Sonoma’s Soloquest celebrates 20th anniversary

Local learning center offers much more than tutoring|

Sonoma Valley’s SoloQuest is celebrating its 20th anniversary as a WASC-accredited private school and learning center that customizes flexible educational programs for students in grades K-12 in Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties.

In 1996, a group of local Sonoma parents and community members explored the formation of a charter school for high school students. That study evolved to Deborah Stewart’s decision to form an independent study high school as an alternative for students in the Sonoma Valley.

During its early years, Stewart was the principal of Tamiscal High School and later principal of the Sonoma Valley Adult School, as well as director of adult and community education in the Tamalpais Union High School District.

SoloQuest offered its instructional program for a few day per week until Stewart resigned her responsibilities to devote 100 percent of her time to SoloQuest.

Since 2012, SoloQuest has helped over 700 part-time students in three North Bay counties to complete course requirements for four-year colleges.

The center serves grades 6-12, enrolling full-time students who need to learn at their own pace, a flexible schedule or individual instruction. It offers U.C.-approved “a-g” and NCAA-approved courses. Besides offering a full-time alternative to students and their families in the community, SoloQuest offers enrollment in courses to part-time students who attend other public or private schools.

Students can learn through either book or online curriculum and meeting with teachers as often as needed. Part-time students enroll at SoloQuest to take classes not offered at their school, to retake a class, or to accelerate their learning. SoloQuest also offers academic tutoring for all grades and all subjects.

Friends of SoloQuest are invited to an anniversary celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16. RSVP to Deborah Stewart at 939-1133.

The learning center is located at 414 W. Napa St. For a complete list of courses offered, visit soloquest.com.

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