Decoding Think Academy: Tuition Fees, Courses, and Student Outcomes

Think Academy, formerly a K-12 math education provider and coding bootcamp, aimed to build strong mathematical foundations and critical thinking skills in students. This article delves into Think Academy's offerings, tuition fees, course structure, and student outcomes, drawing upon available historical information and alumni reviews. The academy is closed now, but you can still see historical information and Think Academy alumni reviews on the school page.

A Focus on Math Education

Think Academy, wholly owned by TAL Education Group, was dedicated to helping students build strong mathematical foundations and critical thinking skills. Its structured curriculum provided multiple course levels designed to accommodate students with diverse academic goals and proficiency levels, ensuring targeted and effective learning experiences.

Grade 1 Math Course: Building a Foundation

Think Academy’s Grade 1 Math Course was designed to strengthen math foundations while sparking curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving skills. It was recommended for students with a solid foundation who wanted to advance ahead in school math while adding competition training. The course incorporated focused small-group classes with a maximum of 18 students per class to ensure every child received individual attention. At Think Academy, students learned from experienced, caring math teachers who specialized in early childhood education.

Pre-Algebra Math Course: Preparing for Middle School

The transition to middle school brings more than harder math-it changes how students are expected to learn. Teachers provide less step-by-step guidance, homework and tests are more demanding, and self-management becomes essential. Think Academy aimed to provide an advanced, structured curriculum for middle school math success.

Key Features of the Pre-Algebra Course:

Advanced, Structured Curriculum for Middle School Math Success
Expert Teachers, Step-by-Step Guidance, and Ongoing Support
Think Academy curriculum is aligned with Common Core standards, which are widely adopted by most states in America.
Feedback Beyond the Classroom: After each lesson, homework is graded with detailed feedback to reinforce learning.
Clear and Transparent Progress Tracking: Stage quizzes every four lessons measure mastery.

Cultivating Effective Learning Habits

At Think Academy, the goal extended beyond just seeing children working hard; it was about witnessing their growth. The academy emphasized the development of powerful habits like taking clear notes, checking answers, and explaining thinking. Think Academy’s long-term students consistently performed more than 40 points above the US national average on the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) math assessment. Across grades, students not only maintained this high performance but also showed steady acceleration in math skills year over year.

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Coding Bootcamp: A Path to Web Development

Think Academy also operated as an online and in-person NYC-based full-stack coding bootcamp designed to turn students into full-time professional web developers through one-on-one expert mentorship and group pairing sessions. The program covered full-stack .NET, C#, JavaScript, APIs, HTML, CSS, JQuery, Ajax, SQL, MVC, and Entity Framework. Job assistance was an important part of the program, with experienced mentors providing interview preparation and resume critiques to help students land their dream jobs.

Tuition Fees and Course Costs

Think Academy's tuition fees varied depending on the course. The general cost was around $12,000. Some courses, like the Front End Web Developer - Online program, cost around $4,999.

Student Outcomes and Reviews

Think Academy alumni, students, and applicants reviewed Think Academy and rated their overall experience a 4.88 out of 5. In 2016, Think Academy reported an 88% graduation rate, a median salary of $45,000, and 100% of Think Academy alumni were employed.

Alumni Outcomes (2016):

Graduation Rate: 88%
Job-Seeking Graduates: 93%
In-Field Employment Rate (within 180 days): 100%
Median Income: $45,000

180-Day Employment Breakdown:

Full Time, In-Field Employee: 92.3%
Full-time apprenticeship, internship, or contract position: 7.7%

Alumni Reviews Summary:

Overall Experience: 4.9
Instructors: 4.9
Curriculum: 4.6
Job Assistance: 4.4

Student Testimonials:

Markus A. (Digital Marketer): Described the Digital Marketing Flex Program as "fascinating, challenging, and totally awe-inspiring," learning new things and propelling him to think and operate differently.
Ryan Bates (Full Stack .NET MVC): A true beginner who was brought up to speed in weeks, praising Richard as a superb mentor and teacher with considerable C# dev experience.
Jacob Williams (Full Stack .NET MVC): Experiencing coding whole apps within two months, with Richard connecting him with recruiters regularly.
David Terrence (Full Stack .NET MVC): Found Rich extremely helpful, providing assistance through problems and staying after class to answer questions.
Maria Angelo (Full Stack .NET MVC): Had a great experience, receiving HTML and CSS courses as prerequisites and landing a junior job a month after graduation, with Richard's connections to recruiters.
Joshua Yi (Front End Web Developer - Online): Found the course very helpful, with a clear and concise outline of topics that made learning easy for beginners.
Anonymous (Remote Engineering Flex Program): Praised the education, mentorship, and career search aspects, highlighting the consistent module format, thorough grading process, and the mentors' professionalism and knowledge of coding.

A Closer Look at the Curriculum

The curriculum was designed to be both rigorous and supportive, catering to different learning styles and needs.

Key Aspects of the Curriculum:

Aligned with Standards: The math curriculum was aligned with Common Core standards, ensuring relevance and applicability.
Structured Learning: The structured curriculum provided multiple course levels to accommodate diverse academic goals and proficiency levels.
Expert Instruction: Students learned from experienced and caring math teachers who specialized in early childhood education.
Personalized Attention: Small class sizes (maximum of 18 students) ensured that every child received individual attention.
Progress Tracking: Stage quizzes every four lessons measured mastery, providing clear and transparent progress tracking.
Feedback and Support: Homework was graded with detailed feedback to reinforce learning, and expert teachers provided step-by-step guidance and ongoing support.

The Importance of Building Strong Foundations

Think Academy emphasized the importance of building strong mathematical foundations and critical thinking skills. By focusing on these core competencies, the academy aimed to equip students with the tools they needed to succeed not only in school but also in life. The development of learning ability, curiosity, and healthy study habits was seen as crucial for inspiring a lifelong love of learning.

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