What’s Notable About CHESS?
Why hundreds of families have taken part in CHESS since 2001
Many homeschooling families in the area have discovered that they can energize their home education by connecting with the opportunities CHESS provides. Here are some of the distinctive benefits of our group.
Courses that equip
CHESS provides middle school courses to help prepare students for high school-level work, foundational high school courses in hard to teach subjects like foreign language and science, and college-level content courses at the high school pace. Our courses teach students to think, reason, and communicate. See our course list for details.
A personal environment
Classes at CHESS are small groups usually having between five and twelve students (the average size is nine). Most of our courses meet in person, with a few online course options. Students are encouraged to discuss the topics with their teachers and fellow students, contributing their thoughts, not just turning in homework. Students learn time management skills, accountability, and grow personally as they adapt to different teachers’ styles and interact with their peers. Plus, they have fun learning together and working in groups in a challenging learning environment.
Expert instructors
The teachers at CHESS are what make us truly exceptional. Our teachers are Christians who truly care about their students. They include public and private school teachers, tutors and private educators, and veteran homeschooling parents—all with years of educating experience. Many of our teachers hold degrees and/or have careers or professional accomplishments in the fields in which they teach – all share a passion for the subjects they have chosen to teach and for working within the homeschooling community. Read more on our teachers’ bio page: https://chessclasses.org/meet-our-teachers/.
Flexible education plans
At CHESS, students register for individual classes, not an entire program, which means families can tailor their education plan to their homeschool. Most families simply choose to supplement their homeschool with between two and five courses at CHESS, meaning the program is more adaptable to each family’s unique needs.
Honors level options and collegiate level studies
While homeschoolers know the advantages of learning at home, public institutions look for ways to compare home educated students with those in public and private schools. When a student takes the most challenging courses available to them, it can validate the student’s transcript for colleges. Showing that someone else has assessed your student’s work is helpful. If your student excels in a particular area and is ready to delve deeper or is ready for more challenging work, consider the honors and college prep courses CHESS has to offer.
Note: An honors course indicates that the class will have a greater quantity of work throughout the academic year compared to a standard high school course. When incorporating honors courses into your student’s high school transcript, grades can be weighted when calculating the GPA. We’ve had many students testify how their courses at CHESS prepared them well for both college and careers. Read testimonies here: John Jenkins and Peanut Butter & Jelly, Five Ways CHESS Prepared Me for College & Beyond, Alumni Answer Questions
An experience community college can’t give
What are the CHESS advantages over dual enrollment? CHESS provides small class sizes where the teacher is better able to connect and interact with the students, and students can learn in an environment where biblical values are honored. The focus of the class is to master the material, rather than just pass a test. Students have the entire academic year to study, instead of a semester and will benefit from getting a solid foundation in the subject, especially if they choose to pursue a major in that field. Focused study helps students discern their interests and passions, helping steer them towards college majors, and career paths.
Affordable tuition
Private schools in the NOVA area charge tuition fees of approximately $11,000 to $35,000 per year. At CHESS, students can take a full 6-class credit load for around $2,900—a fraction of the cost! CHESS maintains competitive rates with similar enrichment groups in the area. Plus, CHESS offers special volunteer-track pricing, discounts, and need-based scholarships.