The traditional school system was designed over 100 years ago to prepare kids for a world that no longer exists, so it's no surprise that over 50% of kids lose interest in school by 4th grade.
Most schools still reward kids for checking boxes, getting the right answer, and following instructions. But, in the real world, success comes from forging your own path, tackling complex problems without clear answers, and collaborating to achieve shared goals.
Prisma was built by a team of educators, tech entrepreneurs, and parents who were bold enough to believe a better way of preparing our kids for the future was possible.
What would be most helpful right now?
Experts predict that 65% of today's elementary schoolers will grow up to do jobs that haven't been invented yet.
The world is changing, but school has mostly stayed the same. So we’ve redesigned school to equip your child with both the academic and life skills to thrive in an ever-changing future.
At Prisma, real-world skills development and whole-person growth are prioritized alongside rigorous academics. And, while we aren't big on conventional testing, Prismarians, on average, grow 158% in Reading and 204% in Math each year (per NWEA MAP Growth assessment). High Schoolers at Prisma also score strongly on college entry exams, such as the ACT and SAT, and our college acceptance rate is 100%.
Remember that life-changing teacher whose positive impact you still feel today? Those are the educators who become Prisma coaches. Each coach is an experienced educator with superpowers in building relationships with kids. They mentor your child 1:1, lead engaging live workshops, and give detailed, individualized academic feedback that's both challenging and supportive.
Middle school cohorts are led by an expert Learning Coach who supports each learner individually, facilitates live workshops, and provides academic feedback.
Our project-based curriculum prepares learners for high school academics while building real-world skills like creativity and critical thinking. Each year covers 6 interdisciplinary themes, mapped to a comprehensive set of standards (drawn from best-in-class sources like NGSS, ISTE, Common Core, and CASEL).
Each theme, from Unsolved Mysteries to Cities of the Future, allows ample opportunity for kids to choose their own learning adventure. (Think learning about ecosystems by writing a science fiction story, physics by designing a moving toy, or history by designing a museum exhibit.)
For homeschool families, educators, and parents who have the capacity and enthusiasm to coach their 4-8th grade learner in their independent Prisma work.
Learners enrolled in this program still participate in all our workshops, standups, Expo days, clubs and learner events. Like all our learners, they are part of a close-knit cohort of other learners that they meet with daily. They also get full access to our accredited curriculum, assessments, and receive a Prisma transcript.
The only difference between the full program and Parent-coach is that you are your child's mentor coach. This means giving regular feedback on your child's work, setting learning goals together, making sure they're on track, and determining when they reach mastery.
High schoolers graduate with an accredited diploma and transcript that meets college entrance requirements, while still engaging in a project-based curriculum that tailors learning to their interests.
Each 12-week theme awards credit in subjects from Biology to English through real-world topics such as The Future of Health and Build a Business. Learners work 1-on-1 with their mentor coach to tailor projects to their goals and create a standout portfolio. They also engage in electives, optional AP and dual enrollment courses, and a weekly Life Skills or LaunchPad workshop.
In 11th grade, learners design a capstone project that shows off their strengths, aligned to their college and career goals. In 12th grade, learners complete a virtual or in-person internship with a partner organization.
We hear again and again how Prisma is like a family.
The intentional matching of learners with their mentor coach and peer cohort leads to the formation of real relationships that give kids a sense of belonging and connection. From STEM Extravaganza to Prisma Parliament, learners also have a wide variety of extracurricular and leadership opportunities. And Prisma isn’t just for learners. Parents get together for interest-based Circles, Book Clubs, and frequent regional meet ups and parent-led trips.
"As a parent of kids doing school online, I sometimes worry about them missing out on traditional school experiences. But what we're creating here isn't just matching those experiences - it's making something even better."
-Jenna W.
Prisma parent who's part of the parent community that dreams up and creates Learner Endeavors
Build authentic friendships by connecting with other Prisma learners around shared interests. Coach-led enrichments range from Songwriting to Debate Derby to National Honor Society. Clubs are created and led by learners! A few club examples are Chess, Art, D&D, Coding, and Photography.
From daylong regional meetups to milestone in-person parent-led events, this is Prisma in person! Families get together to build a strong community through fun adventures, some educational and others pure play!
Parent-led partner experiences across service-learning, outdoors, arts, STEM and beyond! From five growth sparking days at Club Getaway to a week-long surf camp in California, this is where learners travel for big fun, on occasion together with 50+ learners!
Full program
Grades 4-8: $10,780
Grades 9-12: $11,980
Parent-coach
Grades 4-8 only: $5,040 ($6,040 with Prisma Math coaching)
Prisma's tuition is intentionally set to be sustainable. There's no added fluff because we're passionate about accessibility and creating a positive impact!
The Prisma Scholarship Fund gives out more than $150,000 in scholarships each year to enable learners who otherwise wouldn't be able to join Prisma to be part of our community.
“The school we applied to last spring before hearing of Prisma was $30,000 (for middle school level)! The Prisma pedagogy, dynamic leadership team, and the lower cost is a gift to us in more ways than one.”
Moriah B.
Prisma Parent
What would be most helpful right now?