it was an amazing learning experience for all - we highly recommend the organization and would like to thank them for their time.  

For those who would like to practice more (or are unable to attend their workshops - seats go fast), there are step by step tutorials such as iFixit's replacement guides and YouTube videos like the following. Perhaps this could be a new hobby for your homeschooler! 

Local Resource: School for Independent Learners

Photo credit: School for Independent Learners

Overview

School for Independent Learners is a private high school in Los Altos which focuses on individual or small group learning. Local Bay Area homeschoolers may find it helpful because it offers community for students taking its classes (including in-person labs), and it is open to hosting external students for AP and PSAT exams.

High School Classes: Honors, AP, Dual Enrollment 

Students can sign up to take high school courses through SIL anytime throughout the year. The classes may be regular, honors, UC a-g accredited, AP or college level (e.g. Differential Equations). Instruction is usually 1:1, or families can form with a few others to make a small class; either way, instruction is individualized. 

SIL also has a dedicated lab space setup, and can work with homeschoolers to create a tailored lab experience. For example, they had a student who wanted to do a series of lab intensives before going to college and designed a sequence that the student completed over a few weeks in summer. Homeschoolers who feel disadvantaged by lack of lab access will find this option attractive. 

Community

Beyond academics, the school has lounges where students can hang out between classes and try new activities. Also, students can form interest-based groups each year, which is also a draw for homeschoolers seeking to connect with other high schoolers. 

Exams: AP, PSAT and more

Depending on their course offerings, SIL offers dedicated exams such as AMC and AP exams. They may also offer PSAT testing, depending on circumstances. SIL students have first priority, but generally there have been enough seats for external students (e.g. homeschoolers). As with other locations, the key is to contact them early - in early Fall, they publish a sign up sheet for the exams they will offer which also lists their proctoring fees. 

Tuition

Because course instruction is highly individualized, it is hard to predict how much a course will cost, e.g. a student may speed through a year's of material within a few months. SIL charges by the hour - for 2024, the cost was $155/hour for 1:1 classes and $120 for group classes (they have no minimum hours requirement). There are also part-time and full-time enrollment options, although those options are probably less applicable to homeschoolers. 

Summary

SIL's model is closely akin to homeschooling so many of its strengths will be familiar to homeschoolers. 

Pros: 

• Personalized instruction to fit your schedule and preferred mode of instruction (in-person or online)
• Advanced courses especially in mathematics, plus full lab for hands-on sciences. 
• WASC-accreditation for those who need a-g courses through a certified school (note that private homeschoolers are usually admitted by exception for UCs so this might actually be more useful when applying to international colleges)
• Opportunities to participate in larger student clubs/groups

Cons: 

• Cost: Regardless of model (instruction per hour, part-time or full-time), a SIL course will likely cost several times more than any other option open to homeschoolers. However, SIL is open to working with homeschoolers, e.g. if they want to design a specific class together. 

Field Trip: Advanced Water Purification Center

Credit: Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center

Where: Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (4190 Zanker Rd, San Jose, CA 95134)
When : All year (preference is given to Santa Clara and San Jose groups, plan ahead)
Who   : 4th grade and up

Cost   : Free

Notes:  Wear closed-toe shoes. Photos are allowed but not videos

It's hard to miss the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center. As you exit the freeway, the huge water tank (2.25 million gallons!)  looms in the horizon. The signage to the visitor center is clear, and there is a small parking lot (additional spots are available in a different area). 

When we arrived, we first watched a presentation to understand the reason for investing in water purification - of the water on earth, only 3% is drinkable and some is locked up in forms we cannot access, e.g. glaciers, or inconvenient to access. Santa Clara county gets over half of its water from reservoirs that are far away, which makes for a vulnerable water supply. Water reuse (currently 5% of water use) can reduce that vulnerability. 

To see water reuse in action, students can start looking for purple pipes when they are outside. In Santa Clara county, these carry recycled water - wastewater that has been treated so it is safe for irrigation and industrial use. Recycled water is non-potable, i.e. it is not suitable for drinking. 

 

Purple pipe = recycled water
Credit: Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center

Purified water is wastewater that has additionally treated and disinfected, towards a goal of being potable. Students were tickled to hear that purified water is being used in other parts of California including Anaheim (Q: Does Disneyland make its own water?  A: Purified water is not made at Disneyland but when you run a drinking fountain there, you may be drinking some). This purification was the subject of our tour, and we were eager to begin.

We first walked past some pumps where water was brought up to 40 psi and run through a filter which would remove items larger than 40 microns (human hair being 60 microns). Students had fun peering through the mesh and seeing if anything could go through.

Having removed large impurities, the first step of advanced treatment began - microfiltration. In this step, water is pumped through pipes containing strands of fibers. These fiber strands have small pores of  0.1 microns so that as water runs through, anything larger than 0.1 microns will be caught in them (Q: What would get caught at 0.1 microns?  A: Solids, protozoa, bacteria and even some viruses!).

Cross-section of microfiltration pipe

Arrays of microfiltration pipes

The next step of advanced purification is reverse osmosis. In this step, the water is pumped to extremely high pressure to force it across a reverse osmosis membrane. The membrane has pores that are so small that only molecules the size of water can go through - salts, pesticides and even viruses are left behind. 

With this treatment, the water is almost as pure as distilled water - this also means it doesn't contain the minerals found in freshwater so treated water is usually mixed with ground water for a drinking supply.

 

The final step in advanced water treatment is UV disinfection. Sunlight contains UV rays which can kill bacteria and viruses (specifically, UV-C rays can break down their DNA). Running the water under UV lights replicates this process and kills any living organism still in the water. 

The water is safe to drink after this treatment though to bring it up to state standards, advanced oxidation will be required. Since the Silicon Valley plant does not currently supply the drinking water system, it does not do this step at scale though there was a machine labeled. The reason for this step is to add another safeguard against chemicals that might still be present.

Finally,  the guide showed us flasks with the water from various stages of treatment - we could see the color shift from slight yellow to colorless, and water become clear/transparent by the end stage. As a challenge, we were asked if there were any volunteers to try the treated water. All the students jumped to their feet to volunteer! 

We would like to thank the Center for offering free tours to the community. As specified on the tour reservation page, students need to be 4th grade (preferably 5th grade and up) so parents with younger siblings should plan on alternate activities while their older students go along with the tour; happily, there are fun activities nearby such as Legoland Discovery Center in Milpitas's Great Mall. 

The tour is also suitable for high school students who can find out about careers in the water industry, e.g. while we could expect civil or environmental engineering, we were surprised to hear about job openings for biologists. The facility is sophisticated -  one aspect of the facility which amazed us was its quiet since everything has been automated including checking of various components for failure. High school students in Santa Clara county can also apply to be part of Valley Water's Youth Commission. 

Local Resource: Elite Prep San Jose

Photo credit: Yelp

Overview

Elite Prep is a private college prep school with worldwide branches, including one in San Jose. The school offers full-time as well as part-time enrollment options - this post focuses on offerings which homeschoolers might find helpful.

AP Courses

EOS offers blended courses - AP coursework is written by Apex Learning, a provider of asynchronous* (with some exceptions) online courses which have been AP approved by the College Board. Most courses are also UC and NCAA approved.  * Some courses are synchronous: AP Research, AP Seminar and AP world languages (Chinese, French, Spanish) since they require feedback throughout the year. 

Students will watch lesson recordings on their own, and submit their work to the portal for grading. An EOS teacher will check-in periodically to ensure students are keeping up with recommended pacing and they are ready for the AP exams in May. If labs are required, students can schedule an appointment to do the lab onsite during business hours, while an EOS teacher supervises. Science labs usually take two hours, so EOS recommends doing the labs as they occur in the pacing guide, rather than accumulating them in a week of intensives. 

Since the courses are asynchronous, students can start a course in fall, spring or summer. Prior to enrolling, EOS staff meet with families to ensure readiness, taking into account the student's workload and level of preparation (e.g. AP science courses usually require a year-long regular course). 

Pros

• AP exam availability: EP is a test site, and students get a discount on AP exam fees.
• Flexible schedule: students can start an AP course in summer, or take a break mid-course to travel so long as they maintain pace. Signups occur in July (for fall), September (for Spring), or March (for summer).
• EP provides a space and supervision for hands-on labs . 
• External accountability with EP staff - good for students who are learning to be independent.
• Can be used by charter schools since Apex is UC-certified to provide a-g courses
• Offers AP Capstone Diploma: students take AP Research, AP Seminar and 4 AP exams. This option is usually not available for homeschool students since teachers must be trained for AP Research and AP Seminar.

Cons

• Cost: Tuition ranges from $1450 (as of 2024) which is more than some synchronous/live online AP providers. Families still need to pay for books, lab kit and exam fee (though discounted).
• Quality: APEX learning is asynchronous, which students may find less effective compared to live classes. 

AP Exams

EP offers limited seats for paper and digital AP exams. Families should email sanjose@eliteprep.com in early October about availability - first priority for exam seats is given to students in EP courses. For 2024, most exams are $250, though some exams cost more ($350: Music Theory, $550: world languages). EP also offers late testing. 

Dual Enrollment

EP offers dual enrollment courses including Psychology and English. The courses are WASC accredited so they can often be transferred into colleges. For 2024, college courses were upward of $1525. 

High School Courses - Honors, College Prep and Career Technical Education

EP Honors courses are UC-approved, meaning they qualify for an extra point on UC's GPA calculation. However, note that extra points are capped for 11th and 12th grade; also the calculation applies for charter school students but not for private homeschoolers (who apply by exception). 

Other courses include college prep and CTE. Some college prep courses are approved as UC electives, meaning they meet requirement "g" for charter homeschoolers applying to UCs. CTE courses may be specialized (e.g. learning Adobe Photoshop or Unity game programming) or broad (Career exploration courses). 

For 2024, high school courses were upward of $1225. 

Summary

Elite's strengths are in its wide variety of course offerings, and blended model which allows students to do hands-on labs under supervision. Since EP has WASC accredition and/or approval from College Board or UC, it can be a convenient building block for charter school students. 

Since EP is located in San Jose, it is a 40 minute drive for San Mateo county residents; however there is ample parking so it could be an option for weekly visits combined with other South Bay errands.