FAQs
FAQs
What are your hours?
What are your hours?
We're open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9am-3pm, with a grace period until 3:30. We're closed on Wednesdays to take care of all our admin, and to encourage our members to take advantage of everything the city has to offer.
We're open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9am-3pm, with a grace period until 3:30. We're closed on Wednesdays to take care of all our admin, and to encourage our members to take advantage of everything the city has to offer.
Does everyone come every day?
Does everyone come every day?
Some members do. But some come only twice a week, or just once in a while. There's no mandatory attendance at Alcove, so you can use the program as much or as little as you like. And you can modulate your tuition contributions accordingly.
Some members do. But some come only twice a week, or just once in a while. There's no mandatory attendance at Alcove, so you can use the program as much or as little as you like. And you can modulate your tuition contributions accordingly.
What ages or grades does Alcove serve?
What ages or grades does Alcove serve?
Right now we're focusing on older kids: adolescents and teenagers, aged 12-18. But of course, different people develop at different rates. So we're open to considering members anywhere from 10-20 years old. That second decade where young people are really trying to figure out who they are and what they value.
Right now we're focusing on older kids: adolescents and teenagers, aged 12-18. But of course, different people develop at different rates. So we're open to considering members anywhere from 10-20 years old. That second decade where young people are really trying to figure out who they are and what they value.
How big is the program?
How big is the program?
We started with three students. We now have about thirty. We never planned to grow beyond forty-five, to keep the community tight-knit.
We started with three students. We now have about thirty. We never planned to grow beyond forty-five, to keep the community tight-knit.
How diverse is Alcove?
How diverse is Alcove?
This is a deceptively big question. The short answer is: fairly diverse, but we can and plan to do better. Alcove is super small, so the percentages here are not very illuminating. But our community includes students and staff who identify as Chicana, Black, Asian-American, BIPOC, mixed, non-binary, queer, and neuro-atypical, among other descriptors. Here's a page devoted to unpacking our orientation toward inclusion, diversity, equity, and authorship.
This is a deceptively big question. The short answer is: fairly diverse, but we can and plan to do better. Alcove is super small, so the percentages here are not very illuminating. But our community includes students and staff who identify as Chicana, Black, Asian-American, BIPOC, mixed, non-binary, queer, and neuro-atypical, among other descriptors. Here's a page devoted to unpacking our orientation toward inclusion, diversity, equity, and authorship.
How do you make sure everyone knows enough math?
How do you make sure everyone knows enough math?
Math is important. We love math. That love has a way of rubbing off on people. But there really is no required curriculum at Alcove; including math. And even if you did force a student to attend a class, it’s just not possible to force them to learn anything. Learning doesn’t work that way. (See Maxim #6) Of course, if a member's goals happen to require a certain level of math, it's our job to make that clear to them, and keep encouraging them to follow through.
Math is important. We love math. That love has a way of rubbing off on people. But there really is no required curriculum at Alcove; including math. And even if you did force a student to attend a class, it’s just not possible to force them to learn anything. Learning doesn’t work that way. (See Maxim #6) Of course, if a member's goals happen to require a certain level of math, it's our job to make that clear to them, and keep encouraging them to follow through.
Can members go on to college?
Can members go on to college?
Of course. On paper, an Alcove student applying to college looks like a homeschooler. And each year, thousands of homeschoolers apply and get into great colleges. You don’t need to go to a traditional high school to get into college. You may want to take some tests. And we can help you prepare for those. We’ll also help you put together a detailed transcript of all the work you’ve undertaken while at Alcove. If anything, we think our members stand out from the crowd in the college admissions process, because they have such unusual and interesting intellectual journeys to share.
Of course. On paper, an Alcove student applying to college looks like a homeschooler. And each year, thousands of homeschoolers apply and get into great colleges. You don’t need to go to a traditional high school to get into college. You may want to take some tests. And we can help you prepare for those. We’ll also help you put together a detailed transcript of all the work you’ve undertaken while at Alcove. If anything, we think our members stand out from the crowd in the college admissions process, because they have such unusual and interesting intellectual journeys to share.
How do students "graduate" from Alcove?
How do students "graduate" from Alcove?
As homeschoolers, you decide when your K-12 education is complete. We're here to provide a narrative transcript of work undertaken while at Alcove. And we have a "moving on" party at the end of every year. But since we're not a school, no one literally graduates from Alcove.
As homeschoolers, you decide when your K-12 education is complete. We're here to provide a narrative transcript of work undertaken while at Alcove. And we have a "moving on" party at the end of every year. But since we're not a school, no one literally graduates from Alcove.
Is Alcove accredited?
Is Alcove accredited?
There's currently no such thing as an accredited unschool. But we do belong to two of the main national organizations for unschooling: Liberated Learners and the Alliance for Self-Directed Education. We can also point students interested in taking accredited A-G classes toward free or inexpensive online and in-person options.
There's currently no such thing as an accredited unschool. But we do belong to two of the main national organizations for unschooling: Liberated Learners and the Alliance for Self-Directed Education. We can also point students interested in taking accredited A-G classes toward free or inexpensive online and in-person options.
Is this just for geniuses? Or kids with special needs?
Is this just for geniuses? Or kids with special needs?
No. Alcove is for pretty much everyone. It's hard to imagine a more individualized program. If all you want to do all day is theoretical physics, we'll find the people and classes you need. If you're struggling with reading and writing, we can focus on basic literacy. It's up to each student to plot their own course. But we believe everyone's better off among a diverse group of learners.
No. Alcove is for pretty much everyone. It's hard to imagine a more individualized program. If all you want to do all day is theoretical physics, we'll find the people and classes you need. If you're struggling with reading and writing, we can focus on basic literacy. It's up to each student to plot their own course. But we believe everyone's better off among a diverse group of learners.
What about students who struggle with motivation?
What about students who struggle with motivation?
How your child behaves in one environment (traditional school) is not necessarily a good predictor of how they'll behave in a totally different environment, like Alcove. (See Maxim #4) There may well be a “de-schooling” phase as members make the transition from one setting to the next. But eventually, almost everybody starts getting involved in their own learning.
How your child behaves in one environment (traditional school) is not necessarily a good predictor of how they'll behave in a totally different environment, like Alcove. (See Maxim #4) There may well be a “de-schooling” phase as members make the transition from one setting to the next. But eventually, almost everybody starts getting involved in their own learning.
