At the Pearl, we help homeschool parents create a hybrid education structure for their teens. This fall, we are offering unique hybrid-homeschooling education for teens to attend worldwide! These classes can count towards a United States high school diploma.
Our Classes
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Beginning Japanese – Online Language Class
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 10:30 am -11:25 am U.S Central Time
Beginning Japanese class is an introductory course designed for students with little to no prior knowledge of the Japanese language. The course focuses on the fundamental building blocks of Japanese, including pronunciation, the hiragana and katakana writing systems, simple greetings, essential vocabulary, and basic grammar. Students will learn to engage in simple conversations on everyday topics, enabling them to introduce themselves and navigate basic interactions in Japanese.
The Pearl High School’s Beginning Japanese Class will be taught by Nao Takeda.
Intermediate Japanese – Online Language Class
Monday & Wednesday from 11:30 am – 12:55 am US Central Time
The Intermediate Japanese class is designed for students with a basic understanding of Japanese. In this class, you will focus on advanced grammar while practicing your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. You will engage in everyday conversations using natural Japanese pronunciation. The course aims to enhance your overall communication abilities, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You will learn more complex grammar structures and expand your vocabulary. The goal is to help you speak fluently in everyday situations and comprehend moderate-level Japanese texts.
The Pearl High School’s Intermediate Japanese Class will be taught by Nao Takeda.
Voices of Resistance: Exploring Identity Through Diverse Writers – Online English Language Art Class
Monday & Wednesday from 10:00 am – 11:25 am U.S. Central Time
This is a class about identity through the perspectives of non-mainstream, non-privileged authors, whose writings offer insightful accounts of life in diverse social contexts. Students will understand the lifestyle, struggles, and experiences these writers have shared through essays, poems, or short stories, and we’ll discuss how our own experiences can relate to those that we read about and how much the world has changed since. Challenging the dominant discourse through the voices of non-white/feminist/LGBTQ+/chicano authors like Danez Smith, bell hooks, Sandra Cisneros, and Gloria Anzaldúa will make the students reflect on identity, culture, and social issues that will strengthen their critical thinking, expand their perspectives, and reinforce their empathy.
The Pearl High School’s Voices of Resistance class will be taught by published author Paulino Ordóñez .
Advanced Spanish – Online Language Class
Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 am -11:25 pm U.S. Central Time
In advanced Spanish classes, students will engage in language production through captivating activities such as crafting their own short stories, creating videos, and enhancing conversational skills. By immersing themselves in Spanish literary works, students will further solidify their language knowledge and grammar. This course mirrors the rigor of a high school level class offered in a Spanish-speaking country, designed to cater to native speakers. Join us as we embark on a language-learning journey that combines creativity, cultural exploration, and linguistic excellence.
The Pearl High School’s Practical Spanish Class will be taught by Lorena de la Vega Aguirre.
Practical Spanish – Online Language Class
Tuesday and Thursdays from 11:30 pm-12:55 pm U.S. Central Time
In Practical Spanish, you will expand your listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills through interactive experiences, virtual trips, and self-directed learning projects.
The Pearl High School’s Practical Spanish Class will be taught by Lorena de la Vega Aguirre.
Self Discovery – Online Elective
Monday and Wednesday from 11:30 am -12:55 pm U.S. Central Time
In this interactive course, students will embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth within a supportive, democratic online environment. Through hands-on projects and introspective activities, they’ll uncover the strengths, interests, and experiences that make them unique, while also exploring how these personal qualities intersect with social responsibilities. Students will develop practical tools for organizing their thoughts, expressing their identities, and engaging meaningfully with others. By examining both their inner creativity and the influences that shape their decisions, students will build a foundation for a purposeful high school journey, one that prepares them to become informed, competent, and engaged citizens who actively contribute to a just and inclusive world.
The Pearl High School’s Practical psychology class will be taught by trained psychologist Paulino Ordóñez.
Green Planet (STEM): Explore the Secret Life of Plants and Their Power to Change the World– Online Natural Science Class
Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 am -12:55 pm U.S. Central Time
Ever wondered how plants breathe, fight, or even talk to each other? Or how microscopic ocean plants help regulate the planet’s climate? In Green Planet, you’ll discover just how wild, weird, and wonderful the plant world really is and why our future depends on it.
In this class, we’ll journey through forests and oceans to explore the incredible diversity of plants and how they power life on Earth. From the tiniest phytoplankton floating in the sea to towering rainforest trees, you’ll explore their biodiversity and how these living organisms shape ecosystems and inspire science and innovation.
But that’s not all! This course also dives into ethnobotany, the study of how cultures use and care for plants; additionally, we’ll examine the role of plants in traditional diets, medicine, and industry. You’ll explore ancient plant knowledge, from Amazonian healing herbs to seaweed harvesting traditions, and consider how this wisdom meets cutting-edge science.
The Pearl High School’s STEM Class is taught by Javier Ajú-Torres
Maths Explorers – Online Math Class
Monday and Wednesday from 1:30 pm-2:55 pm U.S. Central Time
Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of mathematics through an exciting and interactive learning journey? Maths Explorers is designed to ignite curiosity, sharpen problem-solving skills, and unlock the power of critical thinking—preparing you for both academic success and real-world challenges!
You will gain mathematical literacy, problem-solving mastery, logical reasoning & critical thinking skills, and a strong foundation for advanced math studies. We will use real-world applications and integrate technology during this course.
The Pearl High School’s Math Explorers class will be taught by Issac Azure, Ph.D.
Essentials of Career Development- Unlock Your Future – Online Elective Class
Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 pm-2:55 pm U.S. Central Time
Are you ready to take control of your career path? The Essentials of Career Development course will equip you with the skills, knowledge, and strategies to build a successful and fulfilling career with cutting-edge twenty-first-century skills. Whether you are exploring career options, looking to enhance your professional identity, or aiming to master time and project management, develop communication skills, and learn to work effectively in a team, this course has everything you need to set yourself up for success!
This engaging, hands-on course provides practical insights and real-world strategies to help you confidently navigate your academic and professional journey.
The Pearl High School’s Career Development class will be taught by Issac Azure, Ph.D.
Geographic Adventures: The Soundtrack of Place- Online Social Studies Class
Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 pm-2:55 pm U.S. Central Time
Geographic Adventures invites students to explore the landscapes of the Americas through the lens of music, using it as a powerful tool to examine the dynamic intersections of people, place, and culture. Moving beyond maps and borders, we’ll trace the rhythms, melodies, and lyrics that shape and reflect communities, revealing how music tells the stories of migration, resistance, and social change.
Students will analyze how songs emerge from specific environments (e.g., urban centers, rural landscapes, and natural settings) and how they influence identity, belonging, and community life. We’ll examine how music is both a response to and a driver of culture.
With a focus on critical thinking and real-world application, students will engage in collaborative projects, virtual tours, and interactive listening sessions that connect geography to lived experiences. Together, we’ll build the skills to think critically about how music shapes and is shaped by place, empowering students to become active, engaged citizens who understand the power of sound in shaping our world.
The Pearl High School’s Geographic Adventures class will be taught by our director, Robin Harwick, Ph.D.
Whose story – Online Social Studies Class
Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 pm-4:25 pm U.S. Central Time
History can be learned in a million ways, and one of the most powerful is through story. In Fall 2025, we will explore history through the lens of personal and community narratives, discovering how individual lives reflect broader historical movements and cultural shifts. Students will engage in storytelling, creative nonfiction writing, oral history interviews, and basic archival research to bring these stories to light.
Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to investigate their own ancestry and cultural roots, tracing family histories as far back as possible and examining the events, migrations, and traditions that shaped them. We will also study stories from communities across the globe, learning how identity, resistance, resilience, and memory are passed down through generations.
By combining historical inquiry with personal reflection, students will develop research and communication skills while deepening their understanding of how history lives within people, places, and relationships. This course invites students to see themselves not just as learners of history—but as its living authors.
The Pearl High School’s Social Science class will be taught by Hande Togrul, Ph.D.
Introduction to Bioethics: Environmental Justice, Medical & Research Ethics in Society – Online Science Class
Monday and Wednesday from 3:00 pm-4:25 pm U.S. Central Time
In this thought-provoking course, students will explore some of the most fascinating—and controversial—questions at the intersection of science, medicine, and morality. What do we owe to the environment? Should athletes have access to performance-enhancing treatments? Who decides how far medical research can go? Through real-world case studies and lively discussion, students will learn the foundations of ethical thinking and how to apply them to complex, real-life issues.
From environmental justice and military medicine to LGBTQ+ health equity and cutting-edge genetic research, this course offers a wide range of topics to explore. Students will have the chance to dive deep into the issues that matter most to them, developing their voices and viewpoints while sharpening critical thinking skills. Each topic is anchored in real dilemmas faced by scientists, doctors, patients, and communities.
Whether you’re interested in science, law, health care, social justice, the environment, or philosophy, Introduction to Bioethics will challenge you to think differently—and think deeply—about the world around you. This class is discussion-based, student-driven, and perfect for those who love asking big questions with no easy answers.
The Pearl High School’s Bioethics course is taught by guest teacher, Aimee Brisbin.
Contemporary Visual Arts – Online Art Class
Monday and Wednesday from 4:30 pm-6:00 pm U.S. Central Time
Join us as we explore visual arts for the 21st century! From digital illustration to graphic design to painting, photography, and sketching; we help you learn the art skills that you want to know. Whether you have dreams of animation or are just looking to explore their creative side we help you pursue art without judgment. We respect new styles of art brought to us by youth culture and the internet. You will have the opportunity to work on your own art projects in addition to art exercises, assignments, and research activities!
The Pearl High School’s Visual Arts class is facilitated by Brittaney Drake, MA
About The Pearl Remote Democratic High School
All of our teachers are experts in their fields and welcome students with all learning styles and abilities! Teens can take all of our classes, a few, or just one. Because The Pearl is a Democratic High School, our classes follow a self-directed work style where students get control of their education. Additionally, we cap our classes at 10 students, so everyone gets the support they need.
Our curriculum is made up of hybrid-homeschooling classes for teens. This means that families who are already homeschoolers can supplement the education they provide with classes from experts to ensure that their child gets the best education they can receive.
We teach our classes online, using Zoom, and they are open worldwide! Students that work directly with The Pearl are eligible to work towards a WASC-Accredited US high school diploma through our partnership program with Angeles Workshop. This makes the Pearl an excellent option for students who are marginalized within the mainstream educational system. Additionally, students who attend The Pearl from outside the US are still eligible to receive a US diploma.