Why families choose Ascend STEM Academy
A safe, friendly home base for your homeschool: real people who know your child, records you can trust, and STEM learning that feels like play. You get a partner, not just a name on your paperwork.
Florida DOE #1738
Real people, real answers
- Registered private schoolFlorida DOE #1738
- A real person reviews every fileNot an automated portal
- Same-day or next-day answersFrom someone you know
- Grades K–12Enroll any time of year
More than a name on your documents
Some umbrella schools give you a name to put on your paperwork and little else. At Ascend, someone with real oversight experience reviews what you submit, not a portal that auto-generates a form.
A name-only umbrella school
- An automated portal generates your forms
- Questions go into a support-ticket queue
- Records that look like an informal homeschool log
- You figure out Florida homeschool law alone
A partner in your child’s education
- A real person reviews your child’s file
- Same-day or next-day answers from someone you know
- Standards-aligned records and a credible diploma
- Guidance through the gray areas of Florida law
Six things you get with Ascend
Individual oversight of your child’s file
Someone with real oversight experience reviews what you submit, not a shared inbox.
Same-day or next-day responses
When you have a compliance question, you get a real answer quickly, not a support-ticket queue.
A diploma built to keep your child competitive
Structured to mirror Florida’s state academic standards, so transcripts look familiar and credible to colleges, employers and scholarship committees.
School-of-record credibility
Complete, standards-aligned records from day one, ready if your child ever needs official verification for college, the military, a job or a licensing board.
A resource hub included with enrollment
60+ curated resources for curriculum planning, subject-specific teaching support, testing prep and more, at no extra cost.
Guidance through gray areas
Standardized testing, evaluation options and record-keeping rules: we walk you through the parts of Florida homeschool law that trip families up.
A real relationship, not a form submission.You’ll know who to call, and that person will know your child’s name.
Your child’s records are in safe hands
Ascend is your child’s official school of record, so we treat their information the way a school should.
An official school of record
A registered Florida private school (DOE #1738). We file the required notice with your district and keep attendance and official records.
Private family accounts
Your family logs in to its own account for enrollment, time cards and the student dashboard. Our learning games are played from your student’s login too.
Only what school records need
We collect the information Florida school records require and explain what we keep, why and who sees it in our privacy policy.
Secure checkout
Payments are handled by WooPayments. We never store full card numbers.
Fun for kids
Learning that feels like play
Ascend students get our STEM-a-lotl games, starring Lucas the axolotl. Fresh puzzles build vocabulary, logic and science thinking a few minutes at a time.
Guess-a-lotlOne STEM word a day. Can you guess it?Play →
Connect-a-lotlFind the four hidden word groups.Play →
Cross-a-lotlTrace letters to find every theme word.Play →
Hex-a-lotlA hex puzzle that sharpens STEM skills.Play →
Grow-a-lotlPlant stem cells and predict how they spread.Play →
Rescue LabBuild a path, roll the pellet, feed Lucas.Play →
Want more puzzles? See the game passes: Pond Keys open extra puzzles and the Full Pond Pass unlocks every game.
Less paperwork, more teaching
Florida families can homeschool through their county’s home education program, or enroll in a private umbrella school like Ascend. Here’s the difference.
Filing on your own (county home education)
- You file a Notice of Intent with your county superintendent
- You keep a portfolio: a log of activities and samples of work
- Your child needs an annual evaluation every year
- Records and transcripts are up to you
Enrolled in a private umbrella school
- Ascend files the required notice with your district
- No portfolio or annual evaluation required
- Your school of record keeps attendance and official records
- A standards-aligned transcript and a 24-credit diploma
What it costs
$185 a year for grades K–8, about $15 a month, and $200 a year for grades 9–12. Returning families pay less, and every additional child in your family is just $100. Every enrolled student gets one free digital progress report each enrollment year. Additional new digital reports are $15; mailed copies are $20 including ordinary domestic postage. See tuition and what’s included.
10% off for military & veteran families
Veterans help run parts of Ascend, and we’re grateful to every family that has served. It’s the same discipline and care you’d expect from a fellow service member, applied to your child’s file.
As our thank-you, veterans, service members and military spouses from every branch get 10% off enrollment and Ascend merch.
- 10% off enrollment
- 10% off Ascend merch
- All branches welcome
For veterans, active-duty, Guard and Reserve members and military spouses. One code per order; can’t be combined with other discounts.
Enroll in three steps
Enrollment is open year-round for grades K–12.
Create your account
Open our registration page and set up your family account.
Complete the enrollment form
Fill out the form for each child and upload their documents. See the full checklist.
We take it from there
We review your child’s file and you’ll know exactly who to call with any question.
Guides for Florida homeschool families
Ready to join the Ascend STEM family?
Get a real partner for your homeschool journey, with records and a diploma that open doors.
Questions first? Contact us or read the Florida homeschool FAQ.