Comparison Guide
How ISP compares to your other options
Every Family Is Different
There's no single "best" school for everyone. The right choice depends on your child, your family, and your priorities.
This guide compares ISP honestly against other options. We'll tell you where we shine — and where other choices might be better for certain families.
ISP vs. Traditional Public School
This is the most common comparison.
| Factor | Traditional Public School | ISP |
|---|---|---|
| Daily schedule | 6-7 hours, fixed | 2-3 hours, flexible |
| Learning model | Seat time (move on with class) | Mastery-based (prove you know it) |
| Pace | Class pace (one size fits all) | Your pace (AI adapts) |
| Training time | After school (tired) | Midday (fresh) |
| Cost | Free | Tuition designed to match ESA |
| Sports access | Built-in | Via HF 189 (play for your public school) |
| Social environment | Hallways, cafeteria, 500+ peers | Pods (4-6 deep relationships), team |
| Adult relationship | 1:30+ ratio | 1:100 SSC ratio |
| Accountability | Teachers, grades | SSC, pod, MyPath |
| NCAA compliance | Varies by course | Designed for NCAA eligibility |
ISP Wins When...
- Your child needs more training time
- They're bored waiting for the class to catch up
- They travel for tournaments and miss school
- They're exhausted from 7 hours + practice
- They want a dedicated adult who knows them
Traditional Public Wins When...
- Your child thrives in a structured group environment
- They love school events, clubs, and extracurriculars
- They don't have significant athletic commitments
- Your family prefers no changes
ISP vs. Homeschool
Many families considering ISP have thought about homeschooling.
| Factor | Traditional Homeschool | ISP |
|---|---|---|
| Parent role | Teacher, curriculum designer, grader | Environment creator, cheerleader |
| Curriculum | You choose/design | Alpha School + TimeBack (proven) |
| Transcript | Parent-created | Official, transferable |
| Accountability | Parent enforces | SSC + pod enforces |
| NCAA eligibility | Difficult to prove | Built for NCAA compliance |
| Socialization | Co-ops, activities (you arrange) | Pods + events + sports (built-in) |
| Cost | Varies ($0-$3,000+/year) | Tuition designed to match ESA |
| College applications | More scrutiny | Standard application process |
| Time commitment (parent) | High | Low |
ISP Wins When...
- You don't want to be the teacher
- You want an official diploma and transcript
- Your child needs accountability beyond you
- NCAA eligibility matters
- You work and can't manage curriculum
Homeschool Wins When...
- You want total curriculum control
- Religious education is the priority
- You have a proven system that works
- Your child is highly self-motivated
- You genuinely enjoy teaching
ISP vs. Online Schools
Iowa has a few online school options. Here's how we compare.
ISP vs. Iowa Virtual Academy (IVCA) / Iowa Connections Academy
| Factor | Public Virtual Schools | ISP |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Public school (K12/Stride, Pearson) | Private school |
| ESA eligible | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Cost | Free | Designed to match ESA |
| Student-teacher ratio | High (often 1:50+) | 1:100 SSC |
| Personalization | Limited | High (SSC knows your child) |
| Athletic focus | Generic | Built for athletes |
| Training Credits | None | $100/month ($1,000/year) |
| NCAA compliance | Not designed for it | Core feature |
| Pod system | None | Yes (4-6 peers) |
Key difference: IVCA and Connections Academy are public schools — they don't qualify for ESA funding. They're free regardless, but you don't get the private school benefits.
ISP vs. Alpha Omega/Ignite Christian Academy
| Factor | Alpha Omega/Ignite | ISP |
|---|---|---|
| Religious focus | Christian curriculum | Secular |
| Athletic focus | None | Core identity |
| Tuition | ~$4,800/year (ESA surplus possible) | $7,988/year (full ESA) |
| SSC relationship | High teacher ratios (~45:1) | 1:100 dedicated coach |
| Training Credits | None | $100/month |
| Pod system | None | Yes |
| NCAA compliance | Not emphasized | Core feature |
| Life Skills curriculum | None | Nutrition, financial literacy, NIL |
Key difference: Alpha Omega/Ignite is a solid option for families wanting Christian education and leftover ESA funds for other expenses. ISP is for families who want an athlete-focused, secular program with deep personal support.
ISP vs. Traditional Private School
Traditional private schools (Dowling, Valley, Xavier, etc.) are another option.
| Factor | Traditional Private School | ISP |
|---|---|---|
| Daily schedule | 6-7 hours, fixed | 2-3 hours, flexible |
| Training time | After school | Midday |
| Cost | $8,000-$15,000+/year | $7,988 (full ESA) |
| Out-of-pocket | $0-$7,000+ gap | Designed to match ESA |
| Sports | School teams | HF 189 access (public school teams) |
| Class size | 15-25 students | 1:100 SSC |
| Social environment | Campus, hallways | Pods, events, sports teams |
| Academic rigor | Varies | Mastery-based + NCAA compliant |
| Flexibility | Fixed schedule | You control the schedule |
ISP Wins When...
- Cost is a factor (ESA covers 100% of ISP)
- Your child needs schedule flexibility for training
- They travel frequently for competition
- You want the 2-hour mastery model
Traditional Private Wins When...
- You want a physical campus experience
- School sports teams are important (vs. public school teams)
- Specific programs matter (robotics, debate, etc.)
- Your child thrives in a traditional classroom
ISP vs. Sports Academies
Some families consider national sports academies (IMG, etc.).
| Factor | National Sports Academy | ISP |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Florida, Texas (relocation required) | Iowa (stay home) |
| Cost | $60,000-$90,000+/year | Designed to match ESA |
| Academic model | Varies (often secondary focus) | Mastery-based |
| Training | On-site, provided | You choose your trainers |
| Family | Live away from home | Stay with family |
| Age | Usually high school | K-12 |
| NCAA compliance | Varies | Core feature |
ISP Wins When...
- You can't relocate or afford $80K/year
- You want to stay in Iowa
- Your child is younger (K-8)
- You want to keep your existing coaches/trainers
- Family matters more than elite academy branding
Sports Academy Wins When...
- You can afford it and want immersion
- Your child is elite-track for specific sports
- The on-site coaching is world-class for their sport
- Independence from family is desired
Quick Decision Matrix
ISP Might Be Right If...
| ✅ ISP Fit |
|---|
| Your child is a serious athlete who needs more training time |
| You want a flexible schedule built around athletics |
| ESA funding matters (no out-of-pocket tuition) |
| You want a dedicated adult (SSC) who knows your child |
| NCAA eligibility is important |
| You're in rural Iowa with limited school options |
| Your child learns better at their own pace |
| You want your child home, not at a distant academy |
ISP Might NOT Be Right If...
| ❌ Consider Other Options |
|---|
| Your child thrives in traditional classroom settings |
| School clubs and events are a priority |
| You want school-based sports teams (vs. HF 189 access) |
| Religious education is essential |
| Your child isn't athletically focused |
| You want a physical campus daily experience |
| Your child needs significant in-person special education support |
The Honest Trade-Offs
No school is perfect. Here's what you're trading:
| What You Give Up at ISP | What You Gain at ISP |
|---|---|
| Daily in-person campus | 5+ extra hours for training |
| 500 hallway acquaintances | 4-6 deep pod relationships |
| School-based sports teams | HF 189 access to public school teams |
| Traditional school events | Flexibility, no conflicts |
| Bells and passing periods | You control your schedule |
ISP isn't for everyone. It's for student-athletes who need a school that works around their training — not the other way around.
FAQ
Q: Can my child do ISP and still participate in school events like prom?
A: If they play sports via HF 189, they may be invited to their school's events as a team member. ISP doesn't host traditional prom/homecoming (yet).
Q: Is ISP easier than traditional school?
A: Not easier — different. Mastery-based means you can't move forward until you actually understand the material. Some students find that harder than just "getting by" in traditional school.
Q: What if my child wants to switch back to traditional school?
A: Credits transfer. ISP issues official transcripts that are recognized by other schools.
Q: Can I use ESA at any of these options?
A: ESA works at ISP and other accredited private schools. Public virtual schools (IVCA, Connections) are already free but don't qualify for ESA.
Q: What about special needs support?
A: ISP can accommodate many situations, but we don't have a full special education department. Contact us to discuss your child's specific needs.
Summary Comparison Table
| Factor | Traditional Public | ISP | Homeschool | Private School | Sports Academy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Designed to match ESA | Varies | $8-15K+ | $60-90K+ |
| Schedule | Fixed | Flexible | Flexible | Fixed | Fixed |
| Training time | Limited | High | High | Limited | High |
| Official transcript | Yes | Yes | Usually no | Yes | Varies |
| NCAA ready | Varies | Yes | Difficult | Varies | Varies |
| SSC/Personal support | No | Yes | Parent | Varies | Varies |
| Location | Local | Home | Home | Local | Relocation |