Sequoia High School calls itself an IB for All school, and that shapes a student’s four years well before the first IB exam. We offer one-on-one tutoring for Sequoia students, with tutors who are current and former Stanford students.
Tell us about your student, and we’ll match them with a Stanford tutor who fits.
Two IB math routes, and a choice to make early
Sequoia’s math sequence splits after Geometry. IB Analysis and Approaches Prep leans toward trigonometry and calculus, for students headed to math-heavy fields, while IB Applications and Interpretation Prep stresses statistics, modeling and technology. Each is the first of two years, leading to Standard or Higher Level. There is a faster option too: an accelerated class that covers Geometry and IB Analysis Prep in a single year, for which the department suggests an A- or better in Algebra 1. A math tutor can help your student weigh the two routes, keep up with a doubled-up year, or prepare for the spring IB exams, which Sequoia reminds families have no make-up dates.
ICAP, then a decision at the end of tenth grade
Ninth and tenth graders take ICAP courses, Sequoia’s preparation for IB work. At the end of sophomore year students say whether they intend to pursue the full diploma: six IB courses, three at Higher Level, plus Theory of Knowledge, a 4,000-word Extended Essay and CAS. There is no entrance exam or application; students need the prerequisite classes. Others take IB courses one at a time. Either way, junior year brings longer papers and sustained reading, and our English and writing tutoring gives students a reader for their drafts and a plan for their deadlines.
Block days, one all-classes Wednesday and Flex
Most days at Sequoia run on 90-minute blocks that alternate between A and B days. On Wednesdays every class meets for a shorter period, and Thursdays and Fridays include a Flex period. A student sees each teacher only a few times a week, so we use sessions to review each block soon after it happens. From tenth grade, students can also join the Health Careers Academy or the Digital Arts Academy, small learning communities that run through senior year.
What an English parent says
“My son received great marks on the SAT exam and also improved his grade in AP English from B to A.”
Janet Y., Menlo Park · Yelp review
What a parent says about organization
“It turns out my son also needed help staying organized with all his assignments, something that the tutor helped with as well.”
Amy C., Palo Alto · Yelp review
We meet one-on-one at your home in Redwood City or online. Nearby, we tutor Woodside High students as well. Our Redwood City tutoring page explains more. To begin, let us know your student’s grade and courses, and we’ll recommend a tutor.
Tell us about your student, and we’ll match them with a Stanford tutor who fits.