Excel Academy Charter School Homeschool Guide

Excel Academy Charter School is a tuition-free California public charter school offering personalized independent study and virtual learning options for students in TK through Grade 12.

Excel operates through two charter authorizers: Warner Unified School District in San Diego County and Helendale School District in San Bernardino County. The school currently serves eligible students living in San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Kern Counties.

Excel Academy at a Glance

School Type: Public Charter School
Grades: TK–12
Tuition: Free
Learning Model: Independent Study / Personalized Learning / Virtual Learning
Parent-Led Option: Yes
Teacher-Led Virtual Option: Yes
Instructional Funds: Yes
Approved Educational Providers: Yes
Teacher Support: Credentialed Teacher of Record
High School Program: Yes
WASC Accredited: Yes, through 2029
Counties Served: San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern

Program Types

Charter Independent Study
Personalized Learning
Parent-Directed Homeschooling
Virtual Learning
Educational Funds
Approved Community Providers
Credentialed Teacher Support
TK–12
Online Curriculum
Community-Based Classes

What Is Excel Academy Charter School?

Excel Academy is a public charter school designed for families who want more flexibility than a traditional classroom setting.

Students do not attend a conventional school campus every day. Instead, families choose from different educational pathways based on how much parent involvement, teacher instruction, structure, and curriculum flexibility they want.

Excel currently offers three primary academic paths:

Personalized Elementary — TK–6
Personalized Secondary — Grades 7–12
Virtual Pathway — TK–8

The personalized pathways operate through independent study, while the Virtual Pathway provides scheduled online instruction directly from Excel teachers.

What Counties Does Excel Academy Serve?

Excel Academy currently accepts eligible students who live in:

Los Angeles County
Orange County
Riverside County
San Bernardino County
San Diego County
Kern County

Families must provide proof of residency in an eligible county when enrolling. Enrollment may also depend on teacher capacity within the student’s region.

Excel Academy Personalized Elementary

The Personalized Elementary Pathway serves students in TK through Grade 6.

In this program, the parent or guardian acts as the student’s primary day-to-day instructor.

Each student is assigned a credentialed Teacher of Record, or ToR, who oversees the educational program.

Families work with the Teacher of Record to select standards-aligned curriculum that fits the student’s needs.

Curriculum may include:

Traditional textbooks
Online curriculum
Hands-on learning
Project-based learning
Classes through approved educational providers
Community-based educational activities

The Teacher of Record helps create the student’s course of study and establishes academic expectations for each learning period.

Excel Academy Personalized Secondary

The Personalized Secondary Pathway serves students in Grades 7–12.

Like the elementary program, parents remain heavily involved in the student’s education while a credentialed Teacher of Record oversees academic progress.

This pathway may be a good fit for students who:

Can work independently
Want flexible curriculum
Prefer home-based education
Want parent involvement
Need a more customized educational plan

High school students also have access to counseling, college planning, career education, and approved dual-enrollment opportunities.

Excel Academy Virtual Pathway

Excel’s Virtual Pathway is significantly different from its personalized homeschool program.

The Virtual Pathway serves students in TK through Grade 8.

Students participate in an online classroom with peers five days per week and receive direct instruction in core subjects from credentialed Excel teachers.

The program includes:

100% virtual learning
Live teacher instruction
Grade-level classrooms
Regular interaction with classmates
Standards-aligned curriculum
Google Classroom
Zoom
School-provided Chromebook

In this pathway, the Excel teacher is the primary educator, rather than the parent.

This makes Excel unusual because families can choose between a more traditional homeschool-style program and a structured virtual-school model within the same organization.

How Much Instructional Funding Does Excel Academy Provide?

For the 2026–27 school year, Excel’s current handbook lists the following instructional-fund amounts.

Personalized Path

TK–8: $3,800 per student

Grades 9–12: $4,100 per student

Virtual Path

TK–8: $2,200 per student

The amount depends on the student’s grade, academic pathway, and enrollment date. Funds can depreciate when students enroll later in the year.

When Are Excel Academy Instructional Funds Available?

Excel divides instructional funds into multiple allotments during the school year.

Personalized Path

TK–8

August: $2,280
December: $1,520
Total: $3,800

Grades 9–12

August: $2,460
December: $1,640
Total: $4,100

Virtual Path

TK–8

August: $1,100
December: $1,100
Total: $2,200

Unused funds do not carry over to the following school year.

What Can Excel Academy Instructional Funds Pay For?

Instructional funds can be used for approved educational materials and services that support the student’s academic program.

Potential approved uses include:

Curriculum
Books
Educational supplies
Educational software
Academic tutoring
Supplemental academic classes
Art lessons
Music lessons
Physical education classes
School-sponsored field trips
Approved learning-center classes

All purchases must support the student’s educational needs and comply with Excel’s purchasing policies.

Are Instructional Funds Cash Paid to Parents?

No.

Excel’s instructional funds remain public school funds.

Families request approved materials or services through Excel’s ordering system.

Excel specifically states that it does not reimburse families directly for purchases.

That means families should obtain school approval before purchasing something they expect Excel to cover.

Does Excel Academy Have Approved Vendors?

Yes.

Excel calls its approved vendors Content and Community Providers, or CCPs.

These providers may offer educational products and services such as:

Curriculum
Books
Educational materials
Tutoring
Academic classes
Art instruction
Music lessons
Physical education
Other educational services

Families receive access to Excel’s approved provider list through their Teacher of Record.

Parents and teachers may also request that a new provider be considered for approval.

Can Excel Academy Funds Be Used for Technology?

Yes, subject to school rules.

Excel provides Chromebooks to enrolled students.

For the Personalized Learning Pathway, students in K–12 receive a Chromebook for instructional use. TK students may request one.

Students in the Virtual Pathway TK–8 also receive a Chromebook as part of their program.

Any computer or technology purchased with school instructional funds remains the property of Excel Academy and may have to be returned when the student leaves the school.

Curriculum Flexibility at Excel Academy

Curriculum flexibility is one of the major features of Excel’s Personalized Pathways.

Families work with their Teacher of Record to create a standards-aligned educational plan.

Curriculum may include:

Textbook programs
Online curriculum
Hands-on learning
Project-based learning
Approved community classes
Educational service providers

Excel publishes curriculum menus, but families may also discuss other curriculum choices with their Teacher of Record.

The Virtual Pathway is less flexible because the curriculum and instructional schedule are primarily determined by Excel’s teachers.

Teacher Support at Excel Academy

Every personalized-learning student receives a credentialed Teacher of Record.

The Teacher of Record works with the family to:

Develop the student’s learning plan
Select curriculum
Establish pacing
Review student work
Monitor academic progress
Approve eligible educational purchases
Help families meet school requirements

For Personalized Elementary students, families and the Teacher of Record meet at the end of each learning period to review academic progress.

The 2026–27 handbook also requires Personalized Path families to complete some meetings in person during the school year.

Does Excel Academy Require In-Person Meetings?

The Personalized Path is home-based, but it is not necessarily 100% remote.

For Personalized Elementary students, Excel’s current handbook says Learning Period meetings are a combination of online and in-person meetings.

Students and families must meet with their Teacher of Record at least three times in person by the end of Learning Period 6.

Families considering Excel should therefore confirm how far they live from their assigned teacher or meeting location.

The Virtual Pathway operates entirely virtually.

Excel Academy High School

Excel serves students through Grade 12.

High school students in the Personalized Secondary Pathway can access:

College-preparatory coursework
A–G coursework
Honors courses
AP-approved coursework
Dual enrollment
Career Technical Education
College and career counseling
Graduation planning

Excel requires students to earn 220 credits to graduate.

Students may also request approved community-college courses for dual enrollment, subject to eligibility requirements and school approval.

Is Excel Academy Accredited?

Yes.

Excel Academy reports that both of its charter schools — the Warner Unified-authorized charter and the Helendale-authorized charter — are WASC accredited through 2029.

WASC stands for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Accreditation can be particularly important for families considering high school, college admissions, transfers, or other situations where recognized school accreditation matters.

Is Excel Academy a Public School?

Yes.

Excel Academy is a tuition-free California public charter school.

The California Department of Education currently lists two active Excel Academy Charter schools:

Warner Unified / San Diego County

and

Helendale Elementary / San Bernardino County

Both are active K–12 public charter schools, and CDE currently describes their virtual instruction as Primarily Virtual.

Does Excel Academy Offer Special Education?

Yes.

Excel states that special education and related services are available at no cost to eligible students with Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs.

The school also provides Section 504 accommodations and academic-intervention services.

Families with existing IEPs or 504 Plans should discuss available services and how those supports are delivered in an independent-study environment before enrolling.

Excel Academy Enrollment

Enrollment is currently open for the 2026–27 school year.

Excel accepts students from:

San Diego County
Orange County
Riverside County
Los Angeles County
San Bernardino County
Kern County

The school notes that some areas may have waitlists because enrollment depends partly on available teacher capacity.

Families must provide proof of residency and complete Excel’s enrollment documents.

Who Might Like Excel Academy?

Excel may appeal to families looking for:

A tuition-free public homeschool charter
Significant curriculum flexibility
Educational funding
Approved vendor classes
Parent-directed homeschooling
Credentialed teacher support
A structured virtual-school alternative
TK–12 continuity
High-school and college planning
Dual enrollment
Online and offline curriculum choices

One of Excel’s biggest advantages is that it offers two very different approaches.

Families who want to teach their children themselves can choose the Personalized Path, while families wanting Excel teachers to provide daily instruction can choose the Virtual Path for TK–8 students.

Excel Academy Personalized Path vs. Virtual Path

Feature	Personalized Path	Virtual Path
Grades	TK–12	TK–8
Parent is primary instructor	✅ Yes	❌ No
Excel teacher is primary instructor	Oversight / support	✅ Yes
Live classes every school day	❌ Not generally required	✅ Yes
Curriculum flexibility	✅ High	More structured
Instructional funds	✅ $3,800–$4,100	✅ $2,200
Approved community providers	✅	More limited
Home-based learning	✅	✅
In-person teacher meetings	Some required	❌ Fully virtual
Chromebook provided	✅	✅

Funding figures shown are Excel’s published 2026–27 amounts and may be reduced for students who enroll later in the school year.

Excel Academy vs. Private Homeschooling

Excel Academy	Private Homeschool
Public charter school	Family operates independently
Tuition-free	Family generally pays for curriculum
Instructional funds available	No charter instructional funding
Credentialed teacher oversight	Parent directs education
Public-school requirements apply	Greater independence
Student work documented	Requirements depend on legal option
State testing requirements apply	Different requirements
Approved providers required for charter purchases	Family chooses providers directly

Neither option is automatically better.

The main difference is the trade-off between public-school resources and funding versus greater independence from a public-school system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Excel Academy a homeschool charter school?

Yes. Excel’s Personalized Pathways operate through independent study and allow parents to serve as the student’s primary instructor while working with a credentialed Teacher of Record.