Scheduling
Families build their own week, anywhere from 2-6 half-days, plus optional Lunch Club. Join our hybrid microschool and build a weekly schedule that fits your child, family, and homeschool.
Schedule A Tour
Designed Around The Needs of The Family
We are not a full-time school. Our schedule is intentionally designed around the needs of families and children and is free from institutional or state constraints. This flexibility allows you to seamlessly blend high-quality group programs at the Dandelion Schoolhouse with your family’s unique lifestyle and create balance, including:
- At-home learning and personalized core studies.
- Optional Dandelion Community activities – Friday field trips, Camp Days, and community events.
- Outside enrichments that you choose – such as other co-ops, sports leagues, music – you select the combination and providers that best support your child’s homeschool education and your family’s values.
Choosing Your Scheduling Options
At Dandelion, families select and keep their own custom schedule throughout the academic year. You can choose anywhere from 2 to 6 half-days per week, with the option to add our Lunch Club throughout the week and make planned adjustments to match changing needs, growth, or goals.
Morning Programs (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Best For: All ages (5–12), especially younger learners and children who thrive with plenty of activities, choice, and active engagement.
Available Days: Monday/Wednesday, Tuesday/Thursday, or Monday through Thursday.
Lunch Club (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Monday–Thursday) to any session.
Available Days: Monday through Thursday
Monthly fee (regardless of number of days attended) $24 – automatically included when children attend both morning and afternoon sessions and may be added to extend either morning or afternoon sessions
Best For: Everyone – especially those seeking more social opportunities and/or an extension to their child’s day at Dandelion
Afternoon Programs (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
Best For: Members ages 7+ who prefer academic focus, structured lessons, and shared group experiences
Monday & Wednesday: Focuses on a shared literacy or math concept and group exploration/creation
Tuesday & Thursday: Focuses on interactive STEAM projects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math).
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.
Walk through what a typical morning half-day actually looks like, hour by hour: 8:45 arrival, morning circle, work cycle, snack, group lesson, outdoor time, dismissal. Same for an afternoon half-day if offered.
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 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 STEAM 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 36-week schedule is designed to provide a steady rhythm that effortlessly checks off the state’s 180-day recommendation.
We operate from August to June, matching up with local traditional and year-round school calendars. This makes life a whole lot easier for families juggling multiple kids in multiple programs. Plus, as a group that thrives in the great outdoors, this calendar lets us host and enjoy special seasonal events that embrace the absolute best of our Wake Forest weather.”
View Our Calendar
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
