Today I have a review for you of Brilliant Microschools, an online K to 12 school option that I’ve had several readers ask me about. So here is a full overview of Brilliant Microschools as well as my personal review.
Don’t forget to mention my channel name (eSchooled with Amanda Melrose) so you can get your 3 month commitment waived.
Brilliant Microschools Overview
For those of you that don’t know, Brilliant Microschools is an accredited online school available in all 50 US states, and they serve students from kindergarten all the way through high school.
They have both a general education program and a special education program, so whether your child has learning differences or special needs, or whether they’re just looking for a different learning environment, they serve both types of students. And as far as online schools go, this is pretty different from what I usually review.
With Brilliant Microschools you won’t have a self-paced curriculum where your child sits at the computer working through lessons alone. Instead, you’re getting daily live classes with a certified teacher in small groups of 6 to 10 students. So if you’re looking for something that has more of that traditional classroom feel but is still online, this might be worth considering.
Brilliant Microschools General Education Microschool
There are several different programs available for students at Brilliant Microschools.
First, they have the General Education Microschool, which is $690 per month. This runs five days a week with three hours of live instruction in math, English, social studies, and science, plus one hour of tailored independent study daily. Students also take 2 to 4 hours of electives each week.
This program serves students with zero to moderate learning differences and leads to an accredited high school diploma. You’ll have a maximum of 10 students per class, and your child will be learning with a certified teacher that you actually get to choose. And I have to say, that’s pretty unique. You review 2 to 4 teacher options and pick the one that feels like the best fit for your child.
Classes are taught in multi-age groupings. So kindergarten is on its own, grades 1 and 2 are together, grades 3 through 5 are together, middle school is together, and then high school is split into grades 9 and 10 and 11 and 12. And for high school specifically, there’s a dual teacher team, one for English and social studies and another for math and science, because at that level you really need that subject matter expertise.
Special Education Microschool
If your child has more significant learning differences or special needs, they also have the Special Education Microschool. This one is $650 per month, and it runs four days a week with two hours of live instruction in small groups. There are never more than 6 students per class, and classes are led by certified teachers. You get to choose your teacher here as well.
The groupings are simpler here. Grades 1 through 5 are together and grades 6 through 12 are together. Lessons are customized to each student’s plan, building academic skills, self-regulation, and life skills for students with higher needs and disabilities. Students in this program work towards a certificate of completion, though if they make significant progress, they can transition into the general education program and work towards a regular high school diploma. So there is that flexibility if your child really takes off.
Guided Study Program
They also have a Guided Study Program, which is their most affordable option at $385 per month. This one runs four days a week with two hours of live instruction each day.
Students attend live core classes, complete app-based assignments on their own schedule, and spend about two hours a day on guided independent work. This program leads to an accredited high school diploma upon successful completion of all coursework. So this is designed for students who can take on more personal responsibility, or for parents who want to be more hands-on and involved in the learning process.
Brilliant Microschools Education
So now let me talk about how the school actually works, because understanding this will help you decide if it’s right for your family. They use mastery-based learning, which means your child focuses on actually mastering skills before moving on. There are no traditional tests or quizzes. Progress is tracked through weekly formative evaluations and performance tasks. So the focus is really on understanding the material, not just memorizing it for a test.
Here’s something I really want to emphasize. Brilliant Microschools puts social-emotional learning at the center of everything they do. Teachers care more about students than content, and they build a safe, predictable classroom culture with structured routines, which is especially important for kids with learning differences.
Their curriculum covers math, English, science, and social studies in interdisciplinary units over two-week cycles. They use what they call the three Es: Engage, Explore, and Elaborate. So students engage via audiovisual prompts, then they explore through differentiated activities catering to various learning styles, and finally they elaborate with performance tasks that turn into projects and presentations. Math is taught separately but follows the same structure.
And here’s what I really want you to understand. They personalize not just what students learn, but how they learn. So if your child is below grade level in math but above in English, they’re going to meet your child where they are in each subject. That’s really important, especially for kids with learning differences who might be all over the map in different subjects.
Brilliant Microschools Schedule
Now let’s talk about what a typical schedule looks like, because this is important for planning your family’s day.
For the General Education Program, there are two time slot options: a 10am Eastern morning class or a 1:30pm Eastern afternoon class. These classes run three hours.
For the Special Education Program, you have three time slot options: a 10am Eastern morning class, a 12:30pm Eastern midday class, or a 3pm Eastern afternoon class. These classes run two hours.
The Guided Study Program follows the Special Education schedule. So you do have some flexibility in choosing when your child attends class.
Students With Special Needs
Now let’s talk about how Brilliant Microschools supports students with special needs. For students with dyslexia, instruction and assessments are customized so they can go at their own pace and dig deeper with their teacher. They’re not being rushed through material before they’re ready.
For students with autism spectrum disorder, they offer some really specific accommodations. They provide clearly established and ordered routines so students know what to expect. Students will be given warnings and preparation when changes are anticipated. They work on planning and practicing communication strategies and social routines. Students can take breaks and time-outs when necessary. They use visual schedules and graphic organizers. And they provide visual or written instructions rather than auditory ones, which can make a huge difference for some kids.
For students with ADD or ADHD, distractions are managed and students actively engage in class at all times. It’s not like a classroom of 30 kids where a child with ADHD can just zone out in the back.
And for students with anxiety, whether that’s social anxiety, school anxiety, general anxiety, or test anxiety, they personalize the experience to create a space where students feel safe and supported. Teachers also act as mentors and check in with students throughout the class period and school day. So it’s not just about academics, it’s about the whole child.
But you do not need to have a diagnosed disability to enroll. They serve both general education students and those with special needs. So if your child is just struggling or needs a different environment, they’re welcome here too.
Enrollment
Brilliant Microschools offers rolling enrollment throughout the year, so you can start whenever you’re ready. Students typically start on Mondays once they’ve gone through the enrollment process. Normally there’s a three-month minimum stay requirement. So families commit to at least three months when they enroll, and then after that it’s month-to-month. But, if you mention my channel name when you sign up, that three-month commitment gets waived. So you can try it out and if it’s not working, you’re not stuck. Just make sure you mention my name in the referral question when you fill out the inquiry form. They’ll ask you how you heard about them or who referred you, and that’s when you mention my channel.
The enrollment process itself is really straightforward. You start with a phone conversation with their admissions team where you’ll talk about your child’s needs and what you’re looking for. Then you schedule a free webinar where they go over the program in detail.
After that, you pay a refundable 50 dollar deposit, and then you’ll get to review 2 to 4 teacher options. They’ll share short intro videos or sample videos of each teacher so you can get a feel for their teaching style and personality. Once you decide which teacher feels like the best match, you’ll book a relaxed one-on-one video call to actually meet that teacher, ask questions, and start building a connection. And you have 24 hours after that meeting to decide. If you ask for a refund within those 24 hours, they’ll give it to you, no questions asked. So there’s really no risk in exploring this.
Accreditation
As for accreditation, they’re fully accredited by WASC nationwide. Their transcripts and high school diplomas are accepted by schools and colleges across all states. So if your high schooler graduates from Brilliant Microschools, they’ll receive a legitimate, nationally recognized diploma.
Brilliant Microschools – Final Thoughts
So now let me give you my honest opinion about this online school. I think this is a great option if you’re looking for an online school where your child can attend live classes. You’re getting daily live instruction with certified teachers in small groups. Your child is interacting with a teacher and other students every day. That’s a big deal, especially for kids who need that structure and accountability.
I think this could be life-changing for certain kids. If your child has been struggling in traditional school due to learning differences, anxiety, ADHD, or they shut down in a classroom of 30 kids, this could be the answer. Small class sizes mean your child can’t hide in the back. Personalized attention means they get help when stuck. Mastery-based approach means they’re not pushed along before they’re ready. And you get to choose your child’s teacher, which is really important.
One important thing to consider is whether your child is available during those fixed time windows. If you’re on the West Coast and you choose the 10am Eastern slot, that means 7am Pacific time. So just think about whether that works for your family’s schedule and your child’s natural rhythm.
Who Is This School Best For?
So who is this school best for? I think this school could be really excellent for students who’ve been struggling in traditional school due to learning differences. It’s great for kids with anxiety who find large classrooms overwhelming, and students who need smaller class sizes and more individualized attention. Families who want more structure than homeschooling but more flexibility than traditional school might find this to be a happy medium between the two.
On the other hand, it might not be the best fit for students who really struggle with online learning in general, or families who absolutely can’t commit to those fixed class schedule times.
Hopefully this review has given you a good understanding of what Brilliant Microschools is all about and whether it might be right for your family. If this seems like something you might want to try, I encourage you to go to their website and start the inquiry process. When you get to the question about how you heard about them or who referred you, don’t forget to mention my channel name (eSchooled with Amanda Melrose) so you can get that 3 month commitment waived.
If you have any questions about Brilliant Microschools, please let me know in the comments and I’ll do my best to get the answer for you.
