17 Pros & Cons of Kubrio’s Virtual Homeschool Group (2024)

Looking for a new virtual homeschool group? So were we! In 2021, I discovered Kubrio when our own homeschooling efforts flopped during the pandemic.

We’d been unschooling but due to all the lockdowns, we were dissatisfied with our options so I looked to Google to help me find virtual homeschool groups.

Another Kubrio parent I knew online suggested it to me. I was so intrigued that I signed up for a Q&A call.

Note: At the time, it was called Galileo XP. I talk about our virtual homeschool group selection process here.

Over one year into our experience with the school, this is my Kubrio review.

What is Kubrio and its Virtual Homeschool Group?

In a world where the traditional education system is failing so many kids, it’s refreshing to see a school that is working to reinvent the way we learn.

Kubrio is an online self-directed school for kids 8-18 years old, founded with the goal of helping children create their own learning paths.

What sets Kubrio apart from other virtual homeschool groups is its focus on community, connections, and natural education through discovery and exploration.

The core of Kubrio’s design is its pods, which provide a space for students to learn how to learn, think, and create.

The school is evolving its pedagogy based on principles like Montessori, Agile Learning, Waldorf, Charlotte Mason, worldschooling, etc., in order to better support students in becoming autonomous learners.

Kubrio has created a learning environment that is tailored specifically for online homeschool learners.

And since it doesn’t pigeonhole kids into one specific thing, more children are able to flourish with its unique approach.

Benefits of Kubrio’s Virtual Homeschool Group

Kubrio’s online education platform has a number of unique benefits that make it ideal for homeschool families interested in virtual homeschooling, either in a group or on your own.

1. Students Learn at Their Own Pace

One of the first advantages of online learning is that students can set their own pace. If they want to spend more time on a particular subject or topic, they can do that without feeling pressure to move on to something else.

Kubrio understands that every learner is different and provides the flexibility for each student to learn at their own pace.

2. Connect With Other Like-Minded Learners

Another great advantage of virtual homeschool groups is the ability to connect with other like-minded learners from all over the world.

For example, one of Little Man’s friends at Kubrio told him that his favorite club is Math. Instead of learning from his grade peers to hate math, he’s surrounded by other kids who enjoy it.

So he’s able to expand to more advanced topics like fractals or algebra before a traditional school would teach it.

Note: The clubs don’t teach a set curriculum, like Saxon Math or Saxon Algebra. They are still topically selected with input and direction from the students.

It keeps students engaged at a much higher level while still getting them the basics they’ll need to succeed in the modern world.

In the Kubrio community, you’ll find students who share your interests and passions. This can provide motivation and support as your kids navigate their homeschool journey.

3. Explore New Interests and Passions

Since students are not confined to a traditional school schedule or curriculum, they have the opportunity to explore new interests and passions.

This is one of the main reasons we decided to join a virtual homeschool group in the first place.

We wanted him to have the freedom to learn about the things that he was interested in, without being restricted by a traditional school’s curriculum.

And a group environment is a great way for kids to discover new interests organically that they may not have discovered on their own. It’s a built-in strewing technique of sorts.

That’s what led Little Man to try out the art homeschool ‘curriculum,’ which is really a talented artist leading kids through different artistic mediums on topics of their choosing.

I use the word curriculum loosely, but he learns a lot in this online art for homeschool kids option and it’s a lot of fun! Plus, I don’t have to pay extra for Outschool art classes, so I’m happy about that, too.

Kubrio has been a great fit for our family and has allowed us to continue our homeschooling/unschooling journey in a way that works best for us.

4. Access to Experts

In addition to connecting with other students, you also have access to experts in various fields who can provide resources, guidance, and support.

The founders and the learning facilitators in the Kubrio community are experienced educators who are passionate about supporting students in their journey of self-directed learning.

From coding and filmmaking to history and science, there’s an expert in the community who can help your child explore their interests.

There are even live online classes (called clubs) for less traditional interests, like anime and cooking to drawing and animation.

5. Flexibility to Learn Wherever You Are

One of the benefits of homeschooling is that it provides the flexibility to learn wherever you are. You can use just certain aspects of the program or it can be an all in one homeschool solution.

With Kubrio, this is taken to the next level because it’s an online school. This means that as long as you have internet access, your child can attend class and participate in school activities from anywhere in the world.

This is ideal for families who travel frequently or who live in remote areas. Little Man has attended social hours and classes in several US states as well as every country in Central America.

When we were at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, he still went to class.

Fun Fact: Little Man even got to meet one of his teachers in real life when we passed through her hometown!

Kubrio offers online class times to suit every time zone in the world, not just the Americas.

Whether you want an Arkansas homeschool, an Arizona homeschool, or an American homeschool online option elsewhere in the US, that’s not an issue.

Heck, if you live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, somewhere in Europe, or want to find an Australian homeschool, your kids can still go to their virtual homeschool group sessions!

6. Research-Based Fundamentals

Kubrio is constantly researching how to best support self-directed learners. This means that the school is always refining and updating its approach to better meet the needs of its students.

For example, Kubrio offers both synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities. Or, live online homeschool classes and recorded online homeschool classes.

This is based on the research that shows that a mix of both types of learning is ideal for supporting students in their journey to becoming self-directed learners.

7. A Safe and Supportive Community

One of the most important benefits of Kubrio is its focus on creating a safe and supportive community.

The school understands that self-directed learning can be challenging and scary, especially for kids who are used to the traditional education system.

But with the support of the Kubrio community, your kids will have the encouragement and motivation they need to succeed.

8. In-Person Learning Options

Although Kubrio is an online school, or virtual homeschool group, it also offers in-person meetup options for students who want to connect with other students and facilitators in real life as well.

Note: Like its online platform, Kubrio meetups are less formal. They are not meetings for kids to sit at desks in a regular school. But that’s one of the things I like about it.

The school has hubs located in various cities around the world. In addition, it also hosts regular meetups and events.

In 2021 and 2022, there has been an annual meetup in Portugal for families from anywhere in the world to attend. There’s talk of it becoming an annual opportunity!

This provides students with the opportunity to connect with other learners in person and get the most out of their Kubrio experience.

9. Socialization Opportunities

One of the concerns that many people have about homeschooling is the socialization aspect. Will my child be able to make friends?

Kubrio has thought about this and has created several opportunities for students to socialize. In addition to the in-person meetups, there are also social hours where students can hang out and chat with each other.

Monday-Thursday, students all check in with their pod, an assigned group of kids their age from around the world, for a half-hour social time.

They can play virtual group games, talk about their week, or just chat. It’s a great way for them to connect with other kids their age who are also homeschooling.

Kubrio also offers a number of extracurricular activities, both online and in-person, that students can participate in.

These clubs include everything from readers’ theater and Virtual Reality (VR) group hangouts to book clubs and gaming.

And because the school is online, it’s easy for students to connect with each other outside of social hours and clubs. They can add each other on social media, play online games together, or just chat whenever they want.

10. Flexible Schedule

One of the best things about Kubrio is that it offers a flexible schedule. This is perfect for kids who need a little more time to complete their work or for families who want to travel.

Kubrio understands that not all families have the same needs and so it offers a variety of options to meet those needs.

Families can choose to do a full-time or part-time schedule, and kids can take as many or as few clubs as they like each day.

11. Pricing

No, Kubrio isn’t free online schooling. Sorry. In my opinion, you get what you pay for with only free education options.

In order to have quality instructors, they need to pay them a fair, living wage. That comes at a cost.

Kubrio’s pricing is tiered, depending on how much or little you want to get involved with its online homeschool programs. This makes it a good fit for families at different budget levels.

The entry-level online homeschool tier is $200/month when paid annually. At first, this sounded like a lot to me.

Then, I realized how much Little Man wanted me to pay for all his a la carte Outschool courses and I calculated that it would save me money for how much we’d be getting in return!

We even get subscriptions to cool learning tools like Minecraft Education, Code Combat, and Ozaria with our tuition!

12. Enrollment

Enrollment with Kubrio is done on a rolling basis. They have students all over the world so they don’t follow a traditional year curriculum. You can join at any time!

If you’re interested in enrolling your child in Kubrio, or if you want to learn more about their offerings, check out one of their Open Days.

It’s a great way for parents to meet some of the staff and get your questions answered in a casual environment.

13. One on One Time with Teachers

Twice a month, Little Man gets a scheduled one-on-one meeting with a mentor. This is in addition to the regular check-ins with his pod.

I love that he gets this extra time with an adult who can help him with anything he’s struggling with or answer any questions he has.

Little Man’s facilitator also helps him choose new clubs to try and plan out his virtual homeschool programs schedule.

Kubrio also offers optional monthly open office hours for parents and students to meet with the founders as well as monthly video chats with the Pod facilitators.

This is a great time to ask any questions you have about the school or your child’s progress.

Opportunities for Kubrio’s Virtual Homeschool Group

This wouldn’t be a balanced review without identifying some opportunities for improvement in Kubrio. Here are a few things that I would like to see the virtual homeschool group work on:

14. I would like to see more classes offered. This is something I know they are working on constantly, for both synchronous and asynchronous opportunities.

They’re aware of how it would provide more opportunities for students to connect with their peers and learn in real-time.

15. I would also like to see more language-focused clubs/classes offered. This would provide more opportunities for students to explore their lingual interests and connect with other like-minded learners.

16. It would be great to be able to find out where all Kubrio students live (at least by country) so as we and other students travel, it would be easier to see who we could contact for an informal meetup or two.

17. I would love to see some type of student directory so that students can look up others with similar interests, whether it be for clubs, classes, or just making friends.

All in all, I think Kubrio is doing an amazing job in providing an innovative and effective education virtual homeschool group environment for a new generation of learners.

The school is always refining its approach to better meet the needs of its students and offers a unique and supportive community for its students to thrive.

If you’re looking for an alternative education option for your kids, I highly recommend considering Kubrio!

Is Kubrio Accredited?

Kubrio isn’t accredited on its own. For good reason.

However, if you’re seeking accredited homeschool programs, they have a partnership with West River Academy.

Conclusion: Kubrio Virtual Homeschool Group

Kubrio is constantly evolving to better meet the needs of its students.

If you’re looking for an online school or virtual homeschool group that is tailored specifically for self-directed learners, Kubrio is a great option to consider.

Parents who are seeking a virtual homeschool group for their kids will find that Kubrio offers many advantages. For me, the disadvantages are notable opportunities for improvement but not reasons to skip using its growing services.

From the ability to learn at your own pace to connecting with other like-minded learners, you’ll have everything you need to succeed in your homeschool journey.

Plus, with access to expert educators, you can be confident that your child is getting the best possible education.

Overall, I’m really impressed with Kubrio’s offerings and how they’re able to provide a high-quality, affordable education for kids all over the world. I’m excited to see how they continue to grow and evolve over the next few years!