FAQ'S

What ages do you serve?

We currently are enrolling ages 5-12 years old (K-5). As we grow, we will expand to ages 5-18 (K-12).

Apogee Strong has partnered with an institution to provide accredited college level courses. As we expand our campus, we will incorporate those classes into the education for older high school students as well as offering degree opportunities for those who have graduated.

What is the tuition for the Full-Time 4 and 5 Day Programs?

FOUNDING MEMBERS FOR THE 2025-2026 YEAR WILL RECEIVE A 25% DISCOUNT ON FULL-TIME MONTHLY TUITION. Other discounts cannot be combined with this offer. We want to provide the opportunity for families to help be a part of the founding education community.

$250 enrollment fee is due at acceptance (the fee will be applied to the first month's tuition). $750 maximum per family. This secures your child(ren)'s spot for the upcoming year.

$750 technology fee, $750 curriculum/supply fee, and, if applicable, $500 Friday Field Trip (activities) fee due by July 15th. Friday Field Trip Activities fee is only for children enrolling in a 5 day program.

Our education program goes from August to May:

4 Day Schedule is $850/month ($8,500/year).

5 Day Schedule is $950/month ($9,500/year).

If your family qualifies for the StepUp PEP scholarship, the 2024-2025 award amount is $8,264 for Orange County, which can be used directly for the home education program. This amount is expected to increase for the 2025-2026 year. Founding families who enroll by April 1st will lock in their tuition rates and will not have an increase.

Extended hours from 4 - 5:30 pm are available for a monthly fee of $300. If there is an emergency or parents need extra hours on a given day, we charge $25 per day.

Sibling discount of 10% on the monthly tuition is available. 5% discount available for one learner if a parent volunteers one Friday a month. Spots limited and background check is required.

Included in tuition is education for the whole family! Parents receive access to Apogee Man and/or Apogee Woman, which is a $4,800 value!

For tuition and/or fees that exceed the scholarship amount (if applicable), the parent is responsible for paying the difference. We will provide you a payment schedule unique to your family's situation and according to our fees and tuition schedule. We require parents to set up payments on an automatic basis to ensure no late fees are accrued.

Late payment fees of $5 a day will occur up to $75. If payment is more than 15 days late, the child will no longer be able to participate in Apogee Central Florida.

What is the tuition for the Part-Time 2 and 3 Day Programs?

$100 enrollment fee per learner is due at acceptance to secure your spot (maximum of $300 per family).

$500 curriculum/supply fee due by July 15th.

Optional fees (these are pass through costs):

$500 Friday Field Trip (activities) fee for children enrolling in a 3 day program.

$500 Technology fee if you want your learner to do any curriculum online and would like a computer.

Part-Time Home Education Program Semester Fees (Semesters are August-December and January-May):

2 Day Schedule is $2,000/semester.

3 Day Schedule is $3,000/semester.

Extended hours from 4 - 5:30 pm are available for a monthly fee of $200. If there is an emergency or parents need extra hours on a given day, we charge $25 per day.

5% discount available for one learner if a parent volunteers one Friday a month. Spots limited.

For the part-time programs, we require payment in advance of starting, which you are able to submit to Step Up for reimbursement or pay directly through Step Up as a direct pay provider.

What scholarships are available?

We will be able to accept the Step Up Personalized Education Program (PEP) and Unique Abilities (UA) ESA funds as a direct pay provider. Depending on your county, and the age of your learner, tuition is off-set from $7,500 - $13,000 a year. Ensure to apply for scholarships in advance (recommended by June 1st with SLP submitted to ensure account is fully funded each quarter). Scholarships are required to be awarded, but not funded by the first day education begins (otherwise, the parent will need to pay the monthly tuition and can later submit for reimbursement). Typically, enrollment, technology, supplies and Friday field trip fees are required to be paid prior to being awarded a scholarship, so please plan accordingly. These can be submitted to Step Up for reimbursement.

To apply and see current award amounts based on your child's age and county, please visit the Step Up for Students website. 2025-2026 amounts will be determined in the summer of 2025 by the Florida state legislature. Apogee Central Florida makes no guarantee of the scholarship to be awarded as it is a third party that issues it. Also, please follow the Step Up's instructions to ensure proper administration of the scholarship as well as up-to-date information. We make no guarantees on our descriptions as this is subject to change from the third party without notice to us. We make our best efforts to ensure we provide our families with the most up-to-date, accurate information available.

We also partner with the Apogee Strong Foundation, and on occasion will receive funds available for scholarships. We will work to ensure all families have the opportunity to be a part of the Apogee family.

What is the difference between the 2, 3, 4, and 5 day programs?

Our 4 day enrollment is a full-time educational program from 9 am - 4 pm operating Monday through Thursday. This is an extra hour a day compared to public schools to help our working families.

Our 2 day enrollment options are Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 am - 4 pm.

Field Trip Fridays are an optional add on for learners who want a 3 or 5 day option. Field Trip Fridays are structured as follows for the day:

8:45-9 am - Drop off

9-10 am - Physical Fitness

10 am-2:30 pm - Field Trip

2:30-4 pm - Socratic discussions and free time

4-4:15 pm - Pick Up.

The 4 and 5 day programs meet the required hours for the school year for full-time tutoring for the PEP scholarship.

What is included in the Fun Friday Activities fee?

Fun Friday fees are collected to cover direct costs of local memberships to museums, gardens, the Orlando Science Center, 4 Roots, the Central Florida Zoo, and or other locations we will visit. When possible, we negotiate group discounts. Where there is a membership, it will last for 1 year period and are given directly to parents so they can use their child's ticket if they attend outside of our dedicated Apogee trips.

What do you do on Field Trip Fridays?

We rotate our Friday field trips to local resources we have available to expose our young learners to additional hands on education. Some of the Friday field trips may include:

Orlando Science Center

We will participate and engage in the permanent and rotating exhibits at the Orlando Science Center. The exposure to various STEM subjects opens new worlds that children may find new passions.

4 Roots

Participating in the 4 Roots program allows children to have hands on learning about agriculture, food sustainability, nutrition, ways to grow food, gardening at home, and so much more.

Leu Gardens

Whether the children are learning about plants, their healing properties and uses, birds, and native biomes, the outdoor adventure is sure to put a smile on everyone's face.

Outdoor Adventures

We may do an outside adventure that may include a games day, swimming, nature hikes, sailing, rowing, archery, fishing, boating, or other local resources.

Local Arts, Theaters, and Museums

We will incorporate local art classes, theater, museums, and other resources into the schedule.

Community Service

Once a month, the children will engage in providing back to our local community. The children will get to decide what is most exciting to them and we will plan the opportunity to serve accordingly. We may go to the Harvest Food Bank, Christian Service Community Center, partner with a church to serve elderly neighbors, or help volunteer at nursing homes or hospitals.

These educational experiences are subject to change based on the policies of the local community partners.

What does a day in the life look like?

Our 4 Day Program's Day in the Life consists of bucketed activities. We don't operate with a bell, so kids can continue to dig into something that they are truly enjoying.

Physical Exercise

Get those jitters out with movement so the learners' minds are ready to engage. We've partnered with Physiology First to use daily exercise to strengthen the body and establish healthy habits.

Socratic Discussions

Speech, logic, and debate cultivates the ability to critically think and engage in civil discourse. Whatever has been on the mind of our learners will drive their guide's daily question for the learners to engage in meaningful discussions.

Core Curriculum

Our learners focus on mastery of the foundations of reading, writing, and math. If a learner is advanced in one area, he or she moves forward to ensure growth in that area, while working at a slower pace for subjects that haven't been mastered.

Financial Literacy and Nutrition

Learners will weekly plan their snacks and meals with a budget established by their parent. The children make their own meals and discuss healthy eating habits, nutritional content, what's in their food, how it's sourced and so much more.

Hands-On Passion Projects

Each learner can choose weekly (or longer) projects of subjects that matter to them. Whether it's robotics, coding, chemistry, sports, baking, arts, music, business, history, or so much more, they remember what they learn because it's important to them. Through reading, writing and presenting what they are working on, they naturally perfect their core curriculum.

Hands-On Group Projects

Learn to work together with 4-5 week long projects where they will have hands-on topics that exposes them to new subjects. Older students solidify their knowledge and leadership skills while helping younger students. Each child has a part to play in creating!

What are the hours?

The 2 and 4 day program hours are from 9 am - 4 pm. Drop off is between 8:45 am - 9 am and pick up is between 4 - 4:15 pm.

Field Trip Friday is from 9 am - 3 pm. Drop off is between 8:45 - 9 am and pick up is between 3 - 3:15 pm. If the field trip requires longer hours, parents will be notified in advance for the change in pick up time.

We will have extended hours from 4 - 5:30 pm for a monthly fee of $300. If there is an emergency or a need for extra hours on a given day, we charge $25 per day. Pick up is between 5:30-5:45 pm.

Starting at 3:15 pm, 4:15 pm, or 5:45 late fees are charged at $5 for each 15 minute increment.

What is the admissions process?

Space is limited!

We thoughtfully review all applications with care. Our priority is to facilitate a positive and collaborative community. We have rolling admissions, which means that if we have an opening and your student is accepted, you may enroll your learners. Tuition is prorated if enrolling in the middle of a semester.

1. Complete the application by clicking the "Apply Now" button.
2. Schedule a family interview and tour. The parents and learners should all attend to ensure Apogee Central Florida is a good fit for your family.

3. Our board will review your application for fit and availability.

4. Accept your invitation to join the Apogee Central Florida tribe, sign the enrollment forms, and pay the enrollment fees.

PEP Scholarship Requirements

Through your child's ESA, you can pay fees and tuition directly to Apogee Central Florida. If you are in a 4 or 5 day program, to ensure you comply with PEP Scholarship for the 2025-2026 year, we will provide you with the following items:

- Administer the norm reference test annually and provide the results to the parent(s).

- Track attendance to satisfy hours required, transcripts, and portfolios.

- Provide an invoice for services rendered that complies with the Step Up requirements.

As the parent, you will need to submit the following:

- For each child, annually complete the application for the scholarship through Step Up for Students account.

- Ensure your child is not enrolled in public or private school, nor as a homeschooler with your school district.

- Submit your Student Learning Plan (SLP) through Step Up's EMA portal for each child by July 26th. If the SLP is not completed by then, funding will be delayed into your child's account and you will need to pay tuition to Apogee directly and submit it for reimbursement when the account is funded.

- Submit the results of the norm reference test annually to continue PEP enrollment. We will provide you with the results.

- Submit any other required documents to maintain the scholarship. If any items are needed from Apogee Central Florida, we will provide that within 3 business days upon request.

- Pay the tuition for the preceding month by the 5th of the following month. For example, the parent will receive an invoice for the month of August on the last business day of the month. The parent can request to pay tuition through their EMA account to Apogee Central Florida. Conversely, a parent can submit payment directly to Apogee Central Florida on the first of the month for 3 months of tuition, and can request for 3 months of reimbursement from their EMA account. For example, a parent can pay August, September, and October's tuition and submit for reimbursement. This is more efficient for parents who don't wish to go into the system to make payment each month. If payment is not received by the 5th of the month for services already rendered, the parent's credit card on file will be charged accordingly.

- For tuition and/or fees that exceed the scholarship amount, the parent is responsible for paying the difference. We will provide you a payment schedule unique to your family's situation and according to our fees and tuition schedule. We require parents to set up payments on an automatic basis to ensure no late fees are accrued.

Please ensure you review PEP's handbook and purchasing guide for the most up-to-date information.

Guides vs. Teachers?

We love teachers and know they work so hard in a school system that isn't conducive to student's learning. We do have certified teachers on staff, but they act as guides and not teachers who resemble "traditional schooling". Our guides act as a support to help children problem solve when they are learning something beyond their current knowledge and ensure the environment is best structured for optimal learning. A guide's role is meant to use Socratic questioning to help your child become capable of researching and learning independently. The guide helps when a learner is stuck to ensure understanding and competency of core curriculum.

How do you introduce science, arts, music, history, and other non-core curriculum to learners?

Between our Friday field trips, personal passion projects, and group projects, we incorporate other subjects into a child's learning. We try to maximize exposure to learning opportunities and the child is able to spend time daily on exploring their passions.

Our group projects incorporate science, arts, music, U.S. and world history and civics into their learning activities.

When appropriate, the children have access to an interactive constitutional resource through the constitutioncenter.org and engage in interactive games through iCivics.org for individual learning as well.

Is Apogee Central Florida a Montessori school?

Our style of learning is inspired by Marie Montessori, Socrates, and Waldorf learning styles. We believe a whole child is best served through experiential, hands-on, project based (both individual and group) learning as well as Socratic discussions. A child's growth is determined by the progress he or she makes in not just their cognitive growth, but their physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being as well.

This sounds interesting? Is there a trial run?

We do have a trial week for new families who wish to join. The fee is $250 and will be applied to the first month's tuition if you choose to join.

Are you able to accept special needs students?

Generally speaking, as a micro school, we are not equipped to properly serve special needs students. Depending on your individual situation, we are open to discussing the needs of your child. If we are unable to serve your child, we have a partner that is excellent in providing special needs care.

What is your non-discrimination policy?

We believe that everyone is created in God's image and has inherent value.  We believe that everyone should be treated with dignity, love, and respect.  We welcome everyone of diverse perspectives and value using Socratic discussions for everyone to find alignment and peace, even through our differences.  We believe that people are more alike than different and learning to find commonality within the community makes the world a more peaceful place to live.

Apogee Central Florida provides equal treatment to learners, and equal employment opportunities to all guides and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law such as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

How do you protect the children?

All guides and volunteers are required to complete the same background check required by the state for public and private schools. We also require training for all staff on how to spot abuse through Orlando Health's Child Advocacy Center. Any suspected abuse is reported to law enforcement.

Two adults are with children at all times and no two individuals are to be alone, including children. Everyone is required to use the restroom unassisted and only one person is allowed in a restroom at a time, even siblings. We strictly follow the state's laws implemented for public and private schools.

All staff is CPR and First-Aid trained and certified. First aid kits are always available, including on field trips.

There are additional staff guidelines, which can be provided upon request for attending families.

Families will be expected to adhere to a code of conduct, which will be discussed prior to any financial commitments.

THE PHILOSOPHY

GET INSPIRED

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to

have tried to succeed.”

–Theodore Roosevelt-