Programs
The Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA) offers personalized programs that are child-centered and have been helping gifted children grow and live purposeful, meaningful lives in whatever way they choose for over 25 years.
Our offerings support gifted young people as whole persons, not just as intellectual achievers. Each of our programs is designed to serve the complex intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of gifted youth ages 2-18.
Our participant-to-staff ratios remain low, ensuring that each child is supported, receives appropriate attention, and develops strong relationships with mentors and peers.
IEA recognizes the unique talent of each gifted child. Our portfolio-based selection process, optimally matched programs, and welcoming community of intellectual peers affords gifted youth the opportunity to balance academic excellence with emotional, social, physical, and spiritual development.
Academy
ADVANCED SUPPLEMENTAL ENRICHMENT CLASSES
IEA offers challenging after-school, weekend, and summer enrichment classes that promote inquiry and the application of knowledge. Designed for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade, Academy offers exceptionally creative learning opportunities that encourage in-depth exploration of topics outside of the typical school curriculum.
Optimized for gifted learners in both pace and content, classes cover a wide variety of STEM, arts, and humanities topics, often taught through an interdisciplinary lens. Academy inspires students to be lifelong learners as they are challenged and motivated in the learning process through discovery and exploration.
Grade: K-8th Grades
Location: Pasadena, CA
Staff Contacts: Nicole Endacott, Laurie Mittermiller
Contact: academy@educationaladvancement.org, 626.403.8900 ext. 208 or 215
Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship
MERIT-BASED, FOUR-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
One of the few merit-based, need-blind high school scholarship in the United States, the Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship (CDB) awards highly gifted 7th grade students with a four-year scholarship to a high school program that best fits their individual intellectual and personal needs.
CDB was founded on the conviction that the nation’s exceptionally gifted young people will flourish in a nurturing, rigorous, and flexible learning environment suited to their individual needs and personal goals.
CDB Scholars become part of a very special group of bright individuals who enjoy the fellowship of other recipients and the lifelong prestige of being a Caroline D. Bradley Scholar. The community comes together each year for a three-day seminar to discuss issues of global importance and personal relevance.
Grade: Students apply in the 7th Grade for a high school scholarship
Location: Nationwide eligibility
Contact: scholarship@educationaladvancment.org
EXPLORE
SUMMER RESEARCH & WORK EXPERIENCE
IEA’s summer EXPLORE Program offers an intensive, hands-on, real-world experience to high school students seeking to fuel their passion in a variety of fields.
The program links high potential secondary students in the Greater Los Angeles Area with teams of researchers, doctors, professors, and professionals who serve as Mentors. Each participant develops knowledge and skills through the application of knowledge and exposure to real-world experiences. These life lessons in personal and intellectual development are invaluable to their growth and assist them in making pertinent connections for the future.
Grade: Current 9th-11th graders
Site Location: Greater Los Angeles Area
Contact: Explore@educationaladvancement.org
Yunasa & Yunasa West
SUMMER CAMPS FOR GIFTED YOUTH
Yunasa is a week-long, residential summer camp for highly gifted youth between the ages of 10 and 15 to explore and grow the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical aspects of their lives. These pioneering summer camps unite highly able youngsters with experts in the social and emotional development of gifted children.
Like all IEA programs, we keep the student-to-staff ratios low (5 to 1) so campers are not overlooked and have extensive contact with experts. Yunasa also provides a strong cross-generational experience.
Ages: 10-15
Location: Deckers, CO, and Howell, MI
Contact: yunasa@educationaladvancement.org
Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges
533 Airport Blvd., Suite 200
Burlingame, CA 94010
Website: www.acswasc.org