Connecting you to the courses, community, and resources to homeschool through high school with confidence.
Since 2001, CHESS has partnered with homeschool families cultivating academic excellence in community, offering in-person and online courses for 3rd-12th grade. View CoursesSchedule A Call
Connecting you to the courses, community, and resources to homeschool high school with confidence.
Since 2001, CHESS has partnered with homeschool families cultivating academic excellence in community, offering in-person and online courses for 4th-12th grade. View CoursesSchedule A Call
CHESS – Community Homeschool Enrichment Support Services
CHESS Courses:
-
Choose courses a-la-carte from Creative Writing to Chemistry
-
Learn from experienced instructors in small group courses
-
Be challenged alongside peers in a collaborative environment
CHESS Community:
-
Join in on social opportunities from pizza days to National Honors Society
-
Celebrate graduation alongside peers with a personalized ceremony
-
Build relationships with classmates and instructors in small classes
CHESS Resources:
-
Be encouraged by mentoring opportunities with other homeschool parents
-
Learn transcript and college application tips from homeschool veterans
-
Plug in to the broader network of Virginia homeschoolers
“Excellent teachers who care and very affordable. I wouldn’t be able to homeschool high school if not for CHESS.”
“My kids have been given a spirit of belonging someplace. It has quenched that thirst of wanting to be in public school.”
“The teacher is so fun! Day 1 I came in very nervous and I left laughing and smiling.”
“It’s fun and Mrs. Bacca turned my hatred of Spanish into a love of it.”
The
CHESS
Experience
News & Events
CHESS MASQUERADE BALL
Be our guest at the 2025 CHESS Masquerade Ball on November 22, 7:00-10:00PM in Manassas, VA.
WHAT’S NOTABLE ABOUT CHESS
- Our teachers have on average 25 years of teaching experience.
- We have served over 2000 families since we began in 2001.
- Our classes average between 5-12 students unlike many other programs which have larger class sizes.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
CHESS Course Options 2025-2026
Honors & College Prep Courses
Honors Option and College Prep:
- Advanced Biology: Human Anatomy
- American History with Bible – 2 credits!
- English 9, 10, and 11
- Chemistry: Honors – College Prep
- Spanish 2 & 3
- World History with Bible – 2 credits!
College Prep:
- Algebra 2
- Physics
- Spanish 3 & 4 – Global Seal of Biliteracy option
Classes for Younger Students
- Applied STEM w/Lego
- Modern Times History
- Page Turners: A Journey Through Words
- STEAM Team
National Homeschool Honor Society
CHESS is the host site for the Lambda Omicron Chapter of the Eta Sigma Alpha National Homeschool Honor Society. This is a student run group that promotes excellence of scholarship, leadership, and character for 9th – 12th graders with adult oversight. Students attend monthly meetings and complete 20 hours of service in their academic school year.
CHESS Supports HEAV!
For every student that registers at CHESS, two dollars will be donated to Home Educators Association of Virginia, in order to support their ongoing work to protect home education in Virginia.
Director’s Notes
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Blog Posts
COMPASSION, MERCY, AND GRACE – by Mary O’Donnell
As a young 20-year-old in college learning my future craft of teaching, I was told to balance compassion for the student with not enabling them to fall below standard. Sadly, the “standard” in most public schools is often far below a homeschooling family’s standard....
How Do We Define CHESS?
How Do We Define CHESS? CHESS is a support group that provides academic and elective courses for homeschooling families, as well as a graduation, a national homeschool honor society and annual dance. We connect homeschooling families with the community, courses, and...
Impossible Zoom Classes? – By Betsy Dill
“Teach ART and PUBLIC SPEAKING on Zoom? Impossible!” At least, that was my first response right out of the chute. I initially wondered if it was desirable in any way. When we moved to remote learning mid-year, one of my most creative art students laughed and said,...



