Are you accredited?
How many teachers and students do you have?
Are your teachers certified?
Can students graduate from Academy Northwest?
If someone is already homeschooling, why would they enroll in Academy Northwest?
How are you different than other schools and correspondence programs?
Are you a Christian school or affiliated with a religious organization?
Do students ever get together?
How do you choose your teacher consultant?
How does Academy Northwest find teachers to be on their staff?
How much does it cost to enroll in Academy Northwest?
Are there discounts for multiple enrollments within the same family?
Are there scholarships available?
Have your students earned any special honors or awards?
Does it have to take 4 years to graduate?
Do your credits transfer?
How do you enroll in Academy Northwest?
What if there is no Family Academy teacher consultant near me?
How do I find books for instruction?
Are you accredited?
We are accredited with the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. We are also a 501-(c)(3) non-profit organization listed with IRS and the State of Washington. Additionally, Academy Northwest is an approved private school with the Washington State Board of Education.
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How many teachers and students do you have?
We have approximately 50 teachers. We currently have over 500 students. Most of these students are in grades 7-12 though we do have younger students as well.
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Are your teachers certified?
Our teachers are teachers who have completed the requirements to earn a teaching certificate and most have several years of classroom experience in a traditional (public or private) school prior to working with us. In addition, we screen our teachers to be sure they are supportive of homeschooling (many are/have homeschooled their own children) and that they are committed to the Lord.
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Can students graduate from Academy Northwest?
We have graduation ceremonies in June in the Greater Seattle area. Students can graduate without attending ceremonies. For graduation requirements see our Secondary Education Program.
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If someone is already homeschooling, why would they enroll in Academy Northwest?
Many of our students come from a homeschooling environment. As students get older, often a parent needs someone to help "play the heavy" and hold the student (and the parent) accountable to follow through with assignments and subjects that may be difficult otherwise. Writing essays, doing research papers or projects, reading hard books are all activities in which the parent and student may want assistance and encouragement. Students with specific learning needs often can be helped through Family Academy.
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How are you different than other schools and correspondence programs?
In Academy Northwest, students are not locked into a pre-set approach to completing graduation requirements. A teacher may have a preference in some subjects, and if offering a group class, may require participants to following a specific course outline. For the most part, however, the materials and assignments are customized to meet the student’s academic needs and learning styles.
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Are you a Christian school or affiliated with a religious organization?
We are a school with Christian teachers, staff, and board. As a school, we do not require parents or students to sign a statement of faith. Our teacher consultants are encouraged to integrate a biblical worldview into all the courses. We are not affiliated with any religious organization although we are co-workers with Christ with all believers who are part of God’s family through salvation in Christ. Students graduating with Academy Northwest will need to complete at least .5 credits in Biblical Worldview.
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Do students ever get together?
A teacher in a given area may work with students primarily on a one-on-one basis and do group activities periodically. Many teachers, though, do weekly classes were the students can come together to do a variety of learning activities and/or a specific course: i.e. Biology, U.S. History, Research Skills, Literature and Composition. All school field trips (drama productions, special classes at the zoo or a museum) and extended field trips (to WA DC, Victoria, Olympic Peninsula, outdoor school events, are also available to enrolled families. Additionally, each fall we hold a "day retreat" to kick off the school year.
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How do you choose your teacher consultant?
You are free to call and interview any teacher consultant on our list. We want there to be a "fit" and we understand that teaching style and personality issues are critical factors in motivating and encouraging students. We actually call our teachers "teacher consultants" because we are consulting and conferring collaboratively with parents and their enrolled students. We recognize and honor the role that homeschooling parents are still the day-to-day teacher, guiding and instructing their children. The Academy Northwest teacher consultant is there to help make the home learning process even more effective.
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How does Academy Northwest find teachers to be on their staff?
Mostly we let teachers find us by word of mouth. All our teacher consultants are pre-screened through an application, interview, and training process. Fundamentally, they must be committed Christians, excellent educators, and have a heart for homeschooling.
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How much does it cost to enroll in Academy Northwest?
The cost varies from teacher consultant to teacher consultant depending on their specific services and program they are offering. Generally the costs are $450 per year per high school student (registration and tuition) + the teacher consultant fee ($900-1500 per year). Non high school fee is $330 per year per student + teacher consultant fee ($800-$1200 per year).
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Are there discounts for multiple enrollments within the same family?
Academy Northwest discounts high school tuition $80 per year per student and K-8 school tuition to $100 per year. It is up to the individual teacher to set any discounts.
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Are there scholarships available?
Currently, we do not have scholarships available but hope to in the future. (Send any one wanting a tax deduction our way
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Have your students earned any special honors or awards?
We have had 3 National Merit Finalists in the past four years, 2 National Achievement Finalists. Students have also won awards in National History Day (placing 6th in the US and first in Washington). Many students have earned recognition in the fine arts, sports, and community service, and numerous scholarships.
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Does it have to take 4 years to graduate?
No, our students can earn up to 10 credits per year and an additional 2.0 credits during summer school. Washington state students may only earn 1.0 credit of English in one school year so they would have to take at least 2 school years and one summer semester.
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Do your credits transfer?
As an accredited private school, we have successfully transferred our credits to most other schools —public, private, in and out-of-state. In the rare case where there are any difficulties, it is usually because the student and/or parent said "homeschooling" to the new school. Traditional institutions may have an axe to grind about homeschooling and throw up some barriers. Because we have certificated teachers working directly with the students and parents, our program is more than "free lance homeschooling" so we can usually work with even these difficult schools. Our track record is at least 99.9% in transfer situations as our high school student’s course work is evaluated by the teacher consultant each semester and added to the student’s transcript in our registrar’s office.
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How do you enroll in Academy Northwest?
Contact the teacher consultants in your area and interview them over the phone. Enrollment/registration process is completed through an individual interview with the specific teacher consultant with whom you will be working.
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What if there is no Family Academy teacher consultant near me?
Contact our administration or check with one of our on-line instructors.
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How do I find books for instruction?
It is best not to purchase any materials until you have met with your teacher consultant who will advise you. We do have some learning materials available through our Bookstore.
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