Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: I’m interested. What’s the next step?
- Q: Where’s your campus?
- Q: Is SIL accredited?
- Q: Is SIL a private high school?
- Q: May I transfer credit from SIL to another school?
- Q: Does SIL award high school diplomas?
- Q: How will SIL prepare me for college?
- Q: What is mastery learning?
- Q: Is homework important?
- Q: How much time will it take to complete a course?
- Q: How many lessons will it take to complete a course?
- Q: Why take an AP course at SIL?
- Q: Is there a limit to the number of advanced, UC honors, or AP courses I can take?
- Q: May I speak with your instructors?
- Q: May I ask an infrequently asked question?
I’m interested. What’s the next step?
To discuss enrollment, please call our Directors--Ashley and Richard--at 650.941.4350. We also welcome your emailed queries.
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Where's your campus?
Our campus is located in Los Altos at the intersection of El Camino Real and North San Antonio Road. We border Palo Alto and Mountain View, 45 minutes south of San Francisco and 25 minutes north of San Jose. If you’re a visual learner, you may wish to view a map.
909 North San Antonio Road
Los Altos, California 94022
For those unable to attend class at our Los Altos campus, we offer online distance lessons.
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Is SIL accredited?
Yes. SIL is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and all courses are approved by the University of California. To view a list of our UC-approved courses, please visit the UC website at https://doorways.ucop.edu/list and search for “School for Independent Learners.” Some of our courses are pending UC approval, and do not yet appear on the UC course list.
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Is SIL a private high school?
Yes.We are a small, nurturing, tuition-funded private school for grades 7-12. We have full-time and part-time students.
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May I transfer credit from SIL to my high school of record?
Yes. Many students take only one or two classes at SIL, and transfer credit elsewhere. Credit earned at SIL may be applied toward high-school graduation from public and private schools, and may be used to replace low grades earned at other schools.
We will provide you with a "concurrent enrollment form" to be signed by your school counselor. We work closely and collaboratively with neighboring high schools to ensure that our curriculum complements theirs, so that credit is easily transferred and academic standards are upheld.
Upon course completion, we will mail an official transcript to your school and an unofficial transcript to you, for your own records. You may request additional transcripts--official or unofficial--at no extra cost. To demonstrate enrollment, you may request an "in-progress transcript" before the completion of the semester.
Please ask for our help. We’re always available to assist with paperwork, or to speak with your counselor.
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Does SIL award diplomas?
Yes. Students graduate once they've met our graduation requirement of 210 credits. Our graduation requirements match those specified by the State of California, yet our college-bound students complete additional credits required by UC and CSU colleges.
We'll gladly meet with you, at no cost, to help you determine what courses you'll need to take to graduate. To arrange a credit-study consultation, please contact our Program Director, Ashley Sarver, at 650.941.4350 or asarver@sileducation.com.
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How will SIL prepare me for college?
We offer a competitive college prep, advanced, UC honors, and AP curriculum. Our UC-approved courses exceed California education standards and college entrance requirements. Our graduates are often admitted to UC and CSU programs, and have earned merit-based scholarships from highly selective colleges throughout the United States.
Beyond mastering the material, our students learn how to learn. Our teachers nurture the development of effective study habits, and encourage the self-directed learning that will carry a student through college.
We’re happy to meet with you to discuss your collegiate options, and to guide you through the college application process. We offer college counseling services, at no extra cost, and enjoy writing letters of recommendation.
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What is mastery learning?
A course is completed once the student demonstrates a mastery of relevant concepts and passes a sufficient number of assessments. Because we believe that assessments should be an integral part of the learning process (rather than the end of the learning process), we enlist a "no failure" grading policy.
In any course, to proceed to the next chapter or concept, a student must first demonstrate an understanding of the material by earning at least an 80% on the assessment. Students may attempt each assessment--homework, quizzes, exams, essays, projects--an unlimited number of times, until a score of at least 80% is achieved. Final grades are not adversely affected by continued assessment attempts. At SIL, you must earn your grade, yet failure is not an option.
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Is homework important?
Yes. We believe in learning as a lifelong pursuit, a pursuit which largely occurs outside of the classroom. To complete your semester within the four-month window, you must study outside of class. You’ll work with your teacher to determine the amount of learning to be completed outside of class. This "learning" that takes place outside of class may take many forms: reading, annotating, writing, considering, memorizing, solving, creating. Your teacher will not assign homework for homework's sake, but rather will help you to make the most of your time between lessons.
In the event that you arrive to class unprepared, having not completed your assignments, your teacher will call or email your parents, to keep them apprised of your progress.
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How much time will it take to complete a course?
It varies. As our courses are mastery-based, a student completes a course as quickly as he or she is able to demonstrate a mastery of relevant concepts by passing a sufficient number of assessments. For more details, please review our philosophy of mastery learning.
Although the pace of your course is up to you, learning takes place within the semester system. Each semester of each course is designed to last four months. Some students complete their coursework much more quickly, while others take more time. Because the completion of the course is predicated on your understanding of the material, the timeframe in which you learn is ultimately determined by your own efforts. There is no required number of lessons or homework assignments; as soon as you demonstrate your understanding, you'll have finished the course.
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How many lessons will it take to complete a course?
It varies. You might meet with your teacher every day, or you might schedule infrequent lessons as an independent study student. Either way, in your first lesson, you and your teacher will define your personalized timeline, and will establish what you'll need to accomplish each week to stay on track.
Students who make use of our "supportive study hall" progress more quickly. At any time, students may come to SIL to study and to use our resources, and may ask our teachers questions, at no extra charge.
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Why take an AP course at SIL?
While group AP classes may move too quickly through dense material, our one-to-one classes allow students to explolre a subject at their own pace. Failure is not an option: as the only student in the class, you will not be left behind. Our AP students schedule lessons at their convenience, as often or infrequently as needed.
AP courses boost your grade point average. AP courses are weighted by the UC and CSU systems, which means that you receive an extra grade point for every AP course you complete. If you earn an A in an AP class, it counts as a 5.0.
High scores on AP exams earn college credit. Upon completion of an AP course, most students take the corresponding AP exam. A score of 4 or 5 earns college credit. Ambitious AP students may enter college with Sophomore standing.
To learn more about the Advanced Placement program, please visit the College Board website. To discover how colleges award credit for AP coursework and exam scores, please consult the guidance office of each college. To explore how you may personalize our AP courses, please contact our AP Coordinator, Richard Gowers, at rgowers@sileducation.com.
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Is there a limit to the number of honors or AP classes I can take?
No. You may take an unlimited number of advanced, UC honors, and AP courses. It’s not an overwhelming experience, as each class moves at your own pace: no faster, no slower.
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May I speak with your instructors?
Of course! Visit our staff directory to find contact information.
If you’re unsure of whom to contact, please contact Richard Gowers, our Principal, at 650.941.4350 or rgowers@sileducation.com. He will introduce you to the appropriate teacher or administrator.
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May I ask an infrequently asked question?
We’re teachers, we love to answer questions! Please call our Directors--Josh, Ashley and Richard--at 650.941.4350. You may also email us, or stop by our campus in Los Altos.
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