FAQs

No. We ask that all families have at least one adult stay on site. Adults not actively teaching are also rotating between helping in classes or helping with set-up or clean up.

We meet every other Thursday for class days from 9:30-1:30. 

Alternate Thursdays are spent either on field trips or having “gameschool” - playing board games at one of the member’s houses or another location. 

We also occasionally have events on evenings or weekends to give more opportunities for other family members to attend who are at work or school during class days. 

Our class days are held at a church in Pittsfield, just south of Oberlin.

Field trips or other parties, etc. are held at various locations, usually within Lorain or surrounding counties.

We have an initial family membership of $125 which allows for your family to be a part of our group, attend field trips and be a part of our parties and clubs. (We have had families only do this option and skip class days altogther)

Class fees range from $10 to $40 per kid per class for the school year. A final breakdown will be provided by June 1 and then signup happens by August 1st. You can pay all the class fees for the year in the beginning or 1/2 at each semester.

Financial payment plans can be provided if necessary and on a case by case basis.

Please see our “classes offered” section under “about us” on our website for details on this year’s classes. They do change each year. In the past, we have done chemistry, literature, music history, art, botany, health, zoology, Anicent Greece, the American Revolutionary War,  and others. 

While we do have a preschool room, we encourage families to wait to join Apex until they have at least one child in the elementary room (5/6 and up) the whole day can be long for young children, and we have had several families who fit this description decide mid-year that they weren't quite ready for it.

Yes! All children are welcome. We have a room for ages 0-5. When children are of preschool age or able to participate in the crafts and activities, we will charge a yearly supply fee (usually $30). Parents are welcome to stay in with the preschoolers or help out in other areas at co-op. 

We encourage all family members who are able to help or attend classes to come! We ask to perform a background check on all adults attending for the safety of the kids. We have several dads and grandparents who come every week!

Applications open on April 1 and close on June 1 for the following school year.

Applicants will need to read and agree to our code of conduct, involvement partnership system, and faith statement. 

Since our primary goal is to foster a supportive community, we ask that all applicants provide references who can speak to the family’s character. These references do not have to be local, but should include non-family members. 

The board will then contact the references during June and schedule interviews

The purpose of interviews is for both the group and the applicants, to make sure we are a good fit for each other and that we are able to meet in person and come to an understanding about mutual expectations.

Welcome emails should be sent by July 1, and then the onboarding process can begin!

We do not have any clubs currently planned for 2026-2027, but have had a drama club put on plays in the past, as well as garden club. Any new members willing to help run these or other clubs are welcome!

We have a kickoff party and begin classes right around/after Labor day, take some time off for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, and then end in late April/early May. We take the whole summer off because so many of our families are heavily involved and busy in the summer with 4H or other camps and trips.

No, we have members from many different Christian denominations, including Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic, and non-denominational. Please refer to our faith statement to see what our faith and worldview is. Please note that we do not teach theology at Co-op. We teach secular subject but from a shared point of view. This does not also mean we always agree exactly politically, either.