About Academy
IEA Academy provides students ages 6 to 14 with advanced enrichment classes that promote exploration and application of knowledge. Courses provide challenging and compelling content taught at a flexible pace with small classes by highly qualified, dedicated professionals.
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ADVANCED ENRICHMENT COURSES THAT GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Designed Specifically for the Gifted Learner
IT STARTS WITH YOU: IEA’S CHILD-CENTERED APPROACH
BEYOND ACADEMICS: THE WHOLE CHILD APPROACH IN ACTION
More than just academic courses, IEA Academy provides opportunities for the whole child to grow, including activities that encourage mindfulness, emotional literacy, and social connections.
Students meet others who share their interests and abilities and build social, emotional and intellectual connections with peers from a variety of school systems, educational backgrounds, and grade levels. Students also forge mentoring relationships with teachers. In addition to these opportunities during class, IEA Academy also provides opportunities outside of classes for socialization and community-building to help students and their families build and nurture relationships as well as share resources and knowledge.
HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS
IEA is an approved vendor for many charter schools. Find information about using charter funds for IEA Academy and a list of charters that IEA is currently an approved vendor for.
PARTNERSHIPS THAT ENRICH
IEA Academy has built partnerships with local schools, universities, and nonprofit organizations to provide additional opportunities for Academy students. Collaborators and partners have included the Independent Shakespeare Company, professors from Caltech, UCLA, USC, Carnegie Observatories and The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
WORKSHOPS AND GENIUS DAYS: ADVENTURES IN DEEP LEARNING
In addition to our course offerings, IEA Academy provides workshops and Genius Day events throughout the year. These shorter, intensive workshops allow students to spend time working with an expert in the field, with a shorter time commitment (1-4 class meetings). Past Genius Days have focused on Shakespeare, Galileo, and Darwin, and have taken place at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. Pas workshops have included LEGO Mindstorm Robotics, Sewer Science, Stem Cell Biology, and more.
To learn more, visit our Workshops tab for upcoming events.
ACADEMY TOURS
Contact us today to schedule a tour of our Learning Center and meet with a member of the Academy team!
Via email: Academy@EducationalAdvancement.org
Via phone: (626) 403-8900.
FAQs
ABOUT
IEA Academy is for students ages 6 to 14 years old. Courses are grouped by age range: 6-8 years old, 8-10 years old, 9-12 years old, 11-14 years old.
Additionally, IEA Academy offers a few “Junior Academy” courses during fall and spring sessions for 5-6-year-olds.
The IEA Learning Center is a historic craftsman located at 540 South Marengo Avenue in Pasadena, CA. Free 2-hour street parking is available on designated streets.
ACADEMICS & COURSES
Students are expected to attend classes regularly and on time, and to follow Academy’s Student Code of Conduct. We also encourage parents/guardians to make sure students are coming to Academy ready to learn, especially for classes that take place after school (have them eat a snack before, bring water, etc.). If a student is having a tough day, that’s okay! The Academy team will help support them.
After a session concludes, families will receive summative assessments written by their child’s teachers. These strengths-based assessments highlight the student’s academic strengths in relation to differentiated learning objectives, strengths and abilities as a learner, understanding of subject matter, and next-step learning targets. Additionally, our Academy Program Team is always available to talk with and support parents as they seek out ways to advocate for their child’s learning needs in a traditional school setting.
Classes range in size from 3 to 10 students. The small class sizes allow teachers to personalize the content of their classes to the skill, knowledge, and comfort levels of their students. Students are also able to develop deeper connections with their teacher and their peers.
Academy courses are designed for advanced learners and courses are grouped by age range: 6-8 years old, 8-10 years old, 9-12 years old, 11-14 years old. Exceptions are occasionally made to the age range if space is still available in a course closer to the start of a session, but this is on a case-by-case basis.
Our portfolio-style application provides opportunity for families to share quantitative and qualitative information that can help determine best fit based on your child’s interests and abilities. We encourage you to reach out for individual advisement as each class is unique in content and instructional approach.
Placement in requested courses is first come, first serve. However, we do maintain a waitlist in case a student withdraws from a course. We will contact families on the waitlist via email or phone if any spaces become available. We also encourage families to let us know if their child would be interested in an alternative placement should their first choice be unavailable.
Every effort is made to ensure that students have a rewarding first day at IEA Academy and the Academy team would be happy to speak with you about any questions or concerns you may have. We work closely with instructors to make sure students’ and families’ expectations are met and the content is what was hoped for.
Once your child’s enrollment is confirmed, a non-refundable $75 deposit is required per class. The tuition, less paid deposits, is due after the first class meeting. Should your child withdraw before the second class meeting, you are responsible for the deposit amount only. No refunds are given for withdrawals after the second class.
TUITION & APPLICATION
Yes. There are no refunds for missed classes. Make-up classes are offered only in the case of an instructor’s absence. If your child will be absent, please let us know and we will be happy to reach out to your instructor for any materials that can help keep your child informed on what was missed. Please note that recording of live online classes is not permitted per IEA’s privacy policy.
Students do not have to be formally identified as gifted to take Academy courses. Courses are designed for gifted and advanced learners and we encourage families to select courses based on student interest. Visit our Choosing The Right Course page for more information.
The IEA Academy application is a portfolio-style application. For new students it consists of general family information, academic history and coursework, quick takes for your child to answer, questions about how your child learns best, and selection of the courses you wish to have your child enroll in. You will also have the option to include evaluations/gifted assessments/student work examples. We encourage families to include as much information in the application as possible to help us determine the best match for your child.
After your child has participated in an Academy session, you will be able to select “returning student” for future enrollment which will significantly shorten the application.
If you have any questions about the application or enrollment process, please contact an Academy team member at Academy@EducationalAdvancement.org or (626) 403-8900.
SUPPLIES AND TRANSPORTATION
Yes! We have plenty of supervised spaces for students to eat before and after class. Out of consideration for those with allergies, we kindly ask that you don’t pack peanut or tree nut products of any kind and that food is not shared with other students.
Unless otherwise noted, all class supplies will be provided. We ask that students leave their technological devices such as laptops or tablets at home unless requested by their instructor.
For online courses, a full supplies list will be provided in the syllabus upon your child’s confirmed enrollment.
Certain web- or technology-based courses may require a laptop, however it is not a requirement that students bring their own, as IEA Academy has student laptops on hand. In such cases, further information will be provided by the instructor and Academy staff.
Parents and/or legal guardians are responsible for dropping-off and picking-up their child each class.
IEA is accredited by the Western Association of School and Colleges (WASC).
As a Supplementary Education Program (SEP), IEA Academy offers instruction in specific areas of learning designed for elementary and/or secondary age students who are in need of, or desire, educational development in one or more areas.
Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges
533 Airport Blvd., Suite 200
Burlingame, CA 94010
www.acswasc.org
