Sora Schools

Sora Schools is a virtual, private middle and high school for grades 6-12, established to offer an alternative to traditional education systems. Founded in 2018 by Garrett Smiley, Indra Sofian, and Wesley Samples, the institution is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The founding was driven by a belief that education should be an inspiring, student-driven journey that prepares students for the real world. CEO Garrett Smiley, a university dropout, drew from his personal experiences attending numerous schools as part of a military family and his work with educational non-profits to create a learning environment he wished he had.

The company operates on a direct-to-consumer, tuition-based business model. Full annual tuition is $16,900, with a flexible, need-based tuition program available that adjusts costs for families, making the education more accessible. This model is supported by significant venture capital investment, having raised a total of $28.8 million over three funding rounds from investors including Union Square Ventures and General Catalyst. The school is fully accredited by Cognia and WASC, and its curriculum is approved by the NCAA.

Sora Schools delivers a live, interactive, and entirely online curriculum centered around project-based learning. This educational philosophy gives students agency over their learning by allowing them to select projects based on their interests. The structure is designed to be flexible, with only about 20% of a student's time being structured by the school, promoting independent work and personalized coaching. Students collaborate with faculty to create their own curriculum for core subjects and engage with industry mentors to gain exposure to future career fields. Instead of traditional lectures, teachers guide and challenge students through their projects, which are assessed based on mastery of skills and progress demonstrations. This approach aims to build a strong portfolio of experiences for college and job applications.

Keywords: online high school, virtual middle school, project-based learning, alternative education, personalized learning, student-led curriculum, EdTech, K-12 education, online school, remote learning, mastery-based assessment, accredited online school, college prep, career readiness, homeschool alternative, interest-based learning, flexible education, student agency, interactive online classes, venture-backed EdTech, education reform