Admissions

We're excited to get to know your family!

Requirements

  • Learner is a rising 4th-10th grader*
    (UK equivalent: Year 5-11)
    *Prisma learners graduate from our high school program with an accredited diploma. We typically only admit new learners through 10th grade.
  • Learner is fluent in English
  • Learner has basic technology skills
  • Consistently reliable internet connection
  • Quiet space to learn with limited distractions
  • Laptop or desktop computer (not a tablet) with a webcam and microphone designated for learner's daytime use
  • Family provides appropriate in-person supervision according to learner's age, maturity, and learning needs
  • Excited to be an active participant in our camera-on community
  • Comply with local education requirements, including homeschool registration in certain locations

Annual Calendar

    Prisma Americas & Europe

    • August 26th - June 4th

    Prisma Asia & Oceania

    • September 9th - June 19th

    Process

    • Talk with us

    We'd love to get to know you, hear what you dream of for your child's education, and share whatever you're curious to learn about Prisma!

    You'll also have the option to sign your child up for a free Prisma Experience Day.

    • Apply

    Tell us more about your child and family along with why you're excited to join Prisma.

    • Interview

    A friendly 30-minute live video conversation where we get to know your child and family. In addition to making sure Prisma is mutually a great fit, this time equips us to intentionally match each learner with their mentor coach, peer community, and math group, which creates a personalized schedule for your child.

    • Receive decision

    We move fast, so expect a decision within 5 days of your child's interview. (If you applied for a Prisma Scholarship, notice will match our scholarship awards timeline. Scholarships have already been awarded for 2024-25.)

    • Onboard 🚀

    Secure your child's Prisma seat and unlock everything they'll need to learn with us (from our Tech Setup Guide to the Prisma Family Hub and Prisma Parent Community).

    Ready for your child to experience a personalized, engaging education that equips them with real-world skills?
    Apply now

    Frequently asked questions

    Who is Prisma a good fit for?
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    Many kinds of families choose Prisma! Some Prisma families are experienced homeschoolers who are looking for a bit more community, or support teaching higher level academic subjects. Some Prisma families were previously enrolled in public or private schools that just weren't meeting the needs of their children: due to rigid, dry curriculum; ineffective teaching; lack of inclusion for kids who learn differently; a toxic peer culture; or some combination. Some Prisma families want to take advantage of the increased flexibility offered by learning online to travel the world, spend more time together, or pursue passions (some Prisma kids are professional actors or athletes). And some Prisma families simply realized that the old way of educating kids wasn't making sense for the 21st century and decided to join the revolution!

    How do families apply to Prisma?
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    Our Admissions page has all the details regarding the application process and what to expect!

    I have more than one child. Can I enroll all my children?
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    Yes! We have many siblings at Prisma. (Your children would need to each have access to a computer rather than sharing one, and we aren't able to offer sibling discounts, as our tuition is already as low as sustainably possible.)

    Does my local school district need to know that I’m attending Prisma?
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    Prisma is an online private school, so you are not technically homeschooling in most areas when you enroll in Prisma. Because K-12 education is regulated at the state (and even local school district) level, we aren’t able to provide a singular response for what notification you may be required to provide or what steps you may need to take where you live. We’ve found that the majority of US states simply require a family to formally withdraw their child from public school—typically by filling out a form that can be obtained either online and/or at your local public school where you state the reason for not attending public school as attending private school instead. 

    A minority of US states classify students who attend an online private school not specifically based in the student’s state of residence as homeschooled. To our present knowledge, CA, LA, MA, MD, NY, PA, and WI operate this way. If you live in one of those US states, you can reach out to your local district to learn how to homeschool in your local area.

    You can also read about homeschooling in your state here or in your country (if located outside of the US) here.

    Are spots available, and what's the admissions deadline?
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    We have a rolling admissions process, which both means we don't have a hard application deadline and, as cohorts fill up, we don't overcrowd them. We have limited space in each cohort, and if a spot isn't available in a cohort that's a fit for your child, we'd add them to a waitlist for the launch of a new cohort that matches their needs (e.g. academic rigor, maturity, grade level, time zone, schedule, culture, interests, etc.).

    We admit rising 4-8th graders (equivalent of UK Years 5-9) to our Middle School program at the start of each 6-week cycle. We admit rising 9-10th graders (equivalent of UK Years 10-11) for the full academic year and, occasionally, at the start of Winter Session. Prisma learners graduate at the end of 12th grade/year 13 with an accredited high school diploma; however, we typically don't admit rising 11-12th graders.

    Our enrollment availability for the 2024-25 academic year is as follows:

    • High School: Prisma High School is currently full, and 2025-26 cohort launches will be based on applications received by March 1st.(We don't offer mid-year enrollment for high school.)
    • Grades 4-8 / Years 5-9: Apply now for an October 29th or January 7th start date. (There is a dedicated orientation for new learners who begin in January!)
    We don't live in the United States. Will Prisma's curriculum and transcript work for us?
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    While the majority of Prisma families are based in the U.S. or Canada, we also have citizens/residents of nearly 20 other countries thriving in our program! We also have special cohorts for worldschooling families and residents of East Asia and Oceania and Europe, Africa, and Middle East time zones.

    Prisma High Schoolers graduate with a COGNIA-accredited US diploma, which sets them up for success regardless of where they live. If they don't want to attend a top tier U.S.-based university, the vast majority of first rate international universities admit students with transcripts and diplomas from U.S. high schools. (Cognia is the most globally well-respected K-12 accreditor that's also approved in all 50 US states.)

    There is no singular "American curriculum." Education regulation in the U.S. varies at the state level, and mainly applies to public schools. That said, many U.S. schools follow American curriculum standards for different subjects, such as Common Core for English & Math, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Science & Engineering, and the International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) standards for Digital Skills. These frameworks represent decades of research, and are some of the most respected and commonly used standards worldwide. Prisma's curriculum is planned around these and other standards while also incorporating additional international standards and taking a global perspective in all of our materials. Any international student receiving an education based around these standards will be well prepared for higher education in all countries.

    Still have unanswered questions?
    Contact us