Astra Nova School
A nonprofit, WASC-accredited online middle and high school that grew out of Ad Astra, the school Josh Dahn and Elon Musk started at SpaceX in 2014. Students take small live Zoom classes built around puzzles, simulations and real-world problems, and families pay by the number of class hours per week.
What is Astra Nova School?
Astra Nova is a nonprofit online school for students ages 11 to 18. It says it is WASC accredited, governed by an independent board, and funded by tuition alone.
Its story starts with Ad Astra. In 2014, Josh Dahn and Elon Musk started a small school at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, mostly for Musk's children and those of SpaceX staff. When that school left SpaceX in 2020, its teachers and families formed Astra Nova and opened it online to students worldwide. Dahn now runs it with co-founders Rose Rohde and Tara Safronoff. Astra Nova's site doesn't list Musk among its leaders, and it says it takes no donations.
One naming note: a separate Musk-linked school that opened in Bastrop, Texas, in 2024 also uses the name Ad Astra. News coverage does not connect it to Astra Nova or Dahn.
How it works
Every class is live on Zoom, in English, usually with 6 to 16 students. The day has seven 60-minute blocks, and families pick the blocks that fit their time zone and schedule. Most courses meet once or twice a week; math meets four times. New courses appear each term, across three terms a year.
Students typically take 4 to 16 class hours a week. Some use Astra Nova as a full school. Others take a few classes alongside homeschooling or another school.
The school is known for Conundrums: open-ended problems about ethics, strategy and tradeoffs. They are part of class life and of admissions. Synthesis, the company behind the math program Synthesis Tutor, also began at the school.
What it covers
| Division | Ages | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Middle school | 11–14 | Live electives and core classes chosen by block, including math four days a week |
| High school | 14–18 | Opened August 2026; Graduation Track needs 12 or more class hours a week, including math, plus one week a year on site at a company |
Course lists change each term, so check the current catalog before you plan a year.
Who it's best for
Astra Nova fits curious students who enjoy debate, puzzles and building things, and who can show up for live classes. It is a strong pick for homeschoolers who want a few challenging live courses.
Look elsewhere if your child needs a self-paced program, a faith-based or classical curriculum, or a long-established high school with years of graduates.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, Astra Nova lists tuition for 2027–28 by weekly class hours: $4,950 for 2 hours, $9,900 for 3 to 4, $14,850 for 5 to 7, $24,750 for 8 to 11, $32,175 for 12 to 15, and $37,125 for 16 or more. There is no application fee. Admissions are need-blind and the school meets 100% of demonstrated need through Clarity, which charges a $60 fee. Trips cost extra.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Possibly, but nothing official confirms it. Astra Nova's site doesn't mention ESA or scholarship payments. Some programs, such as the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account, can pay private online school tuition when the school is registered. Ask Astra Nova and your program first. Each program decides. Read how education savings accounts work, and save Astra Nova to your wishlist to keep it next to other options.
How it compares
- Sora Schools is the closest match: a live, project-based online school for middle and high school, with a full daily schedule.
- Stanford Online High School and Davidson Academy are live and rigorous, aimed at highly gifted students.
- Alpha School also has Musk-era buzz, but it is mainly in-person and software-driven.
- For one or two classes at a time, Outschool costs far less per class.
Who Astra Nova School is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Curious students ages 11–18 who love puzzles, debate and problem-solving
- Homeschoolers who want a few live, high-level classes each week
- Families anywhere in the world who can attend live Zoom classes
- Students who would thrive with peers from many countries
Look elsewhere if
- Families who want a self-paced or flexible-anytime program
- Families who need a faith-based or classical program
- Students who want a long-established high school track record
- Budgets that cannot stretch to private school tuition without aid
Astra Nova School pros and cons
Pros
- Very small live classes, usually 6 to 16 students
- Flexible schedule: pick blocks and hours that fit your family
- Pay only for the class hours you use
- WASC accredited nonprofit with need-blind admissions
- Unusual courses built around reasoning, ethics and real problems
Cons
- Full-time loads cost $32,175 to $37,125 a year (2027–28)
- Selective admissions; about half of applicants pass the first round
- High school division opened in August 2026, so it is new
- No published refund or withdrawal policy
- Trips cost extra
What’s included
- All classes taught live on Zoom in English, usually 6 to 16 students
- Seven 60-minute class blocks a day; families choose the blocks that fit
- Tuition priced by weekly class hours, from 2 hours to 16 or more
- Conundrums: open-ended ethics and reasoning challenges, also used in admissions
- High school Graduation Track with at least 12 class hours a week, launched in 2026
- Need-blind admissions that meet 100% of demonstrated financial need
How much does Astra Nova School cost?
As of October 2026, Astra Nova posts tuition for the 2027–28 school year, which starts August 25, 2027. Annual tuition depends on weekly class hours: 2 hours $4,950; 3–4 hours $9,900; 5–7 hours $14,850; 8–11 hours $24,750; 12–15 hours $32,175; 16 or more $37,125. A class hour is one live 60-minute class a week, and math meets four times a week, so it counts as 4 hours. The site does not show 2026–27 rates. There is no application fee.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 class hours a week (2027–28) | $4,950/yr | Yearly | $412.50/mo |
| 3–4 class hours a week (2027–28) | $9,900/yr | Yearly | $825/mo |
| 5–7 class hours a week (2027–28) | $14,850/yr | Yearly | $1,237.50/mo |
| 8–11 class hours a week (2027–28) | $24,750/yr | Yearly | $2,062.50/mo |
| 12–15 class hours a week (2027–28) | $32,175/yr | Yearly | $2,681.25/mo |
| 16 or more class hours a week (2027–28) | $37,125/yr | Yearly | $3,093.75/mo |
Free trial: No trial. Admissions run on a set timeline: apply by April 15, 2027, group interviews May 2, final decisions June 15.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-26. Always confirm on the official site.
Can a scholarship pay for Astra Nova School?
Astra Nova describes itself as funded by tuition alone, with no government money, and its site does not mention ESA or state scholarship payments. Some ESA programs pay private online school tuition when the school is registered with them, so ask Astra Nova and your program. Each program decides.
No program on Edulist lists Astra Nova School yet. Save it to your wishlist and we’ll tell you when one does. Many state ESAs let families buy products like this directly; each program decides.
Astra Nova School family reviews
Be the first to review
Loading…
Astra Nova School FAQs
How much does Astra Nova School cost?
Tuition depends on weekly class hours. For 2027–28, it runs from $4,950 a year for 2 class hours to $37,125 for 16 or more. Most full schedules fall between $14,850 and $37,125. Need-based aid meets 100% of demonstrated need.
Is Astra Nova the same as Ad Astra?
Astra Nova grew out of the original Ad Astra, which Josh Dahn co-founded with Elon Musk at SpaceX in 2014. When that school left SpaceX in 2020, its faculty and students formed Astra Nova as an independent nonprofit online school. A newer Musk-linked school in Bastrop, Texas, also uses the Ad Astra name, but news reports do not tie it to Astra Nova.
Is Astra Nova accredited?
Yes. Astra Nova says it is an online, nonprofit, WASC-accredited school. It is also a 501(c)(3) with an independent board of trustees.
What ages does Astra Nova serve?
The middle school serves ages 11 to 14 and the high school ages 14 to 18. The high school opened in August 2026 and offers a three- to four-year Graduation Track.
How hard is it to get into Astra Nova?
Admissions are selective. Applicants send a short video or audio response to a Conundrum plus a parent letter. Astra Nova says about half advance to a group interview, and final decisions for 2027–28 come out June 15, 2027.
Are Astra Nova classes live?
Yes. Every class is live on Zoom in English, usually with 6 to 16 students. There are seven 60-minute blocks each day, and families pick the ones that fit. Most courses meet once or twice a week, and math meets four times.
Can I use an ESA for Astra Nova?
Astra Nova's site doesn't say it accepts ESA or scholarship funds. Some state programs allow private online school tuition if the school registers, so ask both the school and your program. Each program decides.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-26 against these sources: