Scheduling
Families build their own week, anywhere from 2 to 6 half-days, plus optional Lunch Club drop-in. Join our hybrid microschool and build a weekly schedule that fits your child, family, and homeschool.
Schedule A Tour
The Schedule Philosophy
Most NC homeschool families want some structured community but not full-time school. Our schedule lets families pair Dandelion with at-home learning, other co-ops, sports, music, or whatever else they’re doing.
Our scheduling is designed for families and children – not the demands of an institution or the state.
You get to pair high-quality group educational programs at the Dandelion Schoolhouse with at-home learning and personalized studies, optional Dandelion Friday field trips, Camp Days, and Events as well as other co-ops, sports, music, and all that your family values.
Choosing Your Scheduling Options
We offer 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 half-days per week.
Families select and keep their own schedule throughout our Academic Year. Members may enroll for 2 to 6 half-days each week as well as our optional Lunch Club from 12-1, Monday-Thursday. Our morning Montessori groups are open to all ages 5-12, and we recommend our afternoon Montessori and STEAM groups for members ages 7+.
For younger learners and those who prefer lots of choice and active engagement, we find that our morning groups are the best fit. This may be Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, or Monday through Thursday from 9am-12pm.
For those who prefer academic focus, structured lessons and shared group experiences, our afternoon programs are often a great fit! Our Monday and Wednesday afternoons open with a shared literacy or math topic. Our Tuesday and Thursday STEAM meetings begin with shared experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
The most common schedules we see are 2 or 4 half-day mornings plus lunch club for our youngest learners, 2 or 4 half-day afternoons plus lunch club for more experienced learners, and 2-3 full days (mornings and afternoons) or 2 full + 2 half days for members who have Dandelion as a primary part of their homeschool plan
Here are the most common schedules our families choose:
- For Young Learners: 2 or 4 mornings per week + Lunch Club.
- For Older/Experienced Learners: 2 or 4 afternoons per week + Lunch Club.
- As a Primary Homeschool Core: 2 to 3 full days, or a combination of 2 full days and 2 half-days.
8:50-9:45 Arrival and Outdoor Connection
9:45-10:00 Morning Circle Up and Journal Planning
10:00-11:45 Work Cycle
11:45-12:00 Closing Circle Up, Clean Up
12:00 Dismissal for morning-only members
12:00-1:00 Lunch Club- Outdoor Connection and lunch
1:00 Dismissal/Arrival
1:00-1:30 Afternoon group Open Play/Group Game
1:30-1:45 Circle Up and planning
1:45-2:30 Group Lesson/Activity
2:30 Mindful Moment
2:30-3:30 Work Cycle
3:30- Closing Circle Up/Clean Up
4:00 Dismissal
Example Family Schedules
Jack (10) and Nole (7) are brothers.
They are members of our school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and STEAM Project labs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. During the mornings, we see them both going around the room in different directions. Jack is always first to join whatever is going on in the science corner, and Nole likes to start with math or reading. They work with each other and Work friends, always finding each other again around Lunch Club. Nole usually joins whatever game is going on, while Jack prefers his own time on the swings and enjoying lunch with friends. In the afternoons during STEAM Project Labs, they often select to work with other partners, but still check in with each other throughout the session. They work on our experiments or pull shared knowledge and experiences to share and learn new things with classmates.
Jane (9) and Benly (6) are sisters.
Benly is a gentle six-year-old who enjoys bringing in figurines for play to share with the classmates, time in the garden, and almost always picks an art project first during Schoolhouse. Benly stays for lunch club on Tuesdays until Jane gets dropped off for Project Labs. Jane comes early for lunch club on Thursdays and then shares Project Labs with us. She shows tremendous leadership with great planning, research, and organizational skills. Always leading classmates with directions and keeping detailed notes, Jane almost always picks literacy first from the Academic Menu. We love getting to see what she writes each week!
Mark (8), who is the youngest in his family.
He joins us for lunch club before STEAM Project labs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, playing with classmates and connecting outside before we go indoors for our project labs. In the lab, he’s a thoughtful observer and an excellent writer, keen to bring his language skills and curiosity into the work we’re doing together. We notice that he enjoys partnering with all ages – and especially shines when working with a younger member, giving kind guidance and encouragement while they work.
Paul (10) is an only child in his third year of homeschooling.
He is interested in all topics and likes to work with concrete examples first. Paul is at the Schoolhouse for both morning and afternoon Montessori meetings on Mondays and Wednesdays and joins us for lunch club and STEAM project labs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Paul is an “idea guy”; he likes to include friends and incorporate LEGO and jokes into any work that he can. Because Paul is with us for multiple sessions, we make sure that his Work Plans are balanced to include all subject areas and emphasize extending ideas and trying new things in the Schoolhouse.
Haley (7) is also an only child.
She joins us for Morning Montessori Schoolhouse and Lunch Club on Mondays and Wednesdays, and STEAM Project Labs on Thursdays. In Schoolhouse and lunch club, we see her engaging in imaginative play, games, and a variety of tasks. She shares her love of K-pop with a bunch of other girls her age, alongside many side quests into competition and imaginative play with an array of classmates. During STEM labs, we count on Haley to ask the big questions and to keep a great focus on experiments and other information sets.
Calendar & AcademicYear
Our state recommends 1100 days of instruction in homeschools. Because 36 x 5 = 1100, we offer a 36-week meeting calendar to provide a rhythm that aligns with homeschool requirements.
Our program calendar runs August – June, in alignment with Wake County schools, allowing families with multiple children in multiple programs many opportunities to sync up.
Being a group that spends a tremendous amount of time outdoors, this also allows us to provide special programs and events that match our seasons in Wake Forest, NC.
Pricing Reference
Choose your schedule and your investment! Annual tuition begins at $4,100 for two half days per week. Tuition may be paid all at once, biannually, in ten installments, and/or with financial support. If you wish to work with us, we wish to make it happen.
Our pricing table offers generous discounts, beginning at 7.3 percent for four sessions (for an individual child or shared by siblings) and increasing with commitment to additional sessions.
Learn More About Tuition
