We believe that each of us has a special purpose in life and a series of trials and tests that must be faced with integrity and purpose in order to live a satisfying and fulfilled life. Our mission is to prepare your child for his or her special journey.

We believe each of our students will find a passion – something they love and have a gift to do. They will use this gift to serve others and fulfill a need they are passionate about in the world. This may be becoming a shoe-shiner who tells stories and makes people’s day just by doing his job with love and vigor. It may be by becoming a coach who sees the light in a child’s eyes and guides her to pursue a dream. It may be by becoming a father or mother who leads a family. It may be becoming an entrepreneur or business owner guided by compassion and integrity. Or it may be by becoming an artist or writer who brings beauty to people’s lives.

At Meraki Academy, we believe in learning to be and learning to do and an important part of this is encouraging kids to take responsibility for their own behavior and hold those around them to a high standard. When something isn’t working, we want our students to work together to solve the problem, not look for an adult to solve it for them. This creates a sense of independence and confidence that will serve them well in all areas of life.

We believe in the power of balance. Using the incredible, self-paced eLearning tools now available, we are able to provide the rigor needed for learning math, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar in 90 minutes or less each day, while freeing up the rest of the day for engaging, project-based learning. The two are highly complementary.

We believe that children learn best when working with those younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age.

Learners are grouped into 4 different age groups according to their phase of learning:

Foundation (Core Phase) – ages 5 to 8
Spark (Love of Learning Phase) – ages 7 to 11
Ignite (Transition to Scholar Phase) – ages 10 to 14
Basecamp (Scholar Phase) – ages 13 to 18

These are guidelines. Learners progress at their own pace as they obtain mastery.

We are not trained to serve children with serious learning disabilities. However, children with dyslexia, ADHD, and other minor learning disabilities often thrive in our environment. As we get to know your child during the application process, we will be able to better determine if we are a good fit.

We operate on an 11-month trimester calendar that allows for our students to have extended breaks throughout the year and maintains their interest and retention. Our flexible program allows families to travel together throughout the year, without sacrificing any learning.

This is not a form of homeschooling, nor is it a charter school operating under a charter. It is an independent private school.

Our promise is to have you well prepared for any selective university where you can score high enough on a standardized test to gain admittance.
Universities are changing so rapidly that it’s difficult to imagine what a college education will look like in ten years. Unfortunately, many colleges still place a great deal of importance on standardized tests, which are little more than IQ tests, and are difficult to improve on once you understand basic test taking tricks. Students at Meraki Academy will be well prepared to perform extremely well from the perspective of college acceptance and scholarships.
Once you get over the test taking barrier at the university of your choice, your portfolio and critical thinking skills will be a big boost during the application and interviewing process.
Most importantly, you’ll be well prepared to shine in the real world, whether you choose to go to college full time, part time or not at all.
That said, it is important for parents to pursue this question with administrators of schools, colleges, and universities they anticipate their child may attend. Admission policies for schools, colleges, and universities vary widely. Maryland law states that a local public school system may determine through an evaluation of the student whether credits earned at a “nonaccredited” high school will be accepted at the public high school to which the student transfers. Such evaluation may include the administration of tests and examinations; the use of interviews; and the inspection of transcripts, report cards, and other documentation. The law further states that the student will be notified in writing of the reasons for any failure to transfer credits from nonaccredited schools.

In order to make this innovative education available to as many children as possible, tuition is calculated on a sliding scale based on income and other factors. A $300 nonrefundable deposit is due upon enrollment and will be applied to tuition. Semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly payment plans are available. There is a $25 processing fee for each payment made toward a payment plan.  We encourage you not to let the cost prevent you from applying. Instead, submit a financial aid application as soon as possible.

We encourage you to apply for enrollment and submit a financial aid application as soon as possible. We make every effort to accommodate all students who can benefit from this type of education.

We accept cash, check or any of the major credit cards. You will receive a receipt for all payments.

Tuition is generally not tax deductible. However, it is best to consult your accountant to with regard to your particular situation.

1. Visit us for a Studio Tour

Interested families may visit the studios! You can use this link https://www.merakiacademy.org/inquiry-form-website/

2. Family Meeting

A guide will meet with your family including the learner(s) that you plan to enroll. This visit is important to establishing our relationship as partners in your child’s education.

3. Apply

We will send you a link to our application when you are ready.

4. Enrollment

Once your Family Meeting is completed and your application is reviewed, we will begin the enrollment process. A $300 deposit is collected to secure your child’s spot for the upcoming year. This fee is then applied to your first month’s tuition payment.