Astra Nova School
Website: https://www.astranova.orgLocation: Online (Los Angeles, CA headquarters) School Type: Private Non-Profit Online Grades Served: Middle (ages 11-14), High (ages 14-18)
School Profile
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual Tuition | $4,800-$36,000 (tiered by hours/week; financial aid available) |
| Enrollment | ~315 middle school students |
| Endowment / Total Funding | Tuition-based (~$2.6M revenue FY2024); assets ~$1.2M; minimal contributions |
| Notable Donors / Investors | Elon Musk (initial funding for predecessor Ad Astra); no major ongoing donors listed |
Why They Stand Out for Tech Innovation
Originated at SpaceX as Ad Astra; first-principles design per Elon Musk; frontier-focused curriculum preparing students for hard problems; scaled innovations like Conundrums/Synthesis to millions; real-world company embeds
Technology and Innovation Programs
Courses redesigned 3x/year from first principles; Conundrums (critical thinking challenges); Synthesis games; high school technical courses in biotech/physics/engineering/AI; corporate collaboratives; in-person intensives
Maker Spaces and Innovation Labs
None (online school; hands-on via trips like Space Camp)
AI, Robotics, and Computer Science
AI courses (high school); past robotics elements; CS via game dev/Python; math up to calculus w/ Art of Problem Solving
Key Partnerships
SpaceX (origins); Art of Problem Solving (math); ClassDojo (Conundrums)
Leadership and Contacts
| Role | Name / Contact |
|---|---|
| Head of School / CEO | Josh Dahn, Tara Safronoff, Dr. Rosemary Rohde (Co-Executive Directors / Co-Heads) |
| Technology / Innovation Director | Jamie Kennedy (Director of Engineering); Rosemary Rohde (Director of Science) |
| Admissions Email | admin@astranova.org, tara@astranova.org |
| Main Phone | (213) 293-8598 |
Sources
Astra Nova official site, CA Dept of Education, ProPublica Nonprofit, LinkedIn people search, Wikipedia