Well-Trained Mind Academy

What Reviewers Say

While the curriculum is praised for fostering student growth, the school is defined by its high expectations.

How It Works

Students attend live, interactive online classes twice a week, where they use a headset to participate in discussions and lectures with an instructor and peers. Between classes, students work independently on intensive reading assignments and writing projects using physical textbooks and digital portals to submit work. Parents act primarily as facilitators, helping the student manage a rigorous syllabus and ensuring they meet strict deadlines for grading. Each subject typically requires several hours of independent study per week, making a full course load feel like a full-time job for the student. The parent's main role is to provide a quiet workspace and monitor the student’s progress through the academy's online gradebook.

Switching to This?

Because of its high academic standards, parents should use the academy’s own placement tests for math and writing to ensure the student is ready for the workload. A common rule of thumb is to prioritize the student's writing ability over their grade level, as even advanced students may benefit from starting at a lower level to master the specific 'classical' style required. Most core classes are year-long courses that run from August to May, but WTMA also offers spring semester courses and accepts mid-year transfers. If you are switching from a more relaxed or self-paced program, prepare for a transition period where the student adjusts to a fixed schedule and a significantly higher volume of weekly reading and formal writing.

Curriculum Details

Price

$825 - $975/year

Tuition is charged per course: clubs cost $275 for a semester of eight meetings, one-semester courses $500-$525, and full-year courses (August to May) $825-$975. A non-refundable registration fee of $100 per student per academic year applies ($125 when paying with third-party or charter school funds), plus a $25 STEM fee per student for courses that use licensed technology tools (maximum $50). Tuition can be paid in full, by semester, or monthly.

Grades

5 - 12

Available As

Digital Video Internet required

Coverage

Single subject

Subjects

Math Reading/Language Arts Writing Science History/Social Studies Foreign Language Logic & Critical Thinking Computer Science

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Pacing

Some flexibility

Parent Time

10-30 min/day

Student Independence

Semi-independent

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Academic Level

Advanced

Worldview

Secular

Videos

How This Compares

When compared to Stanford Online High School, Well-Trained Mind Academy offers a similarly rigorous 'college-prep' experience but allows parents to pick and choose individual classes without a selective and expensive full-time enrollment requirement. Against Veritas Press, the key difference is religious orientation; while Veritas is explicitly Christian, WTMA is secular-friendly, making it accessible for families who want a classical method without a religious curriculum. Compared to Memoria Press Online Academy, which focuses heavily on traditional Latin and a fixed set of core texts, WTMA provides more flexibility in course selection and includes modern options like computer science. Parents choosing between WTMA and The Potter's School often find WTMA's writing and logic feedback to be more intensive, which is ideal for students needing deep analytical skills but potentially overwhelming for those who prefer a less demanding pace. Ultimately, WTMA stands out from self-paced options like Study.com because its live class format demands student accountability and real-time social engagement.

Getting Started