Cupola Academy | 2026 LOVE Award Winner – Excellence in Education
Cupola Academy (CA) is a secular, nonprofit educational organization that provides a supportive community-base for homeschooling families.
Cupola Academy | 2026 LOVE Award Winner – Excellence in Education
Description
Cupola Academy is a secular, nonprofit learning community for children and teens ages 4–18, nestled on 10 acres in Malvern, PA, offering part-time, in-person programs designed to support homeschooling families.
Cupola Academy has spent more than 50 years developing what they call Partnership Education — a model built on the idea that young people learn best when curiosity leads the way. Programs are facilitated (not taught in the traditional sense) by trained staff who guide students through applied, hands-on academics that prioritize process and collaboration over grades and performance. The community draws families who are looking for something between conventional school and solo homeschooling — a structured, intellectually rich environment that also centers social and environmental justice.
Mention you heard about Cupola Academy on Main Line Parent, Philadelphia Family, or Bucks County Parent and receive a FREE Educational Consultation with a Cupola Academy Co-Director.
Who is Cupola Academy best for? Cupola Academy is an especially strong fit for families who are seeking to elevate their youth’s educational journey. Perhaps their youth has been doing well in traditional public or private school, but the family is seeking an environment that emphasizes applied academics, time outside, and deep conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization. Alternatively, CA would also be a good fit for a family who is already homeschooling, but is seeking a broader community network, a resource-rich learning space, and expertly trained Facilitators to serve as guides. The program is designed for young people who are curious and collaborative, and for parents who want to partner with experienced educators to build an intentional path without committing to full-time schooling.
CA is not a special education program; therefore, youth who require behavioral, therapeutic, or significant educational accommodations are better served in one of the many amazing schools or programs in the Philadelphia area that are staffed by professionals with strong special education backgrounds.
What makes Cupola Academy different from other homeschool co-ops or hybrid programs on the Main Line? Unlike a typical co-op — which is often parent-led and loosely structured — Cupola Academy is guided by trained Facilitators and rooted in a specific educational framework called Partnership Education, developed over more than 50 years. The model replaces traditional grades and rubrics with descriptive feedback and reflection, and emphasizes applied, interdisciplinary academics where students might launch rockets to test physics calculations, draft business plans, or explore Shakespeare through performance — all within a secular, nonprofit community setting.
How does scheduling work, and are programs grouped by age? Students attend in-person two or three days per week on Cupola’s 10-acre Malvern campus, and programs are structured by age: Creative Choice for ages 4–7, Collaborative Pods for ages 7–15, and Constructing Your Path for ages 15–18.
Find Cupola Academy’s upcoming Open House and Admissions events on their website!
As Seen in the Philadelphia Family Best for Families Guide
Family Focus Media is dedicated to Building Community with Philadelphia Family, Main Line Parent, and Bucks County Parent. Our annual LOVE Awards and Family Favorites celebrate the BEST local resources for families.
Have you worked with Cupola Academy? Share an endorsement below to support local parents like you in our Philly Family Community!
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Kerry
We’re beginning our third year with Cupola Academy, and it has truly become such a meaningful part of our homeschool journey. The facilitators take the time to really know each young person, recognizing their strengths, interests, and what helps them thrive. Our two teens have found a wonderful peer group and a real sense of community, while also being challenged, engaged, and encouraged to grow as learners.
Main Line Community Parent
Cupola Academy has been the single most impactful homeschool resource and community for our son, Lucas, and for our entire family. We had contemplated homeschooling for a long time, but when we first found Cupola, we kept asking ourselves, “There has to be a catch.” What sets Cupola apart is not just the programming, but the extraordinary level of care, investment, and intentionality shown by its facilitators and directors (Julia & Mike) in every interaction.
From day one, Cupola has been warm, welcoming, and deeply thoughtful. The facilitators truly know the young people not just their academic levels, but who they are as individuals. Every day of programming, every conversation, and every follow-up reflects an incredible amount of preparation and genuine care. Nothing feels transactional or “one size fits all.” Instead, everything feels purposeful, responsive, and personal.
One of the most meaningful aspects of Cupola Academy has been how individualized Lucas’ learning journey has been. When he became interested in drawing, the facilitators took the time to print Star Wars references tailored specifically to him, encouraging both his creativity and his passions. When he started learning the ukulele, they embraced his interests by letting him learn a LEGO-themed song, meeting him where he was and making me laugh by saying to me “Mom we didn’t do anything educational today!”
Since joining Cupola Academy, Lucas’ creativity has absolutely soared. He feels safe to explore ideas, take risks, and express himself in ways we hadn’t seen before. He’s learned how to play instruments, discovered a love of drawing, and regularly empties our recycling bin to turn cardboard into imaginative creations that now fill our living room. His confidence has grown alongside his curiosity, and learning has become something he’s genuinely excited about, not just work to complete.
What has meant even more to us as parents is how supportive Cupola has been beyond scheduled class time. The directors and facilitators are consistently generous with guidance, resources, and encouragement for all of our non-Cupola learning as well. They truly partner with families, helping us navigate homeschooling as a whole rather than limiting their support to their own programs.
From both an educational and family standpoint, we get far more than our money’s worth at Cupola Academy. The time, care, and expertise poured into this community go above and beyond expectations, and it shows in our child’s growth, joy, and love of learning. We are incredibly grateful to be part of a community that treats homeschooling as both an art and a relationship—and Cupola Academy exemplifies that better than any resource we’ve experienced.
Main Line Community Parent
This is our fourth year at Cupola Academy, and we love them because they allow us to give our child the best of both worlds – more time for interest-led exploration, more time outdoors, and quality time with family that homeschooling offers, while not sacrificing the advantages of peer groups and skilled academic facilitation that more traditional schooling affords. Julia and Mike, and all the facilitators are skillful, kind and encouraging. We love that the school culture models growing individual agency and independence balanced with a community-valuing mindset. We have seen our child blossom in confidence and in emotional intelligence and thrive in the supportive social relationships that Cupola fosters so well. Plus, the access to hands-on learning and nature exploration is really wonderful and really valued by us.
Main Line Community Parent
Cupola Academy is a secular academic homeschool program that our children and family have benefited from for years. Their caring and knowledgeable facilitators make learning fun, they are not only responsive but proactive in helping our neurodivergent children thrive. The young people work in small groups so they are constantly practicing how to work with others and the curriculum is interest driven and covers all academic areas! Having Cupola in our lives makes homeschooling our children possible!
Dana Rummery
Our daughters have gained so much from attending Cupola Academy in the last year and a half! They work in small groups, learning/practicing not just the academic skills they’ll need in life, but how to work with others through exploring topics that matter to the young people and affect the greater world. The facilitators are thoughtful, dedicated, and support the growth of each young person that attends program. Plus, they have fun!
Julia Bergson-Shilcock, Cupola Academy Co-Director
When you wonder, learning follows naturally.