Harker students often work at an advanced level, and they benefit from a tutor who can keep up. Our tutors are current and former Stanford students with deep knowledge in their subjects, from multivariable calculus to computer science.
Tell us about your student, and we’ll match them with a Stanford tutor who fits.
We help Harker students go deeper in their classes, prepare for standardized tests and work on college essays. Sessions are one-on-one, at your home or online, whichever fits an already full day.
Physics first, then chemistry and biology
Harker’s upper school science follows a set order. Every ninth grader takes Physics or Honors Physics, then chemistry in 10th grade and biology in 11th. Honors Physics asks students to build mathematical models from their own lab data, and it’s taken alongside Honors Geometry or a higher math course, so a freshman may be learning new math and using it in physics at the same time. Chemistry the next year builds on that problem-solving, and students who want AP Chemistry in 10th grade complete a summer course first. A Stanford tutor can work across both subjects in one session, connecting the algebra and geometry to the physics problem in front of your student, and help with lab analysis and unit test review so each year starts on solid ground. Learn more about our science tutoring.
Keeping an honors or AP placement
Harker places students in each subject based on the previous year’s work, and its honors and AP sections come with a clear expectation. A student earning below a B during a grading period can be put on Placement Review for about two weeks, or until the next major assessment such as a unit test. If the grade doesn’t come up, the student moves to the grade-level section. Students can also choose to move to a less demanding section until the last week of October.
Moving up works the other way: a solid A in a grade-level course, plus department approval, opens the honors or AP course the next year. Tutoring can help at each of these moments, whether that’s catching a shaky unit early, preparing for the test that matters most, or building the habits a student needs to take the step up.
What parents say
“My daughter went from a C in Algebra II to an A- in one semester. The tutor was great, she really related to my daughter and made learning fun for her. Not only did her grade in math improve, her study habits improved and she’s doing better in all of her classes.”
Eduardo S., San Francisco
“The tutors themselves have been great: well-prepared, thoughtful and on-time. At each level of math needed, we found these Stanford students to be not just helpful tutors but great mentors as well. … This is a first class operation.”
Christy S., Portola Valley
“My son was a senior this year and I reached out to Cardinal Tutors and was lucky enough to find the most amazing tutor. I wish I had found him earlier.”
Sharon C., Los Altos
Entrance exams for Harker applicants
Harker’s test depends on the grade: applicants to grades 2–5 take the ISEE, and middle and upper school applicants can submit the ISEE or SSAT. Scores are due by January 5, 2027, and Harker considers only the first set you submit. We help students get comfortable with the format and practice the reading, vocabulary, reasoning and math for their level. Learn more about our entrance-exam tutoring.
Learn more about our Cupertino tutoring nearby.
Tell us about your student, and we’ll match them with a Stanford tutor who fits.