Raise a leader, not a test-taker.
We believe education should teach a child how to think, not what to think.
The Apogee network · A K–12 campus in Odessa, Florida.
- Self-directed,
K through 12 - No homework,
ever - Faith-integrated,
no indoctrination - Step Up for Students
Direct Pay Provider
Education wasn't meant to look like this.
Traditional school isn't broken. It's working exactly as designed.
It rewards compliance
Sit still. Raise your hand. Give the answer that's already on the sheet. That's the whole game.
The bell owns the day
A kid gets curious at 10:42. At 10:45 the bell rings and it's gone.
The evening gets eaten
Six hours of school, then two hours of homework. There is no time left for family and childhood.
Our approach
Nobody lectures. They earn it themselves.
Leaders run their own day. They set goals, hold each other to them, and work through core academics at their own pace. A coach's job is to ask the next question — never to hand over the answer.
- Self-directed learning through the Socratic method, used across Apogee campuses nationwide
- Experienced educators who guide as coaches, not lecturers
- Multi-age studios, where older leaders mentor younger ones: see one, do one, teach one
- Faith, family and country aren't subjects we teach. They're the values we live out every day.
- Approved direct pay provider through Step Up for Students (PEP and UA)
Every day starts with a handshake.
Eye contact at the door. A real handshake. Then the Pledge, and prayer. Before a single academic minute is spent, a child learns they are seen, they belong here, and something is expected of them.
A day at Apogee
Structure, without the bell schedule.
The rhythm is intentional but not rigid. Leaders move through the day organically, with academics folded in at each child's own pace.
The welcome
Handshake, Pledge, prayer
Core work
Academics at their own pace
Coaches step in when a leader is stuck. Not before.
Ownership
Freedom with responsibility
Leaders choose when to eat, exercise, take breaks and recharge. They're trusted with freedom and held to high standards.
Passion Projects
Purpose-driven learning
Leaders spend time building real skills through projects they care about. Curiosity becomes ownership, and ownership becomes mastery.
Socratic Discussions & Bible Study
Learn to think, not just answer
Strengthen critical thinking, articulate their beliefs, and engage respectfully with others.
Pickup
They leave still talking about it
And there's no homework waiting. The evening is yours again.
Freedom to move · Relationships built · No hidden agendas
How to join
Three steps. Space is limited.
STEP ONE
Your application
Rolling admissions — apply whenever you're ready.
STEP TWO
Your family visit
Parents and leaders both come. Everyone finds out if this is the right fit.
STEP THREE
Your seat, secured
Sign the forms — and Monday, your child walks into a place built for how they actually learn.
Enrollment
Designed for full-time. Flexible when needed.
The campus
Full-time
Monday–Thursday, plus optional Enrichment Friday
- Core academics owned by the leader, at their own pace
- Projects, Socratic discussion, fitness, earned freedom and life skills, passion projects
- Enrichment Friday included — take it, or take the long weekend
- Apogee Man & Apogee Woman for parents included — a $4,800 value
Two days
Part-time
Mon & Wed, or Tues & Thurs
- Same coaches, same studios, same expectations
- For families easing in, or splitting time with learning at home
- Add Enrichment Fridays at the drop-in rate any week you want
Drop-in
Enrichment Friday
One day a week
- Socratic discussion, exercise, lunch and recess, free time
- A different enrichment activity every week
- Open to local homeschool families looking for connection, life skills, and adventure.
Most families use their scholarship.
Apogee Odessa is an approved provider for the Personalized Education Program (PEP) and Unique Abilities (UA) ESA funds through Step Up for Students. Depending on your county and your child's age, those funds offset roughly $7,500–$9,000 per year. We'll help you build the Student Learning Plan and handle the invoicing and annual testing on our end.
Education for the entire family
Your kid won't outgrow you here.
Most schools take your child and hand them back at 3:00. Apogee hands you something too. All enrolled families get Apogee Man and Apogee Woman — a year of real mentorship, monthly challenges, and a community of parents who refuse to coast. It's a $4,800 program, and it's built into tuition.
Because a child raised to lead, in a home that isn't, doesn't hold.
Behind the mission
Meet Katy.
Every part of this campus — the handshake at the door, the no-homework rule, the coaches who ask instead of tell — traces back to one person's conviction that kids deserve better than the default.
“I'm a mom of two boys, a cop's wife, and a follower of Jesus. My search for something better started with my own children. I dreamed of homeschooling — an education where our faith and values weren't competing with the culture around them, where my boys could grow in character, spend time outdoors, and learn to think for themselves.
I wasn't the only parent who felt that way, so I set out to build a homeschool away from home — a place where children grow in freedom and responsibility, and where parents stay in their God-given role as their children's first educators. When I found the Apogee model, I knew it was what I'd been searching for. And when the chance came to bring a campus to Odessa — the community I grew up in and love — I felt God calling me to say yes.”
— Katy Lamandia, Founder & Owner
What it actually means
The promises, in plain numbers.
0Hours of homework
4Core days, Mon–Thurs
$4,800Parent program, included
PEP & UAScholarships accepted
“The boys were in tears the first Friday crying that school wasn't that day… never did I cry in my life to want to go to school.”
— Apogee Odessa parent“He loves going to school, and I've seen positive changes and his confidence grow. We are grateful to have found you guys and appreciate all you do!”
— Apogee Odessa parentStraight answers
The questions every parent asks.
Still have one? Ask it directly — we'd rather have the conversation than have you guess.
Contact usWhat ages do you serve?
We currently accept elementary levels, with limited enrollment for middle and high school. Through Apogee's partnership with an accredited institution, college-level coursework will be incorporated for older high school leaders as the campus expands.
Are you a Christian school?
We're faith-integrated. There's no separate Bible curriculum or chapel service, but we're rooted in biblical values and practices, and those principles are part of daily life on campus. We know not every family shares the same background or journey, and we welcome that.
Coaches or teachers — what's the difference?
We have certified teachers on staff, but they work as coaches. A coach uses Socratic questioning to help your child become capable of researching and learning independently, stepping in when a leader is stuck to make sure they truly understand the material. The goal is competence they own, not answers they were handed.
Officially, why don't you use the word "school"?
Two reasons. Philosophically, "school" carries a set of assumptions — bells, lectures, grades, compliance — that describe almost nothing about what happens here. Practically, Apogee Odessa is structured as a private tutoring and enrichment center, which is what allows families to use PEP and Unique Abilities ESA funds. We just refuse to call it the thing we were built to replace.
Is this a Montessori school?
No. Our approach is inspired by Maria Montessori, Socrates, and Waldorf learning styles, but we aren't a Montessori school. We believe a whole child grows cognitively, physically, spiritually, and emotionally — and that experiential, hands-on, project-based learning plus Socratic discussion is how that happens.
How do science, history, arts, and music fit in?
Through clubs and passion projects as well as monthly themes. Also, parents may request additional studies whenever they want. This can be added weekly to their academics. Leaders can utilize resources like iCivics and The Bill of Rights Institute for independent study and projects.
What scholarships can we use?
We're an approved provider for PEP and Unique Abilities ESA funds through Step Up for Students, which offset roughly $7,500–$9,000 per year depending on your county and your child's age. Apply early — we recommend submitting your Student Learning Plan by June 1 so your account is funded each quarter. Award amounts are set by the state and issued by a third party, so we can't guarantee them.
Can we try it first?
Yes. Contact us to schedule a shadow day for your leader to see if Apogee Odessa is a good fit for your family.
Can you support a leader with special needs?
Generally we aren't equipped to properly serve special needs students, but every situation is different and we're always open to the conversation. If we're not the right fit for your child, we'll do our best to point you to local resources that are.
Odessa, FL
Come see a Tuesday morning for yourself.
Space is limited. Admissions are rolling. Apply when you're ready — or just come walk the campus and watch a Socratic discussion happen.