AEON School vs Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy
AEON School and Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy are both in San Francisco. Both schools follow a Bespoke curriculum. Published annual fees are $11,800 - 39,500 at AEON School and $3,250 - 14,000 at Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy, which puts AEON School roughly 197% higher. AEON School takes pupils from 10 to 18, and Bertrand D Hsu American & Chinese Bicultural Academy from 3 to 14.
Global online platform serving grades 5 through 12.
Location
455 Arkansas St., San Francisco, CA 94107 (Potrero Hill neighborhood). The campus sits on Potrero Hill with views of downtown. It is two blocks from Jackson Park & Playground and Potrero Hill Rec Center and is next door to the public library.
Stages
Stages
Grades 5–12 (online).
Stages
K-8
School type
School type
Online private school
School type
Non-profit private school
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Global; serves students worldwide.
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
Non-religious.
Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
Our Daily Rhythms: Younger students have shorter classes and more recess; Older students get longer blocks; Mondays and Tuesdays are core academic days; Wednesdays and Fridays include arts, gardening, SEL (social and emotional learning), and cooking; Thursdays are reserved for field trips. Each semester includes irregular weeks; Summer session is built into the year with a lighter, more activity-based schedule.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
School bus service to start next month (announcement dated November 18, 2025).
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fee - Application fee: USD 50. This application fee is applied to the student's tuition if the student is offered admission and enrolls.
Tuition fees (overview and how they are set) - Aeon School uses a family-based sliding‑scale (Reduced Tuition) model rather than a fixed published tuition by grade. Annual tuition for enrolled students falls within a published range of USD 11,800 to USD 39,500. The final annual tuition for a student is determined by a family's total household income, assets, and the number of children enrolled. This single-family assessment model applies across the school's grades (grades 5–12). - Because tuition is individualized under the sliding scale, the school does not publish fixed per‑grade or per‑term price lists; families receive the specific annual and installment amounts for their household during the admissions/enrollment process.
Tuition — typical billing schedule and payment terms - Standard billing: families are invoiced and may pay by bank transfer (standard option). Credit card payments are accepted for an additional small convenience fee. - Standard payment plan: billed in two installments per year, with each installment due prior to the start of each semester. - Pre‑pay annual plan: families may elect to pay the full annual tuition prior to the start of the school year to receive a discount on their annual tuition. - Monthly payment plan: a monthly payment option is available for an additional small administrative fee; families enroll in the monthly plan at contract/enrollment.
Boarding fees - Not applicable. Aeon School operates as an online private school (grades 5–12); there are no boarding facilities and no boarding fees.
Other charges and typical additional costs - The application fee is the only routinely stated compulsory fee in the admissions information (USD 50, applied to tuition on enrollment). - The school does not publish a mandatory uniform charge or a routine boarding charge. Any optional or incidental costs (for example, external standardized test fees, AP exam fees, course materials, or optional extracurricular costs) would be billed separately or paid by families as applicable; these are not shown as fixed mandatory school fees in the published admissions/tuition materials.
Refund information - The application fee is applied to tuition upon enrollment. There is no detailed, publicly posted multi‑line refund policy visible in the school's published admissions and tuition material; specific refund or withdrawal terms (for example, how refunds are handled after invoice/installation payments or mid‑semester withdrawals) are set at enrollment/contract stage and are communicated to families through the enrollment contract and invoice. The application fee's application toward tuition on enrollment is explicitly stated.
Fee payment options - Accepted payment methods and arrangements include bank transfer (standard invoice payment) and credit card (accepted with a small convenience fee). Families may choose one of the available payment plans (annual pre‑pay, two‑installment semester billing, or monthly plan with a small fee). Specific invoicing and payment instructions are provided to families when an enrollment contract is issued.
Brief note on published detail availability - Aeon publishes a sliding‑scale annual tuition range (USD 11,800–39,500) and an application fee (USD 50). The school does not publish fixed per‑grade or per‑term tariff tables; families receive an individualized annual tuition and the related installment amounts during enrollment. Detailed refund and withdrawal mechanics, any enrollment deposit amount, and itemized mandatory fees beyond the application fee are handled through the enrollment contract and individual billing.
Fee details
Application fees
- No separate application fee amount is published. Families complete an inquiry form to receive an application and, upon an offer of admission, submit an enrollment agreement and pay an enrollment deposit (deposit amount not published).
Tuition — overview (monthly and annual)
- Tuition is published as a sliding scale charged per month. The published monthly range is USD 270 – USD 2,000 per month, shown as the equivalent annual range USD 3,250 – USD 24,000 per year. Tuition includes lunch, snacks, and year‑round (12‑month) programming including summer. Sliding‑scale levels are applied based on family need.
- No separate, published tuition broken down by individual grade or year‑group is provided; tuition is presented as the sliding monthly/yearly range rather than a per‑grade schedule.
Tuition — term / session detail
- The school operates year‑round; tuition is stated per month and per year (12‑month programming). There is no published term‑by‑term invoice schedule on record.
After‑school, extended care and enrichment fees
- Extended care and after‑school enrichment are available; published monthly pricing ranges from USD 122 – USD 365 per month.
- The published after‑school program pricing (open to BHA and non‑BHA students) is: - For BHA students: USD 365 / month (5 days/week) or USD 275 / month (3 days/week). - For non‑BHA students: USD 420 / month (5 days/week) or USD 315 / month (3 days/week).
Summer program fees
- Summer School + Camp (6 weeks: June 22 – July 31, 2026) published weekly tuition rates: - USD 395 per week for the full 6‑week session. - USD 415 per week for any 4‑week session. - USD 450 per week for week‑by‑week enrollment. - After‑school care during summer (3:30–6:00 pm) is published as USD 100 / week (full 6 weeks), USD 105 / week (any 4 weeks), or USD 115 / week (week‑by‑week). Healthy lunch and snacks are included in the summer program fees.
Boarding fees
- No boarding program is offered. The school is described as a full‑day, year‑round day school for TK–8 (no boarding fees apply).
Other costs and routine extras
- Lunches and snacks are included in published tuition.
- No published uniform fee or uniform purchase requirements are provided. No specific published charges for textbooks, materials, or regular incidental fees are published. Published optional/additional services include after‑school enrichment and extended care (fees listed above) and summer program fees.
- Tuition assistance and scholarships are available; an Academic Merit Scholarship and a Scholarship Fund (supported by donations) are referenced.
Refunds and cancellations
- No comprehensive general refund policy or standard tuition refund schedule is published. One specific published item: when families opt out of portions of the summer session, the corresponding tuition is treated as a tax‑deductible donation with a receipt provided rather than issued as a refundable credit.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is quoted per month and per year; the school operates year‑round. Enrollment requires signing an enrollment agreement and payment of a deposit at acceptance; no published schedule of term invoicing, deposit amounts, payment deadlines, late‑payment penalties, or refund timelines is provided.
Fee payment options
- Donation pages show an online credit‑card donation form and an option to donate by check (payable to A2Z Exploration / mail address provided). Those donation payment channels are published for gifts and scholarship contributions. No explicit, published list of accepted payment methods for tuition (for example, credit card, ACH/bank transfer, wire, or check) is provided in the publicly posted fee information.
The school operates as a day school for TK–8; it runs a full-day program year-round.
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
Tuition includes two days of hot Asian lunches, two days of hot Western lunches, and one sandwich buffet day; monthly cooking days are held; snacks are provided. Students bring their own plates and utensils and wash them after meals.
House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
Aeon School was founded by key leaders who transformed Avenues The World School from an ambitious vision into a leading model of global education. Formerly known as Avenues Online, Aeon School has grown into a global learning community spanning five continents. The school is NEASC-accredited and offers NCAA-approved courses.
Governance and ownership
The school is a nonprofit private school governed as a 501(c)(3) organization.
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The school has Great Works as the cornerstone of its education, an interdisciplinary core curriculum that unites English, social studies, science, and the arts through integrated learning. Students read a common set of Great Books and undertake interdisciplinary projects that connect learning to local communities and global issues. Math is taught through Math Inquiry, a problem-based mathematics curriculum modeled on materials developed at Phillips Exeter Academy, fostering collaboration and deep mathematical thinking. Beginning in middle school, students who demonstrate exceptional mathematical talent may apply to the Institute for Advanced Mathematics. Language learning is delivered through Global Passport, a task-based language curriculum that combines project-based learning with authentic practice. Students may study Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish.
Curriculum details
Full-day, year-round private school for grades K-8. The bicultural program blends East and West, combining Chinese discipline and academic rigor with American creativity and independence. Language is one component; students are immersed in Chinese culture, including 5000 years of history, philosophy, poetry, and calligraphy, and are encouraged to continue learning and speaking Chinese outside the classroom. Core subjects include English, math, and Chinese, taught by dedicated subject teachers, with adjunct instructors in science, music, gardening, and art. Class sizes are capped under 20, and the daily schedule mixes quiet study with active time, arts, SEL, and field trips on a Potrero Hill campus.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Aeon graduates pursue a wide spectrum of pathways, from Ivy/Ivy-equivalent universities and selective private research institutions to public flagships, small liberal arts colleges, and specialized programs in engineering, design, business, STEM, and the arts. They are prepared not only to enter competitive programs but to thrive in them. University counseling lists acceptances to Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of California system (including Berkeley and UCLA), and New York University, among many others.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
Starting in middle school, students who demonstrate exceptional mathematical talent may apply to the Institute for Advanced Mathematics.
Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
AEON School operates on the campus of Mission College in Santa Clara, California, providing in-person classes for grades 5–12 alongside AEON's online global classrooms. The school day runs Monday–Friday, 8:00am–3:30pm, at 3000 Mission College Blvd. The campus fosters in-person collaboration and a learning community, supported by master educators who emphasize both academic growth and student wellbeing. The Design Lab program provides hands-on design challenges and fieldwork as part of AEON's innovative curriculum.
Facilities overview
The school is a full-day, year-round private school for TK-8. It is located at 455 Arkansas St., San Francisco, CA 94107, in the Potrero Hill neighborhood. The campus includes a garden where gardening and cooking classes take place. The program features weekly field trips to parks, museums and workplaces and visits to Florence Fang Community Farm every three weeks, with an annual 3-day, 2-nights nature ranch retreat. There are hands-on science, arts, and physical education offerings, including automotive classes and music and visual arts programs, with technology-enabled learning for students.
Sports facilities
Sports facilities
AEON School is the official partner of USA Fencing and US Sailing. The partnerships allow students to fully pursue athletic goals while receiving a world-class education through personalized calendars and flexible scheduling. Athletic schedules are integrated with the school timetable to accommodate training and competition. Several scholarships are awarded each year to members of these athletic communities.
Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
Great Works is the cornerstone of AEON's core curriculum—a four-year interdisciplinary sequence co-taught by faculty in science, engineering, and humanities. Students complete interdisciplinary projects and study a common set of Great Books, typically 12–16 texts per year, linking their work to global contexts. Math Inquiry is an integrated, problem-based mathematics program modeled on Phillips Exeter Academy, with pathways from algebra through calculus and opportunities for advanced coursework for exceptionally talented students. Global Passport is a language curriculum available in 9 languages, focusing on task-based learning to develop practical fluency. Flight Path is an analytics platform that combines qualitative and quantitative data to create a real-time trajectory of each student's growth and support personalized interventions.
Academic facilities
The school prioritizes English, Math, and Chinese, taught with hands-on learning and personalized support. English includes a daily school-wide reading class grouped by proficiency, with guidance from teachers and peers, and an AI-enabled platform to reinforce grammar and reading comprehension. Math is taught in Chinese for younger students, with an AI-based platform for self-paced learning and weekly teacher-led reviews; older students also participate in project-based and concept review math. Chinese is taught daily with Mandarin and Pinyin, and older students learn Chinese culture in English while younger students learn math and science in Chinese. The school organizes students into Lower (TK–2), Middle (3–5), and Upper (6–8) cohorts, and includes activities such as sentence diagramming, cursive handwriting, and a mix of traditional and modern learning approaches, with cell phones prohibited on campus and laptops allowed only during class time.
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
Design Lab provides hands-on projects rooted in the Universal Principles of Design, with certifications in Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, and project management. In AEON's Signature Experiences, students undertake six ambitious Design Lab projects each year rooted in design principles. Kayaking in the Elkhorn Slough is one example of experiential learning. A visit to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and cultural events like the Mid-Autumn Festival are also part of Signature Experiences, as is an Alphabetography Photo Walk.
Extra curricular facilities
The school runs Summer School + Camp (TK-8) and Academic After School, with a Free Academic Assessment available. Community programs include open campus activities, on-site and neighborhood engagement, and weekly field trips, along with visits to Florence Fang Community Farm every three weeks and an annual retreat to a nature ranch. Visual arts, music (piano, singing, percussion, and Chinese instruments), and physical education are part of enrichment, with gardening and cooking classes teaching collaboration and responsibility. Technology literacy, programming and robotics are introduced to students starting in kindergarten, and after-school programs extend learning beyond the core day.
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
Aeon School, formerly Avenues Online, exists to create innovative solutions that enable learners to move the world. Aeon was founded by key leaders who transformed Avenues The World School from an ambitious vision into a leading model of global education. Starting with 22 pioneering students in 2019, Aeon School has grown into a global learning community spanning five continents, while staying committed to academic excellence and student wellbeing. The school holds accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and NCAA‑approved courses, underscoring the rigor of its program. Since 2021, Aeon graduates have thrived at Harvard, Stanford, University of Chicago, and the University of Pennsylvania, and partnerships with Olympians and initiatives like Rise demonstrate the ability to nurture scholastic achievement and exceptional talent across academics, athletics, research, the arts, and leadership.
History
The Grand Opening occurred in 2023; the school is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The school operates as a full-day, year-round private school for grades TK–8 in San Francisco at 455 Arkansas St, near Potrero Hill. The founder and Head of School is Ann Hsu. The school blends Chinese and American educational traditions, merging language study with Chinese culture to foster bicultural understanding.
Community
Community
Aeon School has a global community spanning five continents with 175 students and 26 countries represented. Class sizes range 10–15, and learning can occur from anywhere. The community is anchored by expert faculty, caring deans, and a global network of peers that supports safety, respect, and belonging. Families and partners collaborate to support students' pursuits, from athletics to entrepreneurship, aligning with the program's emphasis on scholarship and extraordinary experiences.
Community
The school functions as a community hub with programs open to the general public. Community offerings include Summer School + Camp (TK-8), Academic After School (TK-8), and Free Academic Assessment (3–10). On-campus activities include weekly field trips, arts, gardening, SEL, and cooking, with irregular weeks for retreats, service projects, and travel. The campus sits on Potrero Hill and features a yard that doubles as a gym and garden, with proximity to Jackson Park and the public library.
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
The school uses Great Works, a cross-disciplinary core curriculum that unites English, social studies, science, and arts in one integrated learning experience. Students engage in deep reading, interdisciplinary projects, and practical application across disciplines to connect learning with real-world issues. Math Instruction centers on Math Inquiry, a problem-based mathematics program modeled on Phillips Exeter Academy, with an Institute for Advanced Mathematics for exceptionally talented middle- and high-school students. The school is NEASC-accredited and offers NCAA‑approved courses, and Aeon graduates have gone on to study at leading universities such as Harvard, Stanford, the University of Chicago, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Academic & intellectual
The school operates a full-day, year-round private program for TK–8. It blends East and West by combining Chinese academic rigor with American creativity and independence. Language is just one part of the program; students also study Chinese culture, philosophy, poetry, calligraphy, and more to motivate ongoing Chinese language learning and cultural engagement. Its guiding principles include Academic Rigor, Whole Child Development, Bicultural Worldview, Community Roots, Character Education, and Global Readiness.
Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Great Works integrates the arts as a core component of learning, connecting English, social studies, science, and arts through interdisciplinary projects. Students read a common set of Great Books spanning literature, science, mathematics, philosophy, art, political science, and economics, and undertake projects that connect learning to local and global communities. Aeon graduates have pursued notable arts and performance endeavors, including a Broadway performer and an artist-activist.
Arts & creative
The school hosts performances such as a Winter Recital that blends traditional Christmas carols with Chinese songs and poems. Chinese culture is integrated through calligraphy, poetry, and other cultural arts as part of the curriculum. The community posts show art and creative projects and student-led performances.
Cultural & language
Cultural & language
Global Passport is a task-based language curriculum that blends project-based learning with authentic practice, accelerating students' ability to communicate in their chosen language. Students can study Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Spanish. The program is part of a global, integrated approach, and the school is transnational, non-religious, and apolitical.
Cultural & language
The school provides bilingual education in English and Mandarin and fosters a bicultural worldview. Mandarin language is taught as part of the program, and students are encouraged to continue learning and speaking Chinese. Chinese culture—5000 years of history, philosophy, poetry, and calligraphy—is taught to complement language learning. The school aims to help students experience Chinese culture outside the classroom.
Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
Aeon Pods are in-person learning communities formed by families in the same area. Students meet daily in a shared space, work through Aeon's curriculum together, and benefit from face-to-face collaboration and peer support. Aeon supports Pods from formation to launch, including onboarding and launch, and Pods may designate a Learning Guardian to supervise day-to-day logistics. Flexible schedules blend live classes and independent work within Aeon's NEASC-accredited academics and NCAA‑approved courses.
Social & hobbies
Summer School + Camp is offered for TK–8. Academic After School is offered for TK–8. Free Academic Assessment is offered for grades 3–10. The programs are designed to engage students beyond the regular school day and support learning.
Community & service
Community & service
Aeon offers income-based tuition and humanitarian scholarships to broaden access to its programs. The tuition model reflects family finances and the number of Aeon students in a household. The school also partners with Rise, a Schmidt Futures and Rhodes Trust initiative, to support excellence across academics, athletics, research, and the arts; Aeon graduates have earned recognition in programs and disciplines across these areas.
Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
Aeon students become leaders across diverse domains. Violetta, Class of 2023, matriculated to Johns Hopkins; Onkar, Class of 2024, is a Y‑Combinator‑backed founder and Rise Global Winner; Magda, Class of 2025, is a Sabre Olympian; Julius Raymond, Class of 2032, shines as a Broadway performer.
Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Wellbeing is embedded in Aeon's approach to education. University Counseling centers on fit over formula, guiding students through the college process with emphasis on wellbeing and authentic self-reflection. The Aeon Principles foreground safety, belonging, and human connection, and emphasize rigorous thinking balanced with curiosity, joy in discovery, and purposeful action.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Morning exercise is part of the daily routine to build physical and mental strength. Garden and urban farming activities are part of the program. Field trips to landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Salesforce Tower are part of the learning experience. Hands-on activities include an automotive class and gardening to support practical, real-world learning.
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Global Passport is a task-based language curriculum. Instruction is available in 9 languages. Students can choose from among 9 languages and are assessed yearly, benchmarked to ACTFL. Language levels 1–4 are offered, with advanced-level courses available at level 5 and above, and metalinguistics for Romance and East Asian languages. Great Works English is part of the core curriculum (Great Works English, 9–12). Explicit language offerings include Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.
Language provision
The school teaches English and Chinese and includes Chinese language instruction within its curriculum. Summer School + Camp includes morning academics in math, English and Chinese.
Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
The school provides English and Chinese language instruction as part of a bicultural program. It is the first and only American & Chinese bicultural K-8 full-day and year-round private academy.
Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
Chinese immersion is integrated into the program, with references to Chinese immersion and Mandarin immersion on the site. The school promotes immersion as a key aspect of its bicultural approach.
Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
NEASC accreditation; NCAA-approved courses.
Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Applications are open for August 2026 and are reviewed on a rolling basis. The requirements include a $50 application fee; Admissions Application (Parent/Guardian Portion) and Admissions Application (Student Portion); Academic Records (unofficial, last 1–2 years); Teacher Evaluation; Additional Supplements (optional) such as letters of recommendation, portfolio, writing samples, and/or individualized learning plans; SSAT and/or Character Skills Snapshot are accepted. The process also includes a 45-minute Parent Meeting and a 30-minute Student Interview, and there is an optional Reduced Tuition Program Application for need-based tuition assistance.
Admissions
1. INQUIRE & LEARN: Complete an Inquiry Form to receive an application. Attend a school tour or open houses. The admissions policy welcomes families regardless of cultural or socio-economic background.
2. APPLY & INTERVIEW: Upon receipt and review of your application, we will contact you for an in-person interview of both the student and the parent(s)/guardian(s).
3. NOTIFICATION & ENROLL: Upon an offer of admission, notify us of your acceptance by completing an enrollment agreement and paying the deposit.
APPLICATION DEADLINES: Rolling evaluation of Enrollment Application throughout the year, including interview; Admissions decision notification within one month of application submission; Enrollment Agreement Deadline: 2 weeks after admissions decision notification.
TUITION & FEES: $270-$2,000 per month ($3,250-$24,000 per year); Tuition includes lunch and snacks and 12-month programming through the summer; Sliding scale tuition based on family need; Extended care and after school enrichment activities are available for $122-$365 per month.
Scholarships
Scholarships
AEON School is the official school partner of USA Fencing. Two scholarships are made available to members of the USA Fencing community. Rise Scholars: AEON partners with Rise to identify 100 Global Winners each year and AEON has offered 17 full scholarships to Rise Winners and Finalists in the Classes of 2022–25.
