"Traditional school keeps telling you your teen is ‘fine.’"
The MARS Reframe
MARS is built for students who aren't fine with fine.
Innovate · Create · Pioneer
Your teen is ready for something real.
MARS is a university-model microschool for motivated high schoolers in Huntsville, Alabama. Small cohort. Dual enrollment. AI-forward. No busywork.
You've been trying to find the right fit for a while.
"Homeschool gave you freedom but not enough rigor or community."
The MARS Reframe
MARS gives you both — accredited curriculum, real peers, real campus.
"You want college readiness, but not at the cost of your teen's love of learning."
The MARS Reframe
Dual enrollment at Calhoun Community College. Real credits, real momentum.
Built together
A cohort that shows up for each other.
What is MARS
A university model microschool for grades 9–12.
MARS runs like a university — students choose their courses, earn dual enrollment credits at Calhoun Community College, and show up on campus once a week to work alongside a cohort of 20. The rest of the week is structured, self-directed, and built around real projects.
Every Thursday on Campus
Hackathons, collaboration, and guest speakers at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Dual Enrollment
Earn college credits while completing high school through Calhoun Community College.
AI-Forward Curriculum
Students build with AI tools across every subject. Not as an add-on. As infrastructure.
- 20 Students Max·
- Grades 9–12·
- Huntsville, AL·
- CHOOSE Act Eligible
Students presenting on campus
Students & Jennifer · Hybrid Schools Conference, Atlanta
MARS Trailblazers · Rocket Drones Nationals winners, U.S. Space & Rocket Center
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A Week at MARS
A Day in the Life of a Trailblazer
Imagine your teen's week — moving between a college campus, virtual seminars, and hands-on studio days. Every day has a purpose. Every day, they're building something real, while building friendships with other motivated high schoolers.
Monday & Wednesday
Dual Enrollment
At Calhoun Community College
Students arrive on a real college campus, take courses alongside their peers, and earn credit that travels with them. They study together in the student center outside of classes on these days.
Tuesday
Virtual Gathering
Book Club + Chemistry
A morning of literature and ideas, an afternoon in the lab — connected live from home with their cohort and mentors.
Thursday
Campus Days
Build, Make, Pioneer
On campus at the Space Camp Operations Building for project work, AI labs, robotics, drones, hackathons, and Socratic seminars.
Friday
Cyber & Competition
CyberPatriot
Optional: Students are encouraged to join the nation's premier high school cyber defense competition — students harden real systems and compete as a team. Located at Gigaparts in Huntsville.
Plus electives, competitions, drones, hackathons, certifications, and internships throughout the year — designed to give every Trailblazer a portfolio of real, public work by graduation.
See if MARS is right for your student
Focused work
Real tools. Real stakes. Real practice.
Testimonials
What Families Are Saying
Real feedback from MARS parents and students.
MARS is purposeful education, with not only the vision but the thoughtful structure necessary to bring each student's potential to fruition. We have joined many programs that had lofty visions but lacked the systems to make those goals reality. MARS has both!
Heather
MARS Parent
Instead of sitting at a desk for hours the students at MARS experience hands on, focused, real world learning. These teens are future ready.
Tiffany
MARS Parent
My son loves technology and dreams of being a game developer in the future. We are looking to expose him to everything we can involving tech so he can find what drives him.
Tanya
MARS Parent
What do you like most about MARS?
Science, because we get to fly drones, and most schools don't get to fly drones, and we get to learn the physics of it.
Trailblazer
MARS Student
What do you like most about MARS?
The books we read and the socratic discussions that follow.
Trailblazer
MARS Student
From the Founder
Read Jennifer's books.
A blueprint for leaving behind outdated systems and building the future — one student, one spark at a time. Explore Jennifer Wolverton's full Amazon author page.
Browse Books on AmazonCampus
We meet somewhere worth showing up.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
One Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL
In-person every Thursday. MARS is not affiliated with USSRC.
In 2026–27, our Lab School will operate from the Space Camp Operations Center at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
National stage
Trailblazers compete — and win — alongside the country's best.
More than grades. Certified Trailblazers.
Students graduate with industry credentials alongside their high school record.
Python Institute
PCEP Certification
Students master Python fundamentals — variables, data types, logic, loops, functions, and problem-solving. A globally recognized first credential in coding that signals readiness for advanced computer science pathways.
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA TRUST Certification
Students complete required safety and aeronautical training for recreational drone flying in the U.S. — covering airspace rules, responsible flight practices, and federal compliance. Required by law and a real-world credential, even at a young age.
Tuition & Funding
Private school quality. A price that might surprise you.
At $7,000 per year, MARS is accessible for many families. And if you qualify for the Alabama CHOOSE Act, the program could cover your entire tuition.
Tuition & Fees
$7,000
Annual tuition per student
- Application Fee
- Paid when you submit your full application
- Enrollment Fee
- Paid upon acceptance to secure your seat
We work with every family to explore all available funding options before you commit to anything.
Alabama's Choose Act might cover the whole thing.
$7,000/ per student
The Alabama CHOOSE Act provides qualifying families with an Education Savings Account (ESA) worth up to $7,000 per student — exactly MARS's annual tuition. If your family qualifies, your cost could be zero.
MARS is an approved Education Service Provider. We help families navigate the application process and make sure you don't leave funding on the table.
Founder
Jennifer Wolverton
Founder & CEO
Alabama State Winner
Presidential AI Challenge · Educator Track
Jennifer is an engineer and mother who built MARS because traditional school wasn't built for students like hers. She's a published author, Alabama's Presidential AI Challenge Educator Winner, and an international speaker on AI in education. She started MARS to give motivated high schoolers the environment they deserve.
Partners & Supporters
Curated for cutting-edge learning.
Our donors and curricular partners are carefully sourced — high-achieving organizations advancing technology, entrepreneurship, and STEM education.
Let's Talk
Let's talk about your student.
Schedule a free 30-minute call. No pressure, no pitch — just a real conversation about whether MARS is the right fit.
We recommend both parents and the student join the call.