Why the Cambridge Academy?
Why not a charter school?
How will my child be taught?
What is the parent's role?
Can you tell me about your teachers?
How much time should my child invest in school work?
What about accreditation?
How do you decide the appropriate grade placement for my child?
Can I graduate from The Cambridge Academy with a diploma?
Can students with learning disabilities or disorders enroll?
What if my child is gifted?
How can I make sure that my child is completing assignments?
How do I select courses?
What is included in the curriculum?
What is the cost of curriculum materials?
What curriculum does The Cambridge Academy use?
Can the curriculum be printed out?
When will we receive our materials?
What if I find that Cambridge isn't a good fit for my child?
How long does the enrollment process take?
What is the minimum number of courses my child can take?
Can I change a course once I have registered?
Can I select courses from different grades?
Can my child select courses from different grade levels?
Can I add educational experiences from a co-op or field trip?
How is my child tested?
What about field trips?
How many days of instruction can my child receive?
What kind of records does The Cambridge Academy keep?
When is the best time to enroll my toddler?
Does my child need to know how to type?
Can my older computer run the software?
Does each child need to use his or her own computer?
Why can't my computer process PDF files?
What are the dates that the Cambridge Academy follows?
How do I remit my application/registration fee? Is it refundable?
What is the cost of courses?
Are there any additional fees?
How do you deal with local homeschooling laws?
What about cheating?

Why the Cambridge Academy?
The Cambridge Academy offers students a comprehensive, interactive learning experience that the public school system could never replicate. It is tailor-made to fit each individual child’s learning level and learning style. We offer all of the benefits of public school without the negative socialization, bullying, peer pressure, rigid course structure, and more. If you feel that your student is being intellectually or socially stifled, don’t put your child in a box. Let his imagination and curiosity take him or her to new heights with The Cambridge Academy! We make it easy for parents by providing lesson plans, grades, and teaching assistance throughout the school year.

Why not a charter school?
Charter school programs often lure parents in with free giveaways and perks. However, by buying into their program, you are sacrificing the educational independence of your child. Charter school programs use the same poor curriculum and the same teaching methods of public schools. If you’ve chosen to pull your child from the public school in order to free him or her from the bureaucracy, mismanagement, and poor quality academics of the public school, The Cambridge Academy is the perfect alternative.

How will my child be taught?
We instruct children primarily through online course material. Children sign into our website and complete a variety of multimedia tasks. Assignments are submitted and evaluated online, which saves time over shipping them back and forth for grading. We also provide offline material in the form of CD’s, textbooks, workbooks, and more. The Cambridge Academy’s unique brand of distance learning is transforming the way people view education, and public schools have begun to implement some of our practices in their curricula due to their effectiveness.

What is the parent's role?
We strongly feel that the parent should be a facilitator and a guide of their child’s education. If your child needs help with his or her homework, she can come to our teachers throughout the school day through our instant messaging technology. We handle all the grading, curriculum development, and lesson planning. All parents need to do is make sure the child stays on track.

Can you tell me about your teachers?
The Cambridge Academy employs professional teachers who are specially trained in online education. They develop close bonds with students, walking them through their problems and helping them to achieve their educational goals. They are available for help through our Message Center and Live Operator System.

How much time should my child invest in school work?
A “school day” is a minimum of 2 hours per 24 hour period. Because The Cambridge Academy limits extraneous activities like lunch periods, study halls, interstitial periods, and more, we are able to limit course time to just a few hours per day. We invite each student to spend as much time devoted to school work each day as they feel comfortable. We offer 180 days of classroom instruction and 300 days of access to the coursework. The child’s study time is logged into our system to keep track of progress.

There are 36 weeks of school, divided into 4 nine-week quarters. Specific attendance requirements by grade are:

• 900 hours and 170 days, or 180 days, for students in grades 4-12
• 720 hours and 170 days, or 180 days, for students in grades 1-3
• 540 hours and 170 days, or 180 days, for Kindergarten students.

However, there’s more to our program than sitting at a computer! We invite parents to add study hours to our system via the Joy Directed Activities log. If you want to take your child to a museum or park, you can count this as schoolwork.

What about accreditation?
The Cambridge Academy is a fully accredited K-12 school registered in the state of Texas and serving students across the entire United States. As a registered private online school we offer an online distance program that combines the best of Private Schooling and Home Schooling. Cambridge requires that the student meets Attendance Requirements and completion of all assignments before the last day of the school year. Our learning system generates all records such as transcripts, logs of instructional time and much more which can be used for requests, college entrance and other accountabilities to local school officials.

How do you decide the appropriate grade placement for my child?
We don’t! Parents select courses that they feel are appropriate for their child. If parents feel that they need to move their child up or down grade levels, they are free to do so without additional fees for the 30-day trial period. After this period, there is a $25.00 charge per course change.

Can I graduate from The Cambridge Academy with a diploma?
High school graduates who meet our graduation requirements will receive a diploma. To find out more about our graduation requirements, please review our High School Graduation Requirements page.

Can students with learning disabilities or disorders enroll?
We’ve found that students with some learning disabilities actually perform better with The Cambridge Academy. While we do not offer specialized curriculum or educational services for students with learning disabilities, our “work at your own pace” format ensures that students who need more time to grasp abstract concepts can take the time they need to fully understand the material. We suggest that parents of children with special needs consult with their family doctor to find out if The Cambridge Academy is a good fit.

What if my child is gifted?
The Cambridge Academy is the perfect solution for children who find themselves to be “ahead of the class” in public school. Students are encouraged to work as hard as they can. If courses are completed before the end of the semester or year, students are welcome to enroll in another course at no additional tuition cost. There will be a $25.00-$90.00 fee to provide new course materials. We invite students to add additional courses throughout the year as they complete their original course load. We may offer extensions into the summer for students who have not yet completed their course work. Students who are enrolled in a summer extension may not add courses after May 15.

How can I make sure that my child is completing assignments?
Parents can use our online progress reports to find out how much time their child has put into the online courses as well as grades for completed assignments.

How do I select courses?
You can browse through our full-time and single courses through the sidebar on your left.  Middle school and High School students must choose their courses during the enrollment process. Just find the course in which you’re interested and add it to your shopping cart.  If assistance is needed, parents are free to give us a call for advice on course selection. Children in a full-time K-5 need not worry about choosing courses.

What is included in the curriculum?
The Cambridge curriculum is a cutting-edge multimedia array consisting of online assignments, videos, audio, traditional textbooks and workbooks, full text eBooks, and more. All testing materials are included as well. We also include access to teacher assistance and our Social Center, enabling your students to achieve levels of socialization unheard of in home education. Our online material is designed to run on dial-up connections as well as high-speed internet. We offer over 110 courses for K-12 students. These classes run the gamut from the traditional math, science, and history to web design, art history, and government courses.

There are some books that parents will need to purchase from outside retailers or borrow from a local library. These books are clearly noted in our course descriptions page. Please review your courses before purchase so that you are fully aware of any additional costs.

What is the cost of curriculum materials?
The entire Cambridge curriculum, including supplementary textbooks, workbooks, and eBooks, is factored into the tuition price. However, all educational CDs require a $7.95 rental fee. These CDs include audio/video material needed to complete coursework. Although the number of CD’s varies, there are an average of 4 CDs per course.

What curriculum does The Cambridge Academy use?
When we went about designing the curriculum of The Cambridge Academy, we found that no curriculum was either current or progressive enough to fit our unique learning model. So, we decided to write our own! Our Curriculum Developers are educational experts that perpetually update and add to our dynamic curriculum.

Can the curriculum be printed out?
Most of The Cambridge Academy curriculum can be printed out for completion or study. Some students find it difficult to view material on a computer screen for long periods of time. We invite parents to accommodate this need by printing out our online material for longer periods of study.

When will we receive our materials?
All materials should arrive before the beginning of the year. To ensure prompt delivery, we suggest that families order their curriculum as early as possible in the summer. Portions of the curriculum are not needed until later in the year and are shipped on an “as needed” basis.

What if I find that Cambridge isn't a good fit for my child?
Enrolling your child in a new school can be stressful. We want you to be sure that The Cambridge Academy is the right place for your child before you make a final decision. That’s why we have a 30-day trial period. If you choose to withdraw during this period, you will only be charged for the first month’s tuition, registration, and shipping/handling.

How long does the enrollment process take?
It can take 2-3 business days for our registrar to process and application. Once you select your courses, we’ll ship your curriculum in 2-4 business days. We ask that families enroll as early as possible in the summer to ensure that their curriculum arrives on time for the new year.

What is the minimum number of courses my child can take?
The Cambridge Academy is a full-time online school. However, families can also choose to take single courses as a supplement to their existing homeschool program. 

Can I change a course once I have registered?
Yes. One of the great things about our online curriculum is that it’s completely flexible to the needs of each child. If the parent feels that his or her child is capable of more difficult work, or if the child is struggling with the current course load, the parent can easily switch between courses. There are no extra fees for the first 30 days of enrollment. However, there is a $25.00 course change fee after that trial period.

Can I select courses from different grades?
To allow for maximum flexibility of our curriculum, we allow parents to select courses across grade levels. After all, if your child is skilled in reading but struggles in math, why force them to follow a strict schedule? We want to be as conducive to learning as possible in accordance with each child’s learning abilities.

Can my child select courses from different grade levels?
Yes. For instance, it would be perfectly acceptable for a 7th grader to take 6th grade English and 8th grade math, simply because these are the levels at which they are.

Can I add educational experiences from a co-op or field trip?
Of course! Learning should not be limited to the computer screen. If you want your child to take a class at a co-op or spend a day studying Civil War history at a museum, you can add this time to your students normal study hours via our Joy Directed Activities form.

How is my child tested?
The Cambridge Academy provides periodic quizzes and tests to help gauge whether or not the child is comprehending the learning material. Some tests are multiple choice and graded automatically by our grading software. Other tests are essay or “free response” and must be manually graded by our teachers. These take a bit longer to grade, but should be returned within a few days.

What about field trips?
We do suggest activities that enable the child to get a well-rounded learning experience. Whether this is a trip to the local library or a nature walk in an area park, these activities help students gain an appreciation for the world around them and the many avenues of learning that exist in everyday life.

How many days of instruction can my child receive?
When your child completes his or her schoolwork is largely up to the parent. We offer 365 days of access to our curriculum, starting from the enrollment date. The Cambridge Academy also offers 180 days of access to teacher assistance, September through June. Our teachers are available Monday through Friday to help students from 9 am to 5 pm EST.

What kind of records does The Cambridge Academy keep?
We keep a portfolio of our students’ online lessons, grades, time log, field trips, and more. These records can be valuable when transferring schools or entering college.

When is the best time to enroll my toddler?
We allow parents to make this decision. Because The Cambridge Academy curriculum is taught online, we recommend that parents factor in that basic computer skills will need to be taught before enrolling their child. The average age of Kindergarten enrollment is 5 years. Keep in mind that different states have different mandatory attendance requirements.

Does my child need to know how to type?
While it can be helpful, many Cambridge students use the program to learn how to type. While “hunting and pecking” works for a while, parents will be surprised how quickly their children can pick up on basic computer skills through our program. These skills have never been more invaluable in a child’s education.

Can my older computer run the software?
The Cambridge Academy curriculum runs smoothly on a minimum of a Pentium III processor, 64MB RAM, 6 gb hard drive, CD-ROM drive, and a 56k “dialup” modem. While we cannot guarantee that Macintosh computers will be able to run our software, many of our students use Macs.

Does each child need to use his or her own computer?
No, although the need for one’s own computer increases in the high school years. It is important that students and parents remain vigilant in logging in and out of The Cambridge Academy Homeroom to make sure that each student receives credit for completed work when working from the same computer.

Why can't my computer process PDF files?
You’ll need to download the free Adobe Acrobat reader. Copy the following link into your browser and read the download instructions: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

What are the dates that the Cambridge Academy follows?
The learning year begins on each individual child's enrollment date and lasts for 365 days. Each student will have a different start and finish date, depending on their date of enrollment.

How do I remit my application/registration fee? Is it refundable?
Enrollment/registration fees can be paid by check, money order, Visa or MasterCard online.

To remit with a check or money order simply, mail to:
The Cambridge Academy
603 W 13^th Street
Ste 1A-952
Austin, TX 78701

To pay with a charge card:
Browse to parent and enter using your user name and password, and then click on "Make a Payment". Our online payment form is a secure and encrypted payment facility. Or you can call in your credit card payment by dialing toll-free 877 TCA-1994

Normally your enrollment/registration fee is not refundable, however if we are not able to accept your student for enrollment you will receive a full refund.

What is the cost of courses?
The cost of the courses varies from $99.00 t0 $499.00 for a full year 36 week course. Go to Pricing for specific prices. For a limited time, there is a MID Season Discount of 50% OFF each and every course in Cambridge Academy. We also have Payment Plans available if you are taking more than once course and wish to pay over several months.

Are there any additional fees?
There is a $19.95 Shipping/Handling fee as well as a one-time Registration Fee of $29.95. The Registration and S&H fees are "one time per order" no matter how many courses you select. There is also a $7.95 usage fee for each multimedia CD (the number of video CDs vary per course).

How do you deal with local homeschooling laws?
Because state homeschooling laws vary so widely, we encourage parents to investigate their state’s specific requirements for homeschoolers. The Cambridge Academy works alongside parents in ensuring that their children receive recognition by colleges, workplaces, and governments for their completion of our accredited program. It has been our experience that school districts and state governments are “behind the times” regarding home education technology. We will provide all necessary documentation to make sure your home education experience is smooth and hassle-free.

What about cheating?
We have a number of methods we use to limit cheating. Our tests are often randomized to prevent students from communicating answers to each other. Secondly, we have comprehensive plagiarism detection. The Cambridge Academy takes cheating very seriously and issues severe punishment.