Anonymous wrote:I would recommend not relying on K12 or time 4 learning for homeschooling a middle schooler. Middle school should be years of interest-led project-based learning.
Instead, my suggestion would be to continue the math you are currently doing and find out what sorts of history and science he's interested in you. If you are already paying for private school and AOPS, I assume you are willing to pay for things he's interested in so the cost premium may be less of a problem.
Curriculums to look at (if you want to do much of the instruction yourself):
Blossom and Root
Build your Library
Oak Meadow (they also have a graded option)
Look into the following online-based providers:
Well Trained Mind for Language arts and history
Next Level Homeschooling (asynchronous) for science and history
Outschool for various interests. My DS currently takes a one-hour-a-week architecture class using MindCraft and loves it.
Languages: Homeschool Spanish Academy, italki (for other languages), Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, Mango Languages (last three free through various libraries)
Code.org
In-person classes- be sure to have something in person whether it's a coop, scouts, etc
In VA - look at Compass.
In MD, look into:
Rethink Science (in Greenbelt, her classes are excellent, drop off program).
Cheverly STEM (drop off program),
Ancestral Knowledge (if he's into outdoor learning at all),
Greenbelt Community Center (has lots of homeschool classes - art, ceramics, music)
Sligo Creek Coop
Field trips (all the following have homeschool programs, but I'm unsure what will happen in fall)
Maryland Science Center
Baltimore Aquarium
Waters Museum
Building Museum
Anacostia Watershed Society (not a traditional field trip, but they often need volunteers for their mussel project)
Colonial Williamsburg
Historic St. Mary's
Historic Londontown
Mt. Vernon
If the child in question will likes distance learning, there’s no guarantee that they will like homeschooling the way you were describing. Having experienced virtual school through K 12, my suggestion to op was to check out the public and private options, because they’re very similar to distance-learning.