Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Compass offers classes for homeschooled students in PreK-12th grade.

Compass is geared towards homeschooled students since classes are held during traditional weekday school hours. However, anyone can enroll in Compass and no proof of homeschooled status is required to attend classes. Some academic contests, such as the annual spelling bee have a homeschool requirement.

Yes, Compass is the center of a bright, vibrant homeschool community of families from around the metro DC area. Along with a wide range of classes, Compass hosts workshops, clubs, and special events for students of all ages.

Compass is an independent homeschool program and does not operate under the sponsorship or direction of any particular religious organization or governing belief. Our community is intentionally open, welcoming, and inclusive, and we are glad to serve families from many different backgrounds. Compass families represent a wide range of faith traditions including some families who approach education from non-religious perspectives. This mix of backgrounds and perspectives is part of what makes the Compass community special. Students and parents are encouraged to interact with one another in a spirit of warmth, respect, tolerance, and kindness, regardless of personal beliefs.

Compass welcomes new families to enroll at the start of any quarter throughout the year. With the exception of year-long and half-year (semester-long) classes, the majority of Compass classes are on a 7- or 8- week quarter schedule with stand-alone themes that a student can join at any quarter. Check class descriptions for any that have prerequisites.

Online registration typically remains open until after the 2nd week of class if space is available in the class. Families are welcome to enroll after the first week and begin the second week in most classes. Some classes are unable to accommodate an additional student after the second week, but many can. To inquire about mid-term enrollment, contact Compass.

In most cases, Compass is unable to add more students than the class’s planned maximum number of students because of the size of the room, the teacher’s preference, and/or classroom supplies. If a class is full, students are encouraged to register for a back-up, or second choice, class in addition to joining the waitlist. If anything changes in the number of enrolled students, and an additional student can be accommodated, families will be contacted in the order of the wait list sign-ups.

Depending on how early you placed your child’s name on the wait list and how many students are ahead of him/her, it could be weeks or months before you hear anything about the wait list. Many family changes, such as a job relocation or a last minute decision to enroll in traditional school, occur just weeks or days before the start of a new quarter. Therefore a wait listed family might not hear until a short time before classes are scheduled to begin, if at all.

For placement purposes, a student’s grade level is defined as the grade they would be in if enrolled in a traditional school setting without acceleration or grade-skipping.Most students should enroll in classes designed for their current grade level. However, students who are academically advanced may enroll one year above their actual grade range if parents believe the class will be a good fit.

When a younger student is placed in an older class (for example, a 2nd grader enrolling in a 3rd–4th grade class), the student must also demonstrate sufficient social maturity, fine motor skills, independence, and classroom behavior to blend in with the oldest students in the class (in this example, the 4th graders). In some cases, a student who is younger, delayed, or still developing socially may be placed one year below their grade level if that environment is a better fit. For additional details about age and grade placement, please refer to the Compass Family Handbook.

Compass classes are not designed to serve students with learning differences, neurodivergence, or special emotional, social, or psychological needs. Most Compass administrators and instructors lack the special training necessary to manage the unique learning needs of students with these diagnoses. Compass does not have counselors or instructional aides. However, some neurodivergent students (ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia, etc) have been successful in Compass classes.

Students of all abilities are expected to have appropriate classroom behavior, understand personal boundaries, and refrain from shouting out, interrupting the instructor, and distracting classmates. Sometimes the careful selection of a class can make the difference for a student with a learning difference. An active, hands-on class like Lego engineering, drumming, or CrossFit may be suitable for a student who is less able to cooperate in a more traditional classroom setting. Parents of students with these needs should contact Compass for recommendations before registering.

Parents and visitors cannot be accommodated in the back of the classroom because of space concerns and the impact on the dynamic of the class when an unfamiliar adult is present. Three large commons areas are located near the classrooms in the Compass buildings, near the classrooms. All classrooms have a glass window if a parent needs to peek to see how his/her child is doing.

Compass does not offer trial classes. Families are asked to register and prepay in advance so that we can confirm enrollment and ensure that each class has enough students to run.

If you are unsure whether a class will be a good fit for your child, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to answer questions and help you make an informed choice. In many cases, we can connect you with the instructor, put you in touch with a family whose child has taken the class, or arrange for you to observe a similar class in progress.

Compass classes generally have only 10-12 students. Some classes may have as few as 5-6 students and others may have up to14 students, depending on the assigned room, subject matter, class format, and teacher’s preference. Most classes have a maximum capacity of 12 students.

Since Compass is not a school, official grades are not awarded. Most homeschoolers in K-8th grade enrichment classes do not want or need grades. Teachers of high school classes provide qualitative and quantitative feedback that assesses a student’s preparation, participation, and understanding of the subject matter. The parent can then award an appropriate grade while also considering the student’s effort on the material at home.

Very few K-8th grade Compass classes give tests. Some high school classes use tests or quizzes as a way to assess students’ understanding or mastery of a topic or to ensure they are keeping up with class readings and homework.

For elementary and middle school classes, homework is optional and may be suggested if your family wants to follow up or further explore a topic. Some classes have end-of-quarter projects or presentations, but most students have fun with these. Many high school classes have mandatory homework as a way to ensure students are keeping up with class material.

Since Compass is not an a school, formal credit is not awarded for high school classes. Compass administrators and instructors may make recommendations as to whether or not a class could be considered a full or partial year’s credit, but each homeschool family must decide how each class fits into a student’s portfolio as a full credit course or a “component” course that must be bundled with other classes or outside opportunities to meet the family’s definition of a full credit.

Compass does not maintain transcripts for students. Families of high school students are encouraged to keep class descriptions, class e-mails, syllabi, sample works and/or instructor profiles and qualifications for developing their own homeschool transcripts. Families who record a record with listing of classes taken at Compass may log into their Compass Family Profile to view a history of past classes.

Compass does not have a standard, one-size-fits-all, curriculum or course core requirements. Compass has many enrichment classes that provide instruction in core subjects in K-8th grade and full credit high school classes in most of the major subjects, but each family has the flexibility to mix-and-match Compass classes along with other resources to create a custom curriculum for their own child and to meet their own family’s educational goals.

Compass does not offer financial aid or sibling discounts. Compass does, however, offer an early registration discount each quarter. See the registration page for when the next early registration discount is offered.

Some classes require additional materials that are consumed during the course. These may include items such as science lab supplies, art supplies (paper, paint, clay), cooking ingredients, novels or printed class packets for English classes, copyrighted scripts for acting classes, and similar materials.

These lab and supply fees are paid directly to the instructor because instructors must purchase materials in advance or weekly from vendors such as craft stores, grocery stores, laboratory suppliers, and copy shops. If these costs were included in the class tuition, they would be processed as part of the instructor’s compensation and incorrectly reported as taxable income. Keeping supply fees separate allows Compass to ensure accurate tax reporting and transparency, while also ensuring instructors are reimbursed only for the materials used in class.

Requests for withdrawals from class must be sent in writing by e-mail. Once received, a Compass administrator looks up the child’s registration to suggest alternative classes or advise you if a refund or credit is available. Refunds are only given if your child’s space in the class can be filled by a wait-listed child, and credits are only available if a change is made two weeks before the first class. For more information on withdrawals, refunds, and credits, see the Family Handbook.

Compass has staggered drop off policies based on your child’s age. For a child under age 8, an adult must be on campus at all times. For students ages 8-12, parents can drop off and leave campus as long as the child is in class. For breaks before, between, or after classes, an adult must be available to supervise the student. For teens, ages 13, and up, parents may drop off in front of the building if the student understands all behavior policies and expectations and has a Teen Form on file. For a more detailed discussion on Drop Off and Supervision, see the Compass Family Handbook. For a Teen Form, log into your Compass Family Profile to completed the necessary information online.

Parents and students are not permitted to use an empty classroom. In some cases, Compass may need the room for a meeting or interview or the incoming teacher may need to set up for class. Regardless, families are not permitted to use empty rooms because everyone would like to do so. Compass has a limited number of private offices that can be rented for a small hourly fee.

Unlike traditional homeschool co-ops, Compass classes are taught by paid subject-matter experts rather than parent volunteers. Parent contributions are not needed in teaching classes, child care, etc., but parents are always encouraged to talk to administrators about hosting clubs or extracurriculars or chaperoning at students events.

Families and students who are not enrolled for in given term may not drop in to use the Compass premises. The facility is reserved for families who are enrolled and attending classes that day. In addition, families who are not enrolled are not covered by Compass insurance.