The Hub's Microschool

• Ages: 10-16 (each cohort spans a three-year age range and ages up with participants)
• Group Size and Facilitator Ratio: Maximum of eight participants per cohort, plus two facilitators (1:4 facilitator-to-student ratio or better)
• Meeting Frequency and Duration: Two four-hour sessions per week, including breaks (participants share why the time flies by in this short video)
• Dates: Fall term runs from mid-September to mid-December; spring term from early January to late May (exact dates are listed on the Join page)
• Tuition: Please see our Join page
• Optional Extras: Summer clubs or workshops can be requested by microschool participants; if offered, these are arranged and priced separately

• Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9:30am - 1:30am Eastern Time
• Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9:30am - 1:30pm Pacific Time (12:30pm – 4:30pm Eastern Time)
• Mondays and Wednesdays: 9:30am - 1:30pm Pacific Time (12:30pm – 4:30pm Eastern Time) (tentative addition, depending on interest)

The schedule below serves as a starting point for our microschool sessions. The specifics may be adjusted based on each group’s needs and interests, and some periods may include break-out room options focusing on different activities. (Participants may eat as needed during sessions to maintain their energy levels.)

45 minutes: Setting the Foundation

• Community Building: Share and reflect on any personal updates since the last session.
• Expanding Horizons: Engage in activities such as watching a short video to inspire new project ideas.

15 minutes: Break

45 minutes: Purposeful Activities

• Interactive Learning: Work together on group-selected shorter activities (see examples in next section).

15 minutes: Break

60 minutes: Project Work 

• Collaborative Projects: Work in small groups on chosen longer-term project(s).

15 minutes: Break

45 minutes: Wrapping Up

• Project Wrap-Up or Additional Activities: Continue working on projects or engage in other selected activities.
• Optional Social Time: The formal part of the program ends here. Participants in established cohorts may stay longer for unfacilitated socializing, at the facilitators' discretion.

The Hub is an oasis of humanity in the digital realm, rooted in active engagement, creative collaboration, and growing together as a well-bonded group.

Sessions are designed around participants’ interests, and feature a blend of structured and open-ended activities—jointly chosen by the participants and facilitators—that engage minds, build skills, and strengthen connection. These run the gamut from short challenges to months-long creative projects culminating in a “learning artifact” (such as a written document, PowerPoint presentation, video or artwork) and presentation to family and friends. The image gallery below shows samples from previous terms.

Shorter activities might include collaborative storytelling or art; discussions; puzzles; or games featuring topics such as financial literacy or geography. Others could be “history showdowns” (e.g., debating which historical figures might throw the best party) or Wikihunts (connecting seemingly unrelated Wikipedia entries in as few steps as possible). Participants also sometimes lead workshops or show-and-tell presentations on interests ranging from music theory to chemistry. There are also occasional guest speakers and virtual field trips.

Longer-term projects might include multimedia worldbuilding (featuring imagined life forms, cultures, economies, geographies, etc.), illustrated short story anthologies, e-zines, videos, and websites.

Facilitators (two per cohort) actively participate alongside the tweens and teens, bringing a variety of life experiences, interests, and perspectives to the table. They model curiosity, learning, and thoughtful conversation, often using the Socratic method to encourage deeper thinking. Their role is to help the group grow, both as individuals and as a high-functioning team. Think of it as a blend of composer, musician, and conductor—shaping the flow, joining in the process, and guiding the group as they co-create something greater than the sum of its parts.

→ To get a sense of the vibe, check out the short video highlights from a sample mini-session. 

→ For additional details, see the FAQs.

Placement in a cohort depends on availability and fit. 

→ To start the process, please visit the Join page. 

The Hub is ideal for homeschooled tweens and teens (ages 10–16) who are curious and collaborative, and enjoy group learning. We also consider mature 9-year-olds. Participants can be located anywhere, as long as the schedule aligns.

No; The Hub is designed to complement and elevate your existing homeschooling or unschooling approach. Sessions broaden intellectual horizons and enhance understanding of the world through interdisciplinary activities. They also develop life skills and meet the need for a consistent community of peers. Time outside the program can be used for core academics as well as individual interests (see our Resources page for ideas).

We focus on nurturing the whole person, not just the intellect, and emphasize relationships, life skills, curiosity-driven learning, and empowerment (our facilitators co-create each term with the participants). Unlike most programs that meet for just an hour or two a week, our sessions are long and frequent enough for genuine friendships and intellectual exploration to take root. The rhythm becomes a grounding, enjoyable part of many participants’ weekly routines, offering a comforting constant during a sometimes confusing and challenging phase of life.

Because our sessions are emergent rather than driven by a fixed curriculum, there's also more room for deeper conversations, spontaneous discoveries, and authentic connection. The result is a vibrant, nourishing learning community with an uncommon level of consistency (many participants stay for years) and a rare sense of belonging.

Our part-time format leaves plenty of time for local enrichment. Some families also coordinate in-person Hub session meetups if they're in the same region.

Having two facilitators per cohort isn’t just a logistical choice—it’s a pedagogical one. It allows for richer discussion, more personalized support, and greater flexibility (for instance, running breakout rooms or responding to different energy levels in the group). It also gives participants the chance to engage with adults who bring different perspectives, personalities, and passions to the table, creating a more vibrant, well-rounded learning environment.

Facilitators can play to their individual strengths, share observations and insights, and model thoughtful, collaborative conversation. This dual presence strengthens the group dynamic and deepens the learning experience for everyone.

We don’t assign homework or grades. Participants may choose to work on projects between sessions, but that’s entirely up to them. As for grades, our view is that assessments can come in many forms, which can either advance or hinder larger objectives.

When kids aren’t worried about being judged or ranked in a high-stakes way, they’re more willing to be authentic, take creative risks, and step outside their comfort zones. We cultivate an atmosphere that is cooperative rather than competitive—participants support one another and take genuine interest in each other's progress and celebrating each other's achievements. That said, there’s also room for friendly competition when it sparks motivation and fun. Families tell us that they notice the increased confidence, self-direction, and personal growth that results. 

Grades are arbitrary; developmental stages are not. We group by maturity level to support emotional, social, and intellectual growth, while embracing the benefits of mixed-age collaboration.

Hear directly from parents and participants in this short testimonials video.

See the Join page for tuition details and to begin the process. We offer open houses and discovery calls to ensure mutual fit.

Our open houses include sample mini-sessions for ages 11 to 14. 

Get in touch if you might be interested in providing scholarship funding or want to explore other partnership ideas or share other resources.