ABOUT
Academy provides year-round enrichment courses for advanced and curious learners ages 6-14. Students have an opportunity to take interdisciplinary and hands-on courses that are unlike those you would find in a traditional classroom setting, like Aeronautics and Astronautics, Decoding Media, Musical Math, Programming with Python, Paleozoology, and more!
Our students range from 6 to 14 years old. Classes are grouped by suggested age range. Class placement can be flexible depending on individual advisement.
The IEA Learning Center is located at 540 South Marengo Avenue in Pasadena, CA. Free 2-hour street parking is available on designated streets.
SCHEDULE
Academy classes run 60-90 minutes in length unless otherwise noted. In the spring and fall, classes meet once per week for 12 weeks Monday through Friday from 4:00-5:30pm and on Saturdays from 10:00am-3:30pm. Classes are also offered on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the day to provide options for homeschool families. During the summer months, classes meet daily Monday through Friday and are scheduled throughout the day. Please note that session dates and class times will vary. For information on our upcoming session, please visit our Academy Schedule page here.
Students can enroll in as many classes as they would like. Feel free to reach out to the Academy team with any questions on best fit for your child.
Academy is offered year-round. Session dates are subject to change, however, Academy fall and spring sessions generally align with an academic semester. Summer sessions take place June through August. For information on our upcoming session dates, please visit our Academy Schedule page here.
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.
CLASSES
Classes range in size from 4 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 classes are grouped by suggested age range and are designed for advanced learners. 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 classes is first come, first serve. However, we do maintain a waitlist for classes in case a student withdraws from a class. 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 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. No payment is due until your child’s placement is confirmed, at which time, 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.
ACADEMICS
Students are expected to attend classes regularly and on time. Students are also expected to follow Academy’s Student Code of Conduct, which supports IEA’s core values of Integrity, Creativity, Passion and Perseverance.
Academy classes provide a safe space for positive interactions with peers, inquiry, deep-dives into topics students are passionate about, and project-based learning. While each individual class is different, classes are always varied, engaging, stimulating, hands-on, interdisciplinary, and fun.
Classes are taught by skilled educators and content area professionals who embrace the continual pursuit of knowledge and exploration of ideas. For a list of the Academy instructors for this session, click here.
All teachers are expected to submit a summative assessment on each student at the end of each session. Teachers will conduct diagnostic and formative assessments of students’ knowledge throughout the term through various hands-on activities, written work or presentations.
TUITION
Yes. As soon as your child’s courses are confirmed, a $75 enrollment deposit per course is due. Enrollment deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable should your child withdraw their enrollment prior to or after the first class meeting. The remaining tuition balance, less the deposit amount and applied discounts, will be due after the first class meeting. There are no refunds for withdrawals after the second class meeting.
Yes. Discounts are subject to change and may include Early Bird, Sibling, Multiple Class, and Referral. For a current list of discounts offered in our upcoming session, please visit our Academy Schedule page.
Yes. We are pleased to be able to offer need-based tuition assistance. Families who would like to apply for tuition assistance must submit materials before each session in which they are enrolled. To make decisions in a fair and equitable manner, IEA Academy requires that new and returning families submit by a set deadline each session. Please visit our Academy Schedule Page for more information and current session deadlines.
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.
APPLYING
Applicants do not have to be identified as gifted to take Academy classes. Students who are interested in taking Academy classes must complete a portfolio-based application, including children who may already be enrolled in or applying to another IEA program. Submission of assessment scores and transcripts are optional, however, we encourage families to include as much information in their application as possible to help us determine optimal placement in the program. For more information, please visit our How to Apply page here.
Your child’s Academy enrollment begins with the submission of IEA’s portfolio-style application. For more details, please visit our How to Apply page.
If your child is new to Academy, enrollment begins with the submission of IEA’s portfolio-style application. Even if your child has applied to or particpated in other IEA programs, please submit a New Student Academy Application for each child wishing to participate.
Applicants do not have to be formally identified as gifted to take Academy classes. Submission of assessment scores and transcripts are optional, however, we encourage families to include as much information in the application as possible to help us determine the best match for your child.
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
Certain web- or technology-based classes may require a laptop, however it is not a requirement that students bring their own, as 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 to drop-off and pick-up their child each class.
CONTACT
To join our mailing list, please click here.
Via email: Academy@EducationalAdvancement.org
Via phone: (626) 403-8900.
We would be happy to meet with you! Please call or email to schedule a time to visit. Class observations can be arranged by appointment.
While we do not provide teachers’ personal contact information, we will be happy to arrange for a parent-teacher conference to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Participants in online courses may message their instructor directly through the Moodle platform.
“SINCE THERE WERE ONLY TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CLASS, WE WERE ABLE TO LEARN MORE. I FELT THAT I WAS IN AN ENVIRONMENT WITH KIDS LIKE ME. THIS ALLOWED ME TO BE MORE CHALLENGED.”
— Academy Student
“Thank you for providing an environment that encourages higher expectations for our kids!”
— Academy Parent
“I LOVED THE CHALLENGE OF HAVING SUCH DIVERSE AGES ALL TOGETHER IN ONE CLASS.”
— Academy Instructor