Tahoe Expediton Academy

Admissions

Why TEA?
How to Apply
Key Dates
Admissions Forms
Affording TEA
Contact Admissions
FAQ'S

Why TEA? TEA Video

Using experiential learning as a framework for our approach, we teach core and enrichment subjects in a hands-on environment. In addition to gaining knowledge and skill in science, math, social science, art, music and Spanish, daily emphasis is directed toward literacy development, study habits and academic skills. Moreover, we promote character development, engage our students in adventure and participate in field studies that extend content and skills beyond the classroom walls and into natural environment and the community. To continue the active learning outside of the school day, the school offers a host of extracurricular, athletic and summer activities, which also take advantage of the splendor of the Lake Tahoe Basin and the area’s vast natural resources.

At Tahoe Expedition Academy, we believe students are born to learn. To help each student realize their potential, our teachers design authentic, engaging and meaningful learning experiences. These project-based, place-based, interdisciplinary academic lessons follow an 'inch-wide, mile deep' approach. They allow our students to understand subjects from multiple perspectives and lead them to various types of media, primary sources and local experts. Students complete case studies on important local issues, volunteer for service and contribute time and energy to our community and create products with real-world relevance, applicability and publicity. In the end, our primary goals are to ensure our students achieve their personal summits, value the learning process and enjoy coming to school each day.

How To Apply (PreK - High School) Quick Reference Card

Greetings Students and Families,

We are excited that you are interested in applying to Tahoe Expedition Academy. The steps below will guide you through our Admissions process. By completing these steps, we can learn more about one another to make an educated decision about your child’s potential matriculation in our school. We look forward to beginning this process together and toward developing a solid relationship built upon mutual trust, thirst for adventure and zeal for knowledge.

Sincerely,

DC Larrabee and Taylor Simmers, Co-Heads of School

How to Apply (PreK – 8th Grade) Contact Admissions

Step 1:

Admissions Application Part I: Inquiry Form

Step 2:

Step 3:

Admissions Application Part II: Written Response

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Step 7:

How to Apply (High School – 9th Grade for the SY2013-2014) Contact Admissions

Step 1:

Admissions Application Part I: Inquiry Form

Step 2:

Step 3:

Admissions Application Part II: Written Response

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Step 7:

Submit an Inquiry Form
If you are interested in learning more about our school and the admissions process, contact DC Larrabee @ admissions@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org. When we hear from you, we will send you an online Inquiry Form and contact you to set up a Campus Visit and Tour as a next step. Or you can find our Inquiry Form on our website, which, when submitted, will go to our Admissions TEAm.

Schedule a Campus Visit & Tour
We encourage each family and child to visit our school facility and speak with one of our staff members and administrators during a tour. Campus Visits and Tours can be scheduled throughout the school year, after an Inquiry Form has been submitted. This opportunity provides the family and child to acquire a first impression of our school and see our students in action. If a campus tour is not possible, we can conduct a Skype interview and informational session.

Submit an Application
Parts I and II of the application must be submitted before a Shadow Day may be conducted. However, we realize that the Parent and Student Statements in Part II of the application may take additional time, so those responses can be submitted at a later date. Part III of the application needs to be received before admittance can be awarded.

Application Sections

Part I: Admissions Application Part I: Inquiry Form
Part II: Written Responses, Online Medical Emergency Contact Information & Waiver and Health Inventory / Permission to Treat
Part III: References and School Records

Application Fee: A non-refundable fee of $90 is required for each application before a Shadow Day can be conducted. However, if paying the application causes financial strain, then you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Contact us @ (530) 546-LAKE (5253) or admissions@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org if you would like to apply for a fee waiver.

Register for and take the SSAT
Applicants entering high school are expected to register to take the SSAT some time between December 2012 and March 2013. Tests are given locally at North Tahoe High School on a monthly basis. You can sign up @ www.ssat.org. Please ensure you report your scores to Tahoe Expedition Academy. Our 4-digit member code is #7601. The SSAT scores must be received before admission can be granted.

Shadow Day
The Shadow Day allows the child, family and school to determine whether or not there exists a good fit. By participating in a full day of classes, the child meets current students, teachers and administrators, provides us with assessment information and gains a clear sense of the day in the life of a student at Tahoe Expedition Academy. (Required for all students entering PreK—8th Grades).

Apply for Scholarship and/or Financial Aid
Through the Parasol Foundation in Incline Village, NV, scholarships and financial aid are given on a first come, first serve basis for families who qualify. Interested families can contact the school or the Parasol Foundation directly for more information about the options available.

Home Visit
A home visit by the Co-Heads of School at the family’s residence serves as the final piece of the admissions process for students entering PreK—5th Grades). This opportunity provides parents and children to ask any lingering questions about Tahoe Expedition Academy, and it provides the school with insight into the family and the child’s world. Typically, these visits occur in the evenings. (Required for all students entering PreK—5th Grades).

Interview
An on-campus interview acts as the final step in the process for students entering 6—9th Grades for SY2013-2014. The interview consists of a one on one, 30-minute conversation on campus between the applicant and an admissions team or faculty member. (Required for all students entering 6—9th Grade).

How To Apply (High School)

Greetings Students and Families,

We are excited that you are interested in applying to Tahoe Expedition Academy. The steps below will guide you through our Admissions process. By completing these steps, we can learn more about one another to make an educated decision about your child’s potential matriculation in our school. We look forward to beginning this process together and toward developing a solid relationship built upon mutual trust, thirst for adventure and zeal for knowledge.

Sincerely,

DC Larrabee and Taylor Simmers, Co-Heads of School

Key Dates

Attend a Open House & Recruitment Forum
Open House & Recruitment Forums provide families with an opportunity to meet our teachers, tour our facility and learn information about our school’s philosophy, academics and extracurricular activities. These are recommended but optional events.

Upcoming Open House & High School Recruitment Forum

Tuesday, June 25th, 2013, 6:00-7:30pm
Location: Tahoe Expedition Academy, Head Quarters, 8651 Speckled Ave., Kings Beach, CA
Please RSVP to Taylor Simmers @ tsimmers@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org

Application Due Dates
Currently, we are accepting applications for PreK-9th Grade on a rolling basis. Please contact our Admissions Office at admissions@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org if you interested in applying or learning more about our program.

Admissions Forms

How To Apply
Admissions Process Checklist - PreK-High School
Admissions Online Inquiry Form
Admissions Application
Online Medical Emergency Contact Information
Teacher Reference I
Teacher Reference II
Transcript Release
Waiver Release and Indemnity Agreement

Do you have an inquiry?

Mailing Address and Contact Information:

General Information:

Tahoe Expedition Academy
8651 Speckled Ave. / Box 1272
Kings Beach, CA 96143-1272
(530) 546-LAKE (5253)
info@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org

Admissions:

DC Larrabee / Director of Admissions admissions@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org

Steps to Apply

How to Apply (PreK – 8th Grade)

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Step 7:

How to Apply (High School – 9th Grade for the SY2013-2014)

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Step 5:

Step 6:

Step 7:

Part I: Inquiry Form
Part II: Written Responses, Medical and Emergency Contact Information & Waiver and Health Inventory / Permission to Treat
Part III: References and School Records

Affording TEA

Tuition
PreK3: $5,800 (2 full day)
PreK4: $8,700 (3 full day)
K-8: $14,500
High School: $27,500

High School Tuition Breakdown:

Tuition (e.g. administrative, salaries, insurance, facilities, etc.): $17,250.
Learning Expedition (e.g. travel, gear, lodging, food, transportation, guides, etc.): $7,500.
Materials Fee (e.g. books, consumables, curriculum materials, etc.): $2,750

Payment Plans
TEA offers three payment plans:
Option 1: Payment in full due August 1st.
Option 2: Split payment; 1st half due August 1st & 2nd half due December 1st.
Option 3: Monthly payments. If you choose to pay by this option a 3% service charge will be added.

PreK-8th Grade Scholarships & Financial Assistance
Since our founding, Tahoe Expedition Academy has aspired to maintain a community of equity and excellence by admitting students of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and talents. Tahoe Expedition Academy is a non-profit organization that funds its programs through tuition, gifts, grants, donor events and corporate sponsorships. In our Strategic Plan, we intend to ensure tuition covers 100% of operating costs in the near future, though currently we have a tuition gap, which necessitates generous donations from our internal and external communities. We understand, though, that the cost of tuition may be out of reach for some of our families. As a result, we award financial assistance via the Explorer's Fund to families with students in PreK-8th Grade based on demonstrated financial need.

Explorer’s Fund (PreK-8th grades)
Thanks to a generous donor, the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation is thrilled to offer partial scholarships for the Tahoe Expedition Academy (TEA) for students with financial need, through the Explorer Scholarship Fund. Contact kpluckhan@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org or visit www.parasol.org more information.

High School Scholarships & Financial Assistance
Tahoe Expedition Academy High School is committed to offering Scholarships to students who demonstrate academic merit, excellent character and prowess in adventure and athletics as well as Financial Assistance to whose families demonstrate financial need and/or have extenuating circumstances that would prohibit them from affording Tahoe Expedition Academy. We recognize that our ability to offer Scholarships and Financial Assistance vastly enhance the social, academic and adventure / athletic experiences of our entire student body and fosters a community that nurtures and sustains our ties to the greater Lake Tahoe Basin.

Applicants must:

Be accepted to Tahoe Expedition Academy via the regular Admissions Process.
Complete and submit the Admissions Agreement.
Via the Scholarship Application Process, demonstrate academic merit, excellent character, prowess in adventure and athletics.
Via the Financial Assistance Application & Process, demonstrate financial need.
Be a US citizen, permanent resident alien or possess a Student Visa.

Application Process:
To apply:

STEP 1: Complete and submit a Scholarship Application.
STEP 2: Receive Scholarship Award (included on Scholarship Worksheet) and determine whether additional Financial Assistance will be requested by the family.
STEP 3: If applicable, apply for additional Financial Assistance by completing the Financial Assistance Application and Process.
STEP 4: Complete the necessary documentation for enrollment & matriculation.

NOTE: Scholarships are awarded for the duration of the student’s enrollment at Tahoe Expedition Academy. A family does not need to re-apply for Scholarships. Financial Assistance is awarded annually, with the stated understanding that Tahoe Expedition Academy intends to allocate the same award each year unless the family’s financial situation changes significantly. A family is required to re-apply each year for Financial Assistance.

If you are interested in learning more about Scholarships, Financial Assistance and Affording TEA, please contact Taylor Simmers at tsimmers@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org.

Non-profit Status:
Tahoe Expedition Academy is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and shall not discriminate admission, employment or scholarship / financial assistance based on race, creed or any other classification.

Admissions F.A.Q's

How does our Admissions TEAm determine admittance?
We evaluate each candidate based our three primary facets: academics, character and adventure. Our multi-faceted admissions process allows us to interact with the student in a variety of settings and provides us with substantial information about these areas. Further, we admit students from families who demonstrate a commitment in our educational approach and support our school’s Vision and Mission.

What does Tahoe Expedition Academy look for in a student?
We are looking for adventuresome, courageous and community-minded students of demonstrated motivation, ability and character who will contribute to Tahoe Expedition Academy beyond the classroom and into the field, where they will meet with experts and take their learning to another level. We are a school where teachers believe in the potential of every student; together we work to build and sustain a community of learners who demonstrate respect for oneself, others and the natural environment.

What is Early Action and how does it work?
Early Action is the first Round of our Admissions Process and allows families / students to apply to Tahoe Expedition Academy early in the school year, if they have thoroughly researched their options and decided that our school is the first choice. The number of Early Action acceptances depends on availability in the designated class. Early Action is open to all students entering PreK-3. Applicants are required to have all of their admissions materials submitted and to complete the entire Admissions process, including the Home Visit and Interview, in order to be considered for admission during the Early Action round.

When will acceptances be mailed?
We have two ‘Rounds’ in the Admissions process for each grade level as well as a Rolling Admissions after the second ‘Round’ has been completed.

PreK—3 Decisions Mailed by:

Round 1: 1/8/12 (Early Action)
Round 2: 3/22/13
Rolling Acceptances continue after 3/22/13

PreK4–8th Grade Decisions Mailed by:

Round 1: 1/8/12 (Early Action)
Round 2: 3/22/13
Rolling Acceptances continue after 3/22/13

High School Decisions Mailed By:

Round 1: 3/22/13
Rolling Acceptances continue after 3/22/13

How many students will be admitted?
With low student to teacher class sizes, we choose our acceptances carefully. The number of students admitted depends on the quality of the applicants and the availability in existing classes. Our target numbers for each class vary, depending on age but remain between 12 and 16.

If accepted, do I need to pay a deposit?
The application fee of $90 covers costs associated with the admissions process, except the SSAT test for incoming high school students. When a family accepts an offer of admission, they are asked to provide a deposit equal to 10% of tuition.

Are siblings and legacies given priority in the admissions process?
While we value our longstanding relationships with sibling and current / past families, we cannot guarantee admission to students based on a prior association with Tahoe Expedition Academy. Sibling and legacy candidates must undergo the same admission process as all other applicants and will be admitted based on merit.

Will there be a New Family Orientation?
In addition to our all school camping trip and class parties near the beginning of school in August, we hold a New Family Orientation, when families and students can ask questions, meet families and teachers and see classrooms.