FAQ

The Parisi Academy is a pre-high school enhancement year where we focus on developing the whole-student, from curriculum and distinctive educational experiences that help expand the mind, to customized, cutting-edge training to further develop the body, to programs and projects that help student-athletes identify how they fit in the world around them in order to grow as individuals and citizens of their community.

Since 2018, The Parisi Academy has been the premier private educational and training enhancement program in Bergen County. Our program provides student-athletes the opportunity for academic growth as well as personal and physical development in preparation for a successful high school career in the classroom and on the field of play.

It has always been Parisi’s vision and mission to empower young athletes to reach their goals, as well as play our part in increasing their confidence and self-esteem. It started three decades ago with Bill Parisi founding the Parisi Speed School. Bill knew there was a better way for youth to train, which was safer and more effective than was currently available. So, he set out to create a system and a business that would benefit young athletes of all ages and skill levels. Thirty years later, Parisi has trained over a million athletes and Parisi has become an industry leader in youth sports performance.

It’s with that same enthusiasm and passion that we are excited to carry the Parisi vision and mission into the classroom, and coincidentally, it started much the same way as Parisi Speed School. Bill saw a huge void when his oldest son Will was transitioning from middle school to high school. In some ways, his son was ready for the next step but in some ways, he could benefit from a pre-high school enhancement year. The same held true for some of Will’s friends. Physically, mentally and emotionally these young men were all at different stages developmentally.

It was at this moment that Bill had a paradigm shift and saw that there was a need for a program, solely focused on preparing young athletes for high school, focused not only academic and athletic development, but emotional development. His vision was to provide a catalyst for the development of the mind and body, which prepares student-athletes to excel in the mental and physical challenges of high school, as well as throughout their lives.

Over the course of the next two years, Bill spoke with professors, PhD’s, teachers, coaches and principals in order to turn his vision into something tangible. He looked inward to his current organization to see how an infrastructure and systems could be implemented, in order to achieve short-term growth as well as long-term success. By the time his son Dan was ready to enter the 8th grade, the Parisi Academy was a reality.

The Parisi Academy provides a structured year designed to prepare student-athletes for the academic and athletic demands of high school. Some students choose to repeat 8th grade as a “gap year,” while others attend during their actual 8th grade year for high school preparation.

Families register their student-athlete as a homeschool student with their local school district and use Parisi Academy as their educational program. Parisi Academy provides all required paperwork and transcripts for both public and private school applications during the process and at the end of the school year.

Reclassification, or “reclassing,” refers to the process of a student-athlete adjusting their expected high school graduation year by repeating 8th grade. At Parisi Academy, student-athletes may choose to reclass or complete a traditional 8th grade year while benefiting from our structured curriculum and support system.

There are several reasons a student-athlete may consider reclassing:

Maturity
Some student-athletes may benefit from an additional year of physical and emotional development before entering high school, particularly those with younger or later birth dates for their grade.

Academics
An extra year can help strengthen core academic skills and deepen subject mastery in a smaller, more individualized learning environment.

Athletics
Additional time allows for physical growth, sport-specific skill development, strength training, and overall athletic maturation, helping student-athletes compete at their highest level upon entering high school.

Due to small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios, instruction is differentiated across all subjects to meet each student-athlete’s individual learning style, skills, and needs. This ensures that no student is left behind and that faculty have a clear, ongoing understanding of academic progress, training development, confidence, and areas for growth.

Instruction is based on each student-athlete’s current skill level upon entering Parisi Academy, rather than grade level completed, and is adjusted according to demonstrated competencies and abilities.

Students at Parisi Academy come from a wide range of backgrounds and communities. While they are all focused on academics, they are united by a shared commitment to athletics, training, and high-level performance.

Although their sports may differ, all Parisi Academy student-athletes share a passion for their craft and a goal of competing at highly competitive high school and collegiate levels.

Parisi Academy is built on a proven system with established methods, practices, and standards designed to help student-athletes succeed in the classroom, in athletics, and in their communities.

As part of the Parisi Training Systems network with over 120 Parisi Speed School locations worldwide, the Academy operates within a strong, well-established organizational structure that ensures consistency, leadership, and a focus on student success.

Parisi Academy combines rigorous academics with elite athletic training. In the classroom, we maintain small class sizes with a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio in core subjects, supported by highly qualified faculty including PhDs, Master’s-level educators, and nationally certified trainers. This allows for personalized instruction, consistent communication, and a structured learning environment.

Our academic program is designed to meet and exceed state standards while preparing students for long-term success, with five professional, subject-specific teachers delivering instruction in their respective content areas. At the same time, our athletic program is led by Parisi Speed School, trusted by over a million athletes and more than 130 NFL Draft Picks, where student-athletes receive individualized training programs tailored to their goals and development needs.

With nearly 175 alumni placed into competitive local high schools, Parisi Academy delivers a unified model where academics and athletics work together to maximize each student-athlete’s potential.

Parisi Academy maintains consistent and transparent communication with parents regarding all aspects of their student-athlete’s progress.

We utilize multiple platforms to ensure families stay informed. Google Classroom provides updates on coursework, assignments, missing work, and academic progress through regular notifications. Our primary communication system, Tracker, offers a comprehensive overview of each student-athlete’s performance, including grades, training progress, behavior, and attendance.

Twice per year, formal parent-teacher conferences are held with the full Parisi Academy staff to review each student-athlete’s academic, athletic, and behavioral progress.

The Parisi Academy curriculum has been developed by an Advisory Board of PhD’s and experienced educators to meet state academic standards. Our program not only includes the important core subjects, but expands well beyond traditional education to learning experiences student-athletes will carry with them throughout their lives. Explore the full curriculum overview here.

To support both the academic and athletic programs, Parisi Academy uses a structured system designed to help student-athletes succeed. Small class sizes and individualized instruction ensure each student receives the attention they need, supported by tools such as Google Classroom to keep learning organized and accessible.

Students are expected to attend school in person due to the hands-on nature of instruction, projects, and daily support. In limited situations, remote learning may be available when necessary.

Small training groups allow coaches to provide foundational training for any sport and individualized coaching. Student-athletes train in Parisi Speed School facilities using professional, up-to-date equipment designed to maximize performance and development.

There are multiple goals within the training of the student-athletes in the Parisi Academy. First and foremost, we are aiming to create more injury resilient athletes. We achieve this with our initial assessment using the cutting edge Sparta Force Plate and the eyes of our experienced and certified Performance Coaches. Along with creating more injury resilient athletes, our training program has been proven for many years to increase speed, strength, and overall movement mechanics. Learn more.