Inside the Hillsborough Micro School: Changing the Rules
Throughout the Bay Area, some alternative schools promise that your child can learn everything they need to in just two hours a day. Fueled by AI apps and digital dashboards, these programs market efficiency as the future of education. But in the rush to speed things up, something essential is getting lost.
Masterminds Academy, a Hillsborough-border micro school located in San Mateo, believes there’s a better way. Instead of optimizing for speed, they focus on something far more powerful: depth. At Masterminds, education is not a race. It’s a rich, immersive journey that prepares students to thrive in the real world.
Learning That Lasts
Unlike models that lean heavily on screens and gamification, Masterminds understands that true learning happens when students connect deeply with the material. Their ATHENA+ Framework weaves together academics, physical development, enrichment, and social-emotional growth. Small groups of just 5 to 6 students allow for highly personalized attention, creating a well-rounded, whole-child approach.
This isn’t about memorizing facts; it’s about mastering ideas, drawing connections across disciplines, and embedding knowledge in ways that stick for life.
Teachers Who Do More Than Teach
While other programs rely on “learning coaches” and digital tracking tools, Masterminds hires only highly trained educators. Many hold advanced degrees and have international experience. These aren’t facilitators; they’re master teachers who guide, adapt, and respond to each learner’s needs.
Enrichment isn’t an afterthought. Students study violin with Suzuki-certified instructors, learn multiple languages from fluent specialists, and explore sports like tennis, golf, and sailing with experienced coaches. Every subject is taught by someone who brings expertise and passion to the table.
A School Day That Mirrors Real Life
At Masterminds, students don’t bounce between screens. Their days are filled with movement, music, global learning, public speaking, and practical projects. A single day might include debate, a science inquiry, violin practice, and collaborating on a sustainability challenge.
These go far beyond simulated experiences. Students are building, presenting, researching, and interacting with the world. That authenticity makes learning meaningful and joyful.
Backed by Research, Not Buzzwords
To support their model with measurable outcomes, Masterminds has partnered with the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative. Together, they are studying how daily exposure to languages, music, and movement affects cognitive development. This research-backed collaboration brings scientific rigor to their methods and confirms what families are seeing: children who are thriving.
What Premium Should Really Mean
While some fast-track schools charge sky-high tuition for minimal hours and piecemeal programs, Masterminds delivers a comprehensive, all-inclusive experience. For $64,500 to $75,000 annually, families receive:
- Full-day academics across subjects
- Music, languages, debate, drama, and chess
- Specialized athletics: sailing, tennis, golf
- Gourmet meals and snacks
- Concierge transportation from key Bay Area neighborhoods
- Global field learning and real-world projects
- Cognitive assessments and custom learning plans
This is premium education with purpose.
Raising Innovators, Not Just Achievers
Some models focus on producing compliant high-performers. Masterminds aim higher. Here, students are encouraged to become thinkers, creators, and future leaders. They don’t just follow instructions; they learn how to shape the world around them.
Masterminds Academy is currently enrolling Preschool through Grade 8. Founding Family tuition is locked for three years.
This is education reimagined, and it might just change everything.
