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STEM - Math & Logic Ages 11-14

Pre-Algebra: Building the Foundation

Is your kid able to multiply, divide, add, and subtract? Are they wondering when fractions and negatives will finally make sense? What's an inequality, and how exactly do they work? What are the most important skills to help them excel in algebra and beyond? And what do patterns, baking, and money all have in common? If any of these questions are familiar, look no further than pre-algebra, where we can help your child's math skills level-up and be ready for everything that comes ahead. This course makes the building blocks of algebra actually make sense.

Duration 16 Weeks (Aug - Dec 2026)
Class Size 8 Students Max
Format Live Online
Mentor Suri

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Course Overview

Course Details

Is your kid able to multiply, divide, add, and subtract? Are they wondering when fractions and negatives will finally make sense? What's an inequality, and how exactly do they work? What are the most important skills to help them excel in algebra and beyond? And what do patterns, baking, and money all have in common?

Level Up and Fill the Gaps

If any of these questions are familiar, look no further than pre-algebra, where we can help your child's math skills level up and be ready for everything that comes ahead! This course aims to both smooth out any confusion from previous years and help students truly understand the most important pre-algebra skills that will help them in their mathematical future.

Real-World Math, No Homework

There's no homework and no hours of lectures. Instead, each student will interact with real-world examples of math concepts and develop their own personal understanding of the patterns and rules that define mathematics! Additionally, they'll be taught the secret shortcuts that allow them to skip steps and do mental math quickly and easily instead of needing to do busy work by hand.

A Great Fit For Your Student

This course will quickly and simply review all of the key concepts of pre-algebra. It's a great fit for students who are looking to fill gaps in knowledge, kids who want a broad overview of math they'll look forward to, or a student who wants to quickly learn the main points of a year's worth of math. By the end of this course, each student will be comfortable with the key concepts explored in pre-algebra.

Materials Needed
  • An internet connection and a can-do attitude!

Closing Gaps Before Algebra Arrives

Pre-algebra is where confusion from earlier math years gets resolved or gets worse. This course catches the concepts that did not stick the first time around, from fractions and negatives to inequalities, so your child walks into algebra with a solid foundation instead of hidden gaps.

Building Math Confidence at the Right Moment

The transition to algebra is where many students decide they are 'not a math person.' This course makes sure your child arrives ready and confident. Parents tell us the difference is night and day. Their kids go from dreading math to feeling prepared for whatever comes next.

For Credit Option

YSA is a UC-registered online publisher and WASC-accredited Supplementary Education Center, which means our courses can count toward official college credit requirements. State schools can recognize the courses your student takes here, adding real legitimacy to your homeschooling journey or building on top of your student's existing transcript. That unlocks two ways to enroll: For Credit -- Your student earns official, accredited credit toward their transcript. For-credit students complete weekly assignments that build toward their transcript grade. Outside-of-class work ranges from 1-2 hours per week. Perfect for families who want documentation that reflects what their child is actually capable of -- to show the world how brilliant they are. For Enrichment -- Your student takes the very same course purely for the love of learning. No grades, no outside-of-class work, no credit attached. Just the content, the community, and the growth. Same course. Same mentor. Same experience in class. You choose what fits your family.

If you homeschool, this works seamlessly. If your student attends another school full time, we create a report card and transcript that we share with you, and you share with the school. It is up to your primary school to accept it and add it to your student's official transcript.

What Your Child Will Gain

  • Build genuine mathematical understanding through exploration and discovery, not memorization and worksheets
  • Develop problem-solving strategies and logical reasoning skills that transfer to every academic subject and real-world situation
  • Work at their own pace with a mentor who adapts to their learning style, celebrates their strengths, and pushes them to grow
  • Gain confidence with challenging material in a small group where every student gets real individual attention and support

Meet Your Mentor

Suri

Suri

Mentor & Mathematics Instructor

When I was a child, two things about me were quickly made apparent: firstly, that I was very different from most my peers, as many neurodiverse children are. But more importantly, it was discovered that I loved math in every single way from the bottom of my heart- and that I was determined to make sure everyone else did, too. In every year since, I have remained committed to helping others discover the joy of learning that I have. I love teaching math because each student is unique, and explores their curiosity in different ways- and that means I get to learn and grow as an educator alongside each student, and discover the best ways to push them to be as curious and full of love for learning as possible. In my personal life, I dedicate a questionable amount of time to playing video games, I collect stuffed animals, and I mass-produce cookies and other baked goods. I also watch over people's pet cats while they go on vacation, so there's a fuzzy feline in my apartment more often than not.

WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

What Parents Are Saying About Suri

Parents don't just see happier kids. They see sharper thinking, stronger friendships, and a child who actually wants to log on.

★★★★★

"My son used to freeze at word problems. Suri gave him a calm way to break them down, and last week he finished a whole set without calling me over once."

L

Lucia A.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"Fractions and negatives finally clicked for my daughter in Suri's course. She uses the mental math shortcuts Suri taught her all the time now."

A

Aaron K.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"My son used to freeze at word problems. Suri gave him a calm way to break them down, and last week he finished a whole set without calling me over once."

L

Lucia A.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"Fractions and negatives finally clicked for my daughter in Suri's course. She uses the mental math shortcuts Suri taught her all the time now."

A

Aaron K.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"This is the first math course my son has not begged to quit. No homework, no lectures, just Suri making him actually like math."

B

Bethany R.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"My 2e kid was terrified he was behind. Suri smoothed out every gap and built his confidence back from scratch."

M

Miguel S.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"This is the first math course my son has not begged to quit. No homework, no lectures, just Suri making him actually like math."

B

Bethany R.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"My 2e kid was terrified he was behind. Suri smoothed out every gap and built his confidence back from scratch."

M

Miguel S.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"Suri connects math to baking, money, and patterns my daughter cares about. She finally sees the point of all of it."

K

Kimberly V.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"My quiet son made friends in Suri's small group and started participating. He walks away more confident every week."

T

Trevor M.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"Suri connects math to baking, money, and patterns my daughter cares about. She finally sees the point of all of it."

K

Kimberly V.

YSA parent

★★★★★

"My quiet son made friends in Suri's small group and started participating. He walks away more confident every week."

T

Trevor M.

YSA parent

Try It From The Inside Satisfaction Guarantee Young Scholars Academy 100% satisfaction guarantee badge

Our Promise To You

If you’re not 100% in love with the course, you have options depending on how you enrolled:

Pay In Full Option

You can switch to another course of equal or lesser value that’s a better fit or get a credit to use toward a future course.

Payment Plan Option

You can either get credit toward a future course, switch to another course of equal or lesser value that’s a better fit, or stop all future payments after a 30-day processing period.

No risk. No stress. Just the learning and belonging you have been looking for.

We can offer this because we know what we do works for thousands of other families. Kids become more self-confident. They find their people. And families tell us this is the place where their student finally feels welcome. We know it will work for your family, too.

All-Access Passes have separate terms and conditions. Please see the All-Access Pass pages.

It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway... to qualify for the satisfaction guarantee policy, you have to actually attend the classes. This is not a cancellation policy. It’s a satisfaction guarantee. You can’t be satisfied or dissatisfied if you don’t attend.

Y

About Young Scholars Academy

Young Scholars Academy is a virtual village that offers one-of-a-kind, engaging enrichment courses and community for 5-18-year-old bright, quirky kids to empower them to develop their strengths, make like-minded friends, cultivate life skills, build confidence, and feel great about themselves under the loving care of expert mentors. description2: >- Picture a place where your child fits in, is celebrated, mentored, and loves learning the unique content their beautiful brain craves. That happens every day at YSA for over 1,200+ families, and it can happen for your family, too.

WASC Accredited · 1,200+ Families · 93% Re-Enroll · 47+ States, 17 Countries, 6 Continents

Learn more about YSA

QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS COURSE

Questions About Pre-Algebra

Everything you need to know before enrolling your child.

Is this course rigorous enough for my advanced math student?

Yes. Our math courses are designed for students who need more depth and complexity than their current program provides. Small groups of 8 students max mean your child works at their level with peers who share their intensity for mathematics. Our mentors adapt to each student and push them to grow, not just repeat what they already know.

Can my child join from anywhere?

Yes. YSA families join from 47+ states and 17 countries across 6 continents. All you need is an internet connection. We schedule sections across multiple time zones so families worldwide can find a time that works.

How does this course work?

Pre-Algebra meets once per week for 50 minutes, every week from August through December. Your child joins the same tight-knit group of up to 8 students and the same mentor all semester long. Same friends, same mentor, a new challenge every week.

What if my child is not the right age for this course?

Our gifted and 2e students experience such asynchronous development that hard age limits rarely tell the full story. If your student should be aged up or aged down, contact us at support@youngscholarsacademy.org or click the chat in the bottom right corner of the screen. We do this all the time.

What if my child has had a difficult time learning virtually?

Please don't confuse reactive distance learning with what happens at YSA. When a kid is engaged in a course they chose, with a mentor who gets them and peers who share their interests, the screen disappears. They're not on a screen. They're with their people. Parents tell us their children fight to log on to YSA.

What if my child doesn't love this course?

If your child isn't loving a course by the end of the first week, swap into a different course. Same semester. No questions. Not the right fit within the first month? We'll stop payments, switch courses, or issue credit toward any future course. The credit never expires. And you keep every bonus you've received. Over 93% of YSA families don't just stay. They add more courses.

Does my child need to turn their camera on?

No. Cameras are always optional. Always. Many of our students start with cameras off and turn them on when they're comfortable. Our mentors engage every student equally, cameras on or off.

Does my child need a diagnosis to enroll?

No. If you're here, you're in the right place. We don't require paperwork, evaluations, or labels. Whether your child has been formally identified as gifted or twice-exceptional, whether you suspect it but haven't pursued testing, or whether you just know your kid's brain works differently and nothing else has fit, they're welcome here.

Can I use ESA or charter funds for this course?

Yes. YSA is an approved vendor with 10+ state ESA programs including Arizona ESA, Utah Fits All, ClassWallet, My Tech High, Florida Step Up, and others. Enroll directly to secure your child's spot, submit the invoice to your ESA, and your payment method is refunded when funds transfer. Many families pay zero out of pocket.

How do I enroll?

Click "See Available Times" on this page, pick the section that fits your schedule, and your child's spot is secured immediately. No phone call. No placement test. No prerequisite.

Their best year starts here.

Right now, a kid who thinks like your kid is in a course they chose, with a mentor who was once just like them, surrounded by friends who don't think they're weird... they think they're interesting.
Your child is one click from finding out what that feels like.