Summer 2026 is open. Classes cap at 8.

See Summer Camps
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Watch & Learn

Expert Talks & Video Hub

Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village that helps gifted, twice-exceptional, and bright, differently-wired students feel seen, nurtured, and happy as heck through strength-based courses, camps, and community.

Sneak Peeks Inside the Classroom

See what a live YSA session actually looks like.

Robotics Class

Sneak peek inside a live YSA classroom · starts muted

Family Stories on Video

Real students and families from our virtual village, in their own words.

Amanda C.

YSA Parent

YSA Moms

YSA Families

Ryan & Christian

Father & son YSA families

Atom & Mom

Mother & son YSA families

Zack

YSA Student

Elana

YSA Student

Alonso

YSA Student

Melissa & Zoe

Mother & daughter YSA families

Luca

YSA Student

Transformational Expert Talks

Our Expert Talk recordings live in the Expert Vault.

We bring in leading voices in gifted and 2e education for regular talks for parents. Enrolled families get access to the full vault of recordings — and everyone can catch our upcoming live events.

See upcoming events & talks

COMMON QUESTIONS

Questions Parents Ask.

Everything you need to know about Young Scholars Academy.

What is Young Scholars Academy?

YSA is a WASC-accredited virtual village for gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students ages 5–18. We offer 175 live online courses (from Minecraft Redstone Engineering to AP Psychology to Mock Trial) with a maximum of 6–8 students per course, taught by 23 hand-selected mentor teachers who are neurodivergent themselves. We serve 1,200+ families across 47+ states and 17 countries. This is not a marketplace. It's a school and a community.

How does it work?

During Fall and Spring semesters, courses meet once a week, live on Zoom, 50 minutes per session. During Summer, camps run Monday through Friday, one week at a time. When your child enrolls in 3 or more courses, they get free access to Homeroom Social Club — a weekly gathering with a consistent group of friends. Between courses, students hang out on our virtual campus where they walk as avatars, eat lunch together, and build real friendships with kids from around the world who finally get them.

Who is this for?

Gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently-wired students, including kids with ADHD, autism, giftedness, anxiety, dyslexia, and PDA. No diagnosis required. If your child is clever, quirky, and hasn't found their people yet, they belong here. About 65% of our families homeschool. The rest use us alongside traditional or charter schools.

Is this a low-demand environment?

Yes. No grades. No traditional homework. Cameras always optional. Challenge by choice. Students are never cold-called, never forced to participate, and never penalized for how they choose to engage. For students with PDA, demand avoidance, or anxiety, this is the difference between a program they resist and one they ask to log into.

How much does it cost?

Semester courses start at $624. Summer camps are $163–$185 per camp. Payment plans, sibling discounts, referral credits, and ESA/charter funding accepted. We're an approved vendor with 10+ state ESA programs.

Will my child actually make friends?

This is the part that surprises parents most. Your child joins a course about something they love and meets 6–8 kids who love it too. Same group all semester (or all week for camps). Parents tell us their children are more connected with this community than with anyone physically around them. 93% of families re-enroll because their kids won't let them stop.

What if it doesn't work?

100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Switch courses, receive a credit, or stop payments. No questions asked. We can offer this because we know what happens when these kids find their people.

What do parents get?

Virtual Coffee & Connect hours every couple of weeks. Regular Expert Talks with leaders like Seth Perler, Debbie Reber, and Dr. Temple Grandin. A Facebook group where families connect and support each other. Progress updates from mentors. And the ability to watch your child's courses anytime (just stay off camera). You're not just enrolling your child. You're joining a village.