Who We Are
The Origin Story
Founded by Stacie Kim, or Ms Stacie as her students affectionately call her, in 2006, Voltaire Academy offers nearly two decades of experience guiding students through the sometimes winding road towards academic success. Originally based in Los Angeles, in 2020 we expanded our reach through remote learning to serve a global clientele. Our founder believes passionately that the keys to excellence are acquired through being taught how to think not what to think.
The Voltaire Difference
We have helped our students get accepted into some of the best schools in the world including Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, UPenn, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, and more.
Where many see students through the narrow lens of grades and accolades, Voltaire sees the broader picture: the student as thinker, creator, and dreamer. Our tutoring is a dialogue, a partnership spanning years, a testament to our commitment not only to academic success but also to the growth of the individual. We pride ourselves on this sustained engagement, offering not just answers but insights, preparing our students not merely to pass, but to excel and to reflect.
The Voltaire Approach
At the core of our method, we hold a simple truth: education thrives on connection. We approach teaching with the precision of a scholar and the empathy of a confidant. Each lesson is a stepping stone crafted with intentionality and respect for the student's voice. Our pedagogy integrates the rigor of academia with the freedom of thought, encouraging students to challenge conventions and to carve their own paths. Here, learning is not a spectator sport but a pursuit of passion, shaped by dialogue and driven by curiosity.
Accomplishments
At least one of our juniors becomes a semi finalist for the NMSQT (top 1% in the country for PSAT score) each year
Several of our students have won Gold and Silver keys in the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers Scholastic Writing Awards
Our students matriculate to the best colleges in the world: Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Yale, UPenn, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, and more!
All students who have worked with us exclusively on SATs have scored 700+ (out of 800) for the English section
Over 90% of our students score a 5 (out of 5) on the AP English Language and AP English Literature exams
100% of our college consulting students have been accepted to their ED (Early Decision) schools
Our graduate students have been accepted to their top choice schools: University of Chicago, Rice, Northwestern, NYU, Harvard, Georgetown, and Stanford in majors such as Data Science, Dentistry, and Medical programs
Our students attend some of the best schools in the country: Walter Reed, Phillips Exeter, Choate Rosemary Hall, Harvard Westlake, Flintridge Prep, Lowell High School, Le Lycée Français Los Angeles, Polytechnic, etc.