Fusion Academy

Fusion is much more than an accredited private middle and high school for grades 6-12 – it’s a revolutionary community of learning where positive relationships and one-to-one classrooms unlock the academic potential in every student and create opportunities for emotional and social growth.

In a Fusion one-to-one classroom, the educational experience is completely customized to ignite a student’s passion for learning. Classes are self-paced, and course material is presented in ways that suit students’ individual interests, strengths and challenges.

Fusion was born out of frustration with the status quo, and out of a passionate belief in the power of positive relationships to unlock academic potential.

In 1989, Michelle Rose Gilman, an innovative educator focused on special education, was ready to change the world. But as she entered understaffed, underfunded and uninspiring classrooms, she realized that the potential of the very students she had been trained to teach wasn’t being actualized. Michelle saw the emotional and social aspects of students’ lives being ignored – and this was preventing kids from flourishing. It was with this realization that the Fusion approach was born.

Beginning as a one-to-one tutor and mentor, Michelle worked with students to enhance their overall wellbeing and to open new pathways to learning. But as her team grew, she realized tutoring wasn’t enough – some of her students still weren’t flourishing when they returned to their full-time schools. So, to meet a pressing need, Fusion became a fulltime school.

Fusion was modeled around the needs of students who weren’t finding their place in more traditional school environments – whether they struggled with learning differences or disabilities, ADHD, social issues, the rigid scheduling of ordinary schools, or the boredom of a classroom not geared to accelerated learners.

Fusion Academy in Solana Beach, CA is Fusion’s very first campus, founded by Michelle Rose Gilman. Fusion Solana Beach is a private school where classes are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Our Teacher/Mentors can personalize curriculum and pacing for their students’ strengths, interests, and learning style. Students may attend full-time for middle and high school or part-time with classes for credit, tutoring and mentoring, post-secondary counseling, and more.