Co-ops 101: Extended Learning
Whether situated in a private home, library, church, park, or other creative setting, co-ops do not replace parent-led teaching of home-taught core subjects.
Choosing the right co-op for your family might be based on various factors including location, class size, schedule, cost, and subject matter (academic, physical education, or enrichment classes). The following regional cooperatives -- in alphabetical order -- offer fall, spring, and year-long programs to enrich your child's learning adventures.
Co-op Page Sponsor: Classical Conversations .
In Classical Conversations, your child will excel in a nationwide academic homeschool program using the classical method. Students interact weekly with their peers in a classroom. You, the parent, are fully equipped to carry out the program at appropriate age levels. Visit www.classicalconversations.com or email morganbunmi@yahoo.com for info. Christian; PreK-12
Want to see your co-op featured in an upcoming issue of Homeschool Frederick? Please contact Homeschool Frederick and we would love to profile your group. Just fill out our short questionnaire and we'll help spread the word about your co-op!
Association of Roman Catholic Homeschoolers (ARCH)
ARCH is a Catholic support group for homeschoolers in Maryland and Pennsylvania with most activities centered around the Frederick County, MD area. Yahoo Group
The Baltimore Homeschool Community Center
A diverse and vibrant community of students, parents, teachers, and friends who are changing the face of homeschooling. The Baltimore Homeschool Community Center is not affiliated with any one homeschool group, but open to members of all homeschool groups. We also offer after school, weekend, and BCPS days off activities and classes. Visit online.
Christiana Homeschool Academy (CHA)
CHA is a board directed, ecumenical tutorial service for homeschoolers. Based in Westminster, Maryland, we provide instruction using a classical/leadership approach to education from a Christian world view, with an emphasis on classical literature, excellent writing skills and public speaking. CHA meets two days per week. We provide the "Best of Both Worlds" of homeschooling and private school education. What does God have in store for your high school scholars and leaders? Currently, we have space available in our high school program, especially the 10th grade. To find out more about us, visit our website, or call or email Catherine Milstead at 410-781-7566.
Circle of Life Cooperative Preschool
CLC, at 4880 Elmer Derr Road in Frederick, provides a child-centered & parent-involved preschool program based on the foundation of the Unitarian Universalist Seven Principles. The curriculum utilizes a holistic approach to learning and development designed to meet the needs of the child. Call 301-473-7680 or visit online.
Classical Conversations - Frederick
In Classical Conversations, your child will excel in a nationwide academic homeschool program using the classical method. Students interact weekly with their peers in a classroom. You, the parent, are fully equipped to carry out the program at appropriate age levels. Visit www.classicalconversations.com or email morganbunmi@yahoo.com for info. Christian; PreK-12. For more info see one mom's experience here.
Classical Conversations - Damascus
K-12 program that meets together once a week to tutor children and equip parents to home educate using the classical tools of learning.
Contact I Website
Classical Conversations - Kensington
Classical homeschool group serving Kensington and surrounding areas. Contact I Website
Columbia Homeschool Community
An inclusive and diverse homeschool support group whose mission is to provide homeschool enrichment, socialization and support, welcomes homeschoolers from throughout Maryland to join our support group and enjoy our co-op classes, field trips, monthly family events, and more. We are an active and friendly group, offering over 50 field trips, trimester classes, and lots of fun and socialization. Join us! Website
Cornerstone Homeschool Cooperative
Cornerstone is a one day a week Christian homeschool cooperative dedicated to assisting families with the education of their children by providing excellent instruction from a biblical worldview. We meet on Mondays at Winfield Bible Chapel in Woodbine, MD. Please visit our web site for more information: www.cornerstonehsc.org I Website
Educating Our Own (EOO)
An inclusive co-op that runs for 10 consecutive Monday sessions at the First Church of God in Westminster MD. Students in grades Pre-k through High School will have the opportunity to select up to four 50-minute class periods. For additional details please see our website.
Frederick Homeschool Community
The Frederick Homeschool Community (FHC) is an inclusive and diverse cooperative of homeschoolers whose mission is to provide enrichment, socialization and support for the entire homeschool family. FHC warmly welcomes homeschool families throughout Maryland to our membership. Contact : for more information. Website
Freedom HIll Cooperative
FreedomHill Cooperative’s program is closely modeled after Sudbury Valley School in Framingham, Mass. Built solidly on Sudbury’s model of democratic education, FreedomHill’s primary goal is for students to develop the ability to think expansively about themselves and their place in the world. Contact: info@freedomhill.org for more information. Website
Granite Classical Tutorials
"Supporting the Christ-Centered, Classical Home School”. Columbia Presbyterian Church, 10001-A Route 108, Columbia, MD 21044
Granite is the perfect balance between home and group instruction. Meeting Monday and Wednesday, Granite provides the home schooling family with a unique experience, combining classical and Christian with high academic excellence. Our tutorial offers course work in a group environment for grades 1-12, creating an atmosphere that encourages learning at every stage of the Trivium. Website
HARC (Homeschool Academic Resource Cooperative)
Mission: To provide quality, fun-filled academic classes to children in the homeschooling community. We want adults and children to feel welcome, and to feel free to ask questions and learn without prejudice, in a relaxed group setting. We wish to provide encouragement and fellowship as well as educational support. We meet in Frederick off of Opossumtown Pike on Mondays from 9:45AM-1:05PM and offer nursery through high school with 3 classes and a lunch/recess period. Contact: Christine Colburn at 301-682-7077 for more information.
Homeschool Adventures
We are the "HA"! Homeschool Adventures is a fun group of families focused on creating a great environment for our kids. We openly invite all families to come and grow with us in the Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel counties as well as the surrounding areas. Our first goal is to build friendships for ourselves and our kids. We strive to attain this by providing support to families, enrichment activites, just plain old fun activities, field trips, monthly events, co-op classes, and of course, playdates all in one Grand Adventure! Please contact Josie St John for more info!
Homeschooling by Grace
A ministry by homeschoolers, for homeschoolers at Grace Community Church. We meet biweekly on Mondays for elementary through high school and also offering every week for high school students. Classes are taught primarily by co-op enrolled parents. We offer activities and events planned outside of co-op days to keep our families connected. We are an extension of the church, functioning much like the local church; and therefore we do not require that members are Christians. Teachers are required to sign a Statement of Faith. Contact hbgcoordinator@live.com by email for more information. Website (see under the Ministries heading)
Homeschool Co-op for the ARTS
An arts-based cooperative offering a creative learning environment for homeschooling families in northern Frederick County and the surrounding areas. Our classes vary per session and focus on visual art, drama, music, and creative writing. For more information, please email HCA2011@aol.com.
HOPE Homeschool Families
A Christian homeschool support group offering summer Park Days, monthly parent meetings, and weekly co-ops in Walkersville. Grades K-12 are welcome to participate in our parent involved co-op meeting on Wednesday mornings. Some classes this session will include Apologia Botany, Biology, General Science, P.E., Art
& IEW Speech. Spring enrollment now open. Please visit our website for details. Or, email Susan Garcia for information.
Horizons Homeschool Co-op
A dynamic, inclusive co-op, welcoming members from all faiths, races and educational styles. The co-op meets in Gaithersburg, (Montgomery County) Maryland. Horizons is organized and operated by homeschool parents. We meet every Thursday for fun, creative activities and classes for preschool through high school ages. For more information, please contact Danyelle Robinson.
Leap Co-op
Leap is a Christian Homeschool Co-op that meets in Derwood, Maryland at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church for children Pre-Kindergarten through High School where parents teach one class a semester. We are committed to our core values as stated on our website.
Learning Together in Christ (LTC).
We offer 8 week classes for Pre-K thru eight grade. Nursery is provided. We meet in the Jefferson area of Frederick County at Faith Baptist Church. We have year long classes for high schoolers and middle school science. These classes include Spanish 1, 2, and 3, Sign Language, American Government, Writing and Bible. Please note that there is a fee for high school classes and middle school science classes. If anyone is interested in our high school classes, they can email Tammy Stoy. If anyone is interested in classes for Pre-K thru eighth grade, please contact Valerie Fell.
Monocacy Home Educators Co-op (MHEC)
Monocacy Home Educators is a secular and inclusive homeschool co-op that meets every Wednesday for 2 semesters per year (Fall and Spring). Each semester consists of 2 six week sessions, with a one week break in between the 2 sessions. The co-op meets at a church just North of Frederick on Old Frederick Road. Co-op begins at 9:45 a.m. with two classes (2 choices for each age group) before lunch and 2 classes after lunch. Contact Lisa Duckworth. See more info here.
Mason Dixon Homeschoolers Association (HDHSA)
A non-profit, private organization that services homeschool families in the tri-state area. The co-op meets north of Waynesboro, PA in three locations. Participants must be MDHSA members.
Potomac Home Learning Circle
We are an activities-based, secular homeschool group based in Washington County. Visit our website for more information.
Potomac Valley Homeschool Cooperative
Open to families with school-aged children in grades K-12. For the younger siblings we have both a pre-K class and a nursery. While a confession of faith is not a requirement for membership, most, if not all, of the families involved are professed Christians. Our group meets at Faith Baptist Church on Jefferson Pike in Knoxville, MD every other Thursday, August through May, from 9am-12pm (followed by lunch, fellowship, and gym). Contact Monica Paire at 301-293-1918.
Rhubarb Jam
A community of homeschooling families who have come together since 2002. The original families started out meeting monthly in a community center and now have grown to a second location. We now meet in Frederick and Germantown. We are an eclectic, secular, and inclusive group of families from Frederick, Montgomery, and other counties. We value fun, learning of all types, independence and cooperation. Website
Sacred Heart Tutorials
A Catholic homeschooling cooperative that meets on Mondays and Wednesdays at St. Joseph's Church in Taneytown. We hold classes for 6th through 12th grade. Most of our classes follow a Mother of Divine Grace syllabus, and all our classes are compatible with Mother of Divine Grace as well as many other curriculums. You may sign up for individual classes or a package. For more information contact Karen McGrath at 410-756-5545.
Silver Spring Homeschoolers
This group is designed to form a community of homeschoolers Silver Spring and area. The co-op in our name stands for cooperation, we work together. Members in this group are encouraged to network and collaborate with other local homeschooling families. We share skills and interests by offering parent hosted, planned, or led classes, clubs, field trips, co-ops, and other activities. Yahoo Group
TORCHFred
Started in 1994 to help support the efforts of Catholic parents as primary educators and teach their children at home. Faithful to the Catholic Magisterium, we promote homeschooling as an educational opportunity. We strive to support each other in our ongoing spiritual formation, deepening of our relationship with Jesus Christ, and increasing knowledge of the Catholic faith. TORCHFred is local chapter of TORCH (Traditions of Roman Catholic Homes), a national homeschool association. Enrollment is open to homeschooling families in and around Frederick and Carroll Counties, Maryland.
Training for Life in Christ Co-op (TLC)
The TLC Homeschoolers are a MACHE group based out of Frederick, Maryland. We offer spiritual and emotional support to homeschooling families while promoting strong academics. We offer support meetings, co-op classes, academic events, exciting field trips, and annual testing. It is our desire to minister to homeschool families without being a burden. For more information, please see "Why is Most Important," visit online or email Tina Jacobi.
Overlook Your Co-op?
We strive to include all cooperatives in our area but sometimes we miss one! Contact Homeschool Frederick! with information about your co-op. Please included co-op name, areas served, 1-2 line description to help readers know if they may be a good match with your group, and contact info (website, email or phone).