Frequently Asked Questions

Compass classes range from K-12th grade and a few classes offer enrollment for adults as well.

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.

Compass is geared towards homeschooled students since classes are held during school hours on the weekdays. However, anyone can enroll in Compass and no proof of homeschooled status is required to attend classes.

Compass classes generally have only 10-12 students. Some classes may have as few as 5-6 students and others occasionally have 14-16 students, depending on the assigned room, subject matter, class format, and teacher’s preference. Most classes have a maximum capacity of 12 students.

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 clubs and special events for students of all ages.

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. Most classes are unable to accommodate an additional student after the second week. For any questions or exceptions, please contact Compass administration.

Homeschool families are welcome to enroll their child up or down one year from the suggested grade range if they believe a class is a good fit for their child academically. When a younger child is placed up a level, (a 2nd grader placed in 3rd-4th grade class, for example), he/she must also be socially mature enough and have appropriate classroom conduct to be indistinguishable from the students at the upper end of the grade range (4th graders in this example.) A student’s grade is based on the grade he/she would be in if enrolled in public school without acceleration or grade-skipping. For more information on the age/grade placement policy, please see the Compass Family Handbook.

Compass classes are not designed to serve students with special emotional, social, psychological, or physical needs. Not all Compass administrators and instructors have special training necessary to manage the unique learning needs of students with these diagnoses, nor does the program have counselors or aides. However, some students with ADHD, anxiety, Asperger’s Syndrome, and sensory processing disorders have been successful in Compass classes. For example, a successful Compass student must have appropriate classroom behavior, understand personal boundaries, and resist 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.

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 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.

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 is available. Refunds are only given if your child’s space in the class can be filled by a wait-listed child, and only if changes are made before the first class. For more information on withdrawals and refunds, 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 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.

In order to make sure we have enough students to run a class, families are asked to commit by registering and pre-paying for the class. If a family is unsure about the selection of a class for a specific child, contact Compass with your questions or concerns. Administrators can put you in touch with the specific instructor, connect you with a family with similar aged child(ren) who have taken the class, and/or arrange for you to visit a similar class in progress.

Since Compass is not an accredited 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 accredited school, 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.