Cortona Academy is a prestigious school that has helped me in ways I could not have imagined. Before I arrived at Cortona I attended a very competitive public school. I have attended public schools my entire life and the environment is much different from that of a private school. At my previous high school, I was just an average student, I was a part of the band, I made good grades, and I always did my work. Though it seemed I was getting a feel for public schools, I was not happy with what was going on. At my public high school, the environment was very stressful. I had to force myself out of bed at 5:30 am to get ready for school. I had to stay up late at night finishing piles of homework to make sure all the work for my seven classes were finished. I was overwhelmed. I no longer enjoyed school and I no longer saw the value of education. When my parents saw how stressed out I was it was the final straw. I searched for a good private school in Virginia in hopes of better opportunities. We stumbled upon a private school in Herndon called Cortona Academy. Cortona Academy brings more to the table. When we went for our consultation I sensed a much better environment. The students and teachers are very friendly and the environment is stress-free. I was able to adjust to the school very quickly. The teachers are more than qualified and are extremely dedicated towards teaching their students all they can. The curriculum is advanced yet easy to follow and the course-load is very reasonable. At Cortona, every student is given the essentials necessary to be more than prepared for college and the outside world. Cortona offers a STEM program like no other. Every student is free to work on their own projects. Each project offers ways to solve real world problems. Through STEM I have been able to link many ideas to a bigger picture. Before Cortona, I was upset and frustrated, not sure how to achieve my academic goals. Cortona Academy gave me hope, motivation, and the tools necessary to prepare me for the outside world and I am forever grateful for what Cortona Academy has done for me. read more

My son just received over $100,000 in merit college scholarship at the college of his choice to study pre-med with guaranteed acceptance to medical school. This is due to his transferring to Cortona Academy as a junior. Before that time, he was only looking to attend NOVA and hopefully transfer into 4-year college. This wonderful future that my son now has would have been impossible without the wonderful help, patience and encouragement of the teachers and staff at Cortona Academy. When I came to this country 30 years ago, I never imagined my son ever being in such an advantageous public school and invest in his future before college. Now Cortona has prepared him for college. He is confident, self-assured, and ready to tackle any academics that come his way. All because of the solid foundation at Cortona Academy. My daughter came from a bullying situation and now she looks forward to coming to school everyday, because of Cortona Academy's welcoming embrace. The teachers are supportive, encouraging, and last, but not least, the students treat each other with respect only found in families. Now I have a very confident young lady graduating from Cortona Academy with a solid academic foundation and looking forward to nursing school. Before Cortona, my daughter was always worried about going to school and always came home depressed, and sad, regardless of all the encouragement from her family. At Cortona, this became history. She enjoys coming to school every day and already says how much she will miss the school after graduation. Mrs. Strauchs, the Director, has been a God-sent gift to the school and we all truly appreciate all her help and faith in her students. read more

Before I went to Cortona Academy I was not doing well in school, and I was not looking into going to college. I started attending Cortona Academy in the 11th grade. I was immediately surrounded by teachers that really cared about me and my grades. The classes, though demanding, are taught by great teachers who are very willing to work with you. After just one year at Cortona, I have achieved all A's and am now looking at going to college and have a totally new outlook on school. Cortona has given me the confidence to take my learning to the next level and the confidence of knowing that I can excel in my future education. For that I am very thankful. The thing I am most grateful for is the teachers; they are truly amazing. Most of them have PhDs in their fields and are great when working with me. Classes here are fun. For the science classes we do hands-on experiments which helps you better understand the material. In history, we watch films to see real world experiences about what we are learning. In English we have long discussions which help me understand more about the book I am reading. In Spanish we do a lot of interactive games which make the class fun while we are learning. In math classes, we work a lot with the teacher both in groups and one-on-ones. Cortona has small class sizes which means you get a lot of attention from your teachers which has helped me gain my confidence. Cortona Academy is just an all around great environment. Everyone supports everyone, the people are amazing, and the teachers and great. I strongly recommend Cortona Academy if you are seeking a private school education for your child. Andrew, Class of 2020 read more

Entering my first year of high school, I realized early on that I was different from my peers. I was not enrolled in any honors or advanced courses, while most of my friends were. This bothered me at the time, because even when I tried hard to get good grades and remain on top of my work, my grades remained average or below average. With every new year I thought that it would be my year to finally prove to myself and everybody else that I could do well. Every year my grades were barely better, and I started to lose hope in my academic abilities. I had just accepted the fact that the way I learned was not going to be how the school taught, and I will always be at a disadvantage. Halfway through my junior year of high school, I began to struggle even more. My mother noticed my struggle and began to search for help. I started working with a tutor and staying after school for extra help. Even with the extra help I still struggled in my classes. After having enough, I found Cortona Academy and was intrigued by how different the school was. After visiting and reading up on the school, I knew that I could excel and reach my academic goals here. I have now been at Cortona Academy for a whole year. Although most of that being during the COVID-19 pandemic, I still excelled and had the help that I needed that I did not get in public school. My GPA before Cortona Academy was about a 3.0 and it is now a 3.6. If I had not transferred here when I did, I do not think that I would had been as successful as I have been in my academics. I do not think I could have gotten into any of the schools I have gotten into. read more

During my sophomore year of high school, I found myself at a crossroads. I was having trouble in school, both academically and mentally. I had a great group of supportive friends, but in a public school arena where the one thing on the forefront of every student's mind was: "How do I stand out amongst the rest? How do I outshine my friends?" it became very difficult to trust in them as a shoulder to lean on. That's when I found Cortona Academy. It was the greatest decision I could have ever made. For me, Cortona served its purpose. It educated me and helped me achieve in my studies with flying colors, pulling up my GPA to where it needed to be to comfortably apply for college. It's not a perfect system, but it works. The real magic of Cortona, however, is found in the faculty and staff. The professors at Cortona do not only fulfill the role of teacher but also a mentor. They all have the singular goal of seeing every student succeed. I could feel that in all of them. They gave me the strength, courage, and the grades to excel in life and academics. I was accepted into my number one college two years later with scholarship money that more than made up for my years at Cortona. I can understand the hesitance of breaking away from the norm and becoming part of a community that takes a different approach to learning and education. But I can accredit a large portion of my happiness and success today, from my decision years ago to become a part of Cortona Academy. read more

Cortona Academy is a private, STEM focused, high school that helps students reach their potentials. When I arrived to Cortona from a large public high school I was distraught over how bad the teacher-student ratios were and how large the student population was. This was at a high school which ranked consistently in the top 10 high schools in Virginia. After coming to Cortona I was able to have one on one meetings with teachers more often and found that there was more student participation in classes. Students were also able to take time with projects and learn more at a faster pace because of the smaller sized classes. Cortona Academy also has a strong Extracurricular program where students like me can start projects in science and technology. This has helped me actively learn about things I was interested in because I would be doing hands on work related to that field. Students also get to take trips to convention centers and important research areas. I've been able to visit a U.S. Military base and learn about new advancements in technology as well as visit a hospital and view an actual heart transplant in action. These are just a few of the things I was able to do at Cortona Academy. Cortona has helped me learn about subjects I was interested in while also preparing me for college. If I hadn't gone to Cortona I wouldn't be aiming for high colleges the same way as I am able to now. read more

Hidden gem! We took our kids out of FCPS two years ago and moved them to Cortona. This was THE BEST decision! FCPS had taken away our kids love and motivation for learning, but Cortona quickly helped them regain that love and motivation. The director, Sharon Strauchs is extremely passionate for each and every child's success and all the teachers promote an engaged learning environment in a no-stress atmosphere. Cortona is a truly unique school and a golden opportunity for middle and high schoolers to thrive. Plus, they help with the college selection/application process and are beyond wonderful at helping their students win scholarships. With their help, one of our children won a $10K scholarship to learn to fly and our senior student has been offered merit based scholarships with every college acceptance. He applied to 6 universities. We've heard back from two so far, still waiting on the others but the merit scholarships were from $80K-$108K... all because of the support and encouragement from Sharon, Amber and the rest of the teaching staff. We couldn't have done it without them! Huge return on investment for our family! read more

Cortona Academy allowed me to bounce back from what was an incredibly distressing year in my life. As the world dealt with the troubles and uncertainties of the pandemic, this academy provided a stability I was unable to find anywhere else. Contrary to the newfangled online schooling and virtual classes, I discovered that the teachers and staff are all incredibly supportive and easy to approach, always willing to help and answer questions. I have a good relationship with all of my peers, largely thanks to how the environment is extremely low-stress. I've been provided with plenty of study halls in my schedule, which allows me to focus and have the ability to ask others questions rather than panic and stay up late at home. While going through the process of applying to colleges this year, I found that I was much more at ease than I expected and was able to get assistance for every step. I've already been accepted to some schools and offered large scholarships, a testament to how Cortona Academy has improved my academic skills and my life. read more

When I was younger, school was a source of confidence. I felt like I was good at it and could end the day feeling accomplished. As I got older, that changed. School became frustrating. It began to make me feel badly about myself. This was so discouraging and degrading. I started not wanting to go to school, not wanting to even try. My sophomore year I knew things had to change if I wanted to have a good future and go to a good college. We found Cortona Academy and, honestly, my life changed! Cortona Academy made me feel good about learning again and helped build-up my confidence. They made school less frustrating, making sure I understood something before moving on, making certain I had a strong foundation and could successfully tackle any subject put in my path. Cortona Academy helped bring up my GPA and, most importantly, helped me feel ready for college. I no longer feel discouraged; I no longer feel like I can't. Cortona Academy has shown me that I "can," no matter the task in front of me. read more

Education has always been at the top of our family priorities. Recently our 14-year-old grandson came to live with us during the school year. Knowing he was bright and gifted, we sought out an institution that could help him advance academically, but in a stress-free and caring environment. We researched several private schools, did interviews, and found the right fit for him. Cortona Academy offered him an aggressive curriculum but was sensitive to his needs. The academy went beyond academics, helping instill confidence through team building activities, field trips, luncheons, and other engaging activities. The staff fostered his creativity and an enthusiasm for learning. He enjoyed each day there. Thanks to a competent and caring director and staff, our grandson is back on track. We're grateful to Cortona for providing him with a first-rate educational experience! William G read more

Cortona Academy's May 2017 graduation blew me away. Parents and grandparents literally weeping at the podium, (it's on film!) thanking Cortona. Some students talked about how they had little to no future before Cortona. Then there was the boy who was headed for a community college but after only 2 years at Cortona, was accepted to both college and medical school at the same time with a $100,000 scholarship! The classroom teachers (most with PhDs) talked proudly about how they add their own courses to set courses, apparently some of the best in the nation, then teach the kids study skills to manage the workload. Impressive. Rather than watering down courses, they teach students how to rise to the challenge. What a novel idea! I am thankful that there is a school near the nation's capital that is actually making a difference. Keep up your honorable work. read more

Before Cortona, I was a man of my word with nothing to say. I was the type of kid that knew his way around tests and homework, but never felt like actually doing them. I was constantly slacking and behind in my classes, regardless of how easy it was for me. Many of my grades were 0's for not turning in homework on time. Once I joined Cortona, things changed. The curriculum was easier to understand due to two factors: one, how the students around me act, and two, how the curriculum is to-the-point. The students around me were never talking in class, but truly learning. I actually learned here. I learned what really mattered to the subject, and didn't waste my time on unnecessary methods with no purpose. All in all, Cortona Academy is rigorous, but fun, and easy to learn. I am so thankful for the education I received at Cortona. read more

Cortona Academy was the most important investment we ever made in our child's future. We would have paid more had we known power this effective school would have on our daughter's life and our pocketbook! I checked this before I signed up. The curricula is considered to be one of the best in the nation, is used by 55,000 students and more than 2500 schools. These students are accepted into top colleges, as was our daughter, with nearly a full scholarship! I ended up with a positive cash flow!! What mostly made Cortona work for our child is that she learned HOW to study, process, write papers, and pass tests using their HTS-3 systems, skills that continue to help her remain a top student in college. Using them made her stress and anxiety levels diminish...a miracle for her! Thank God I made this investment. read more

Before Cortona, I was at a loss. I was just a person rolling around, not really caring for the work I was doing. I was not thinking, Just like a robot. I was memorizing and writing information down, but not really gaining any critical thinking skills. That all changed when I came to Cortona. Here I was taught to really think about the work I was doing, not only to evaluate what work I was given, but also to expand upon it. This school helped me expand my interests and to explore different fields. They also helped me greatly with the college admissions process. I am so much more motivated to learn now, and it is all thanks to Cortona Academy. They never gave up on me, even when I had given up on myself. For that, Cortona has my greatest thanks. read more

I spent two summers at Cortona as a camp counselor for their STEM summer camp. From my experience, I personally learned a great deal from Sharon, Karlis, and all of the wonderful instructors about how to work with kids in a postive, kind, and constructive way. I was very impressed by the size of the facility, and their emphasis on giving the kids fun, engaging, and hands-on projects. Cortona was the first school I had ever heard of that had elementary schoolers learning 3D modeling, and working with 3D printers, laser-cutters, and laser-engravers. If I could go back and do high school again, I would definitely consider going to Cortona. Last note, I was also very impressed by their teacher to pupil ratio! read more

I went to Cortona Academy when public school was no longer a good option for me. After going to Cortona, my grades went way up and I got into a great university with a scholarship. I made several friends at Cortona and overall had a great experience. This is an excellent private option and in many ways really saved my life. I highly recommend Cortona. The curriculum was challenging, but instructors made sure we were absorbing the information. I remember actually wanting to read the assigned readings, unlike in public school. I think this is because there was a culture where learning was valued and not just a chore, and because of the quality of the teaching staff. Keep doing what you're doing! read more

Before coming to Cortona, I struggled to focus and keep up in class. During 10th grade, I realized it would only get harder and something needed to change. So, I started attending Cortona in the middle of that school year. Even though I had to start over and complete the entire 10th grade, I was able to do so with the great support of teachers and the unique setup at Cortona, which included make-up weeks where I could catch up when needed. The small class sizes and personal attention are invaluable. Now, as I look forward to college, I feel like I am well-prepared because of the things I've learned at Cortona. I learned how to be prepared for class and have tools for studying effectively. read more

I went to Cortona for all 4 years of my high school career and I am so incredibly happy I found them. They looked at me from when I first walked in and saw my potential when no other school did. They motivated me to persevere through my own doubts and make me understand I can do anything I set my mind too. I'm currently at my dream college with a scholarship! Even now I know if I need anything from help with school to mentoring or advise that I can call the school and anyone who picks up the phone would be more than happy to help me. I've felt unconditional support from Sharon and the staff from the moment I enrolled and will probably continue to for the rest of my life! read more

When I started my high school journey I had no desire to participate in, let alone graduate from high school. I was unfocused and unmotivated, and was barely getting C's. I moved to Cortona Academy near the end of my freshman year. I was immediately welcomed not just as a student, but as something like a family member. I was not only shown love, but I was given the extra push I needed by the teachers to get where I am now, with straight A's. I am headed to college this fall, having been accepted to my dream school with about $80,000 in merit scholarships. I credit my academic success to the staff at Cortona and it was truly a pleasure to have been a student here. read more