Coming Soon to D.C., Tysons Corner, & Alexandria!
Fusion Academy is a private middle and high school, but don’t be quick to envision uniforms and lecture halls. At Fusion, classes are one-to-one: just one student and one teacher per classroom. This allows for a personalized curriculum for each individual student’s strengths, interests, and learning style. Fusion is so unique that it has, in fact, broken many traditional school paradigms since its conception in 1989.
The education model was born of a frustration with the status quo, and out of a passionate belief in the power of positive relationships to unlock academic potential. This unique, relationships-based school began when founder, Michelle Rose Gilman, began tutoring and mentoring students out of her home in Solana Beach, CA.
After demand outgrew their space, Gilman and her teachers moved into a building and expanded their offerings to become the private, accredited, one-to-one school Fusion is today. In 2010 the first campus replication opened in Los Angeles, CA, and the model has since grown exponentially to 32 campuses across the country in California, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. A new campus in Northwest Washington D.C. is scheduled to open in June. It will be located next to the Van Ness Metro Station at the corner of Connecticut Avenue NW and Tilden Street NW. Additionally, Fusion campuses will be opening in Alexandria and Tysons in the near future.
The educational experience at Fusion is completely customized to ignite a student’s passion for learning. Classes are self-paced, and course materials are presented in ways that suit students’ individual interests, strengths and challenges. It was modeled around the needs of students who weren’t finding their place in more traditional school environments – whether they struggled with mild learning differences, social issues, the rigid scheduling of more traditional schools, or the boredom of a classroom not geared to accelerated learners.
Along with a personalized curriculum, Fusion’s one-to-one teaching model also allows for customized scheduling. Students may enroll at any time of the year, and take classes at a time of day that works best for them, which appeals to students who have demanding schedules outside of school because of sports or artistic involvement.
Each campus is unique but has a similar “vibe” and culture to the original Solana Beach campus. Each also includes a state-of-the-art recording studio and mixed-media art studio for students to express their creativity, as well as two Homework Café® spaces, one silent and one social, where students complete their homework before leaving for the day.
Some students enroll full time, while others utilize Fusion’s tutoring and mentoring services. The tutors are Fusion teachers who are passionate about and have mastered their subject matter. Families also turn to Fusion to support their homeschooling efforts by allowing students to take classes for credit like world languages and lab sciences.
From algebra to yoga and everything in between, Fusion offers over 250 middle and high school courses, all of which meet state standards. Classes are available at three levels: essential, college prep, and honors. Fusion teachers have also created classes for students when there is something students would like to learn that wasn’t available in the catalog, while still adhering to state standards.
Creative expression is at the core of Fusion, as they understand the pivotal role it plays in students’ well being. Fusion offers a robust roster of elective classes like DJ Performing Arts, Graphic Design, Music Theory, Vocal Fundamentals, Recording Arts, Studio Art, Digital Photography, Film Studies, and more.
Fusion’s Wellness Program complements the academic experience – providing balance and offering opportunities for emotional and social growth. It consists of 20 sessions across four elements: Art Expression, Music Expression, Physical Wellness and Healthy Habits. Like everything at Fusion, it too is tailored to each student. Art and music are considered pathways to healthy self-expression for Fusion students, helping them achieve better balance and deal effectively with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, body image issues, social pressures, and substance abuse.
What makes Fusion work is the commitment to meeting each student right where they are, creating a meaningful connection, and finding the very best way to unlock each student’s passion for learning and discovery. Beyond academics, Fusion partners with outside therapeutic professionals to support students’ emotional health and help foster a balanced life.
Summer school at Fusion gives options for students to catch up, get ahead, or try something new. They offer the summer school basics like classes for credit and test preparation, in the same one-to-one learning environment. Other programs include Roadtrip Nation: a journey of self-construction and discovery centered around students’ passions, and the Fusion Summer Exploratory, where students can have the “full Fusion experience” in just 4-6 weeks. Visit the website at FusionSummer.com to learn more.
The Washington D.C. campus will be opening in June and is enrolling students now. If interested, contact the campus to set up a meeting with their Head of School, Laura DeLima: 866-904-4770 or FusionWashDC.com.
Also, coming soon to Tysons Corner & Alexandria, VA this fall!
