Back-to-school season is here, and parents and students are back to busy nights and homework assignments. Amid the school year hustle, innovative tutoring businesses like Studyville are helping busy students' families balance life and schoolwork.
Studyville, named one of America's Top 70 Small Businesses by the U.S. Chamber in 2023, has two locations in Baton Rouge and Alexandria, Louisiana, and provides collaborative workspaces for students to complete homework and get specialized study help.
Founder Amanda Martin talked to us about the inspiration behind Studyville’s unique atmosphere and how her business is helping students achieve their best.
What was the inspiration behind starting Studyville?
I have always been a proponent of tutoring. Whether a student is struggling or excelling, 1:1 in-person tutoring can help a student achieve his or her personal academic best. My own teenagers inspired me to create an academic workspace where they could study in a cool space with drop-in services, easy access to expert tutors, and the ability to bring friends and pizza.
I was tired of fighting the homework fight in my living room. I wanted to be their mom, not their taskmaster. After a long day of school, they don’t want to do homework with their mom. But they do listen to a twenty-something-year-old engineer explain why calculus is important to learn. Our tutors are our secret sauce, coupled with the space, and it has been a game-changer for many families.
What’s different about tutoring at Studyville, and how do you help students excel?
Studyville tutors must have expertise in their subject material. Secondly, and equally important, the tutors must be relatable to the students and be passionate about helping each student succeed. I am so proud of our tutors. They have all really embraced our fun Studyville culture, and it is a pleasure to have such an incredible crop of team members. We have fun at Studyville, and we love celebrating our students.
Back-to-school is a fun time for us because we miss our members over the summer and are excited to see what the new school year holds for them.
Do you collaborate with any local schools or businesses?
Absolutely! In Louisiana and Georgia, we are collaborating with schools for high-dosage tutoring, which is where we go into the schools during the school day to tutor students who are performing below benchmark. We also tutor in after-school programs, community centers, YMCAs, YWCAs, libraries, and homeless youth shelters to reach students in neighborhoods where transportation is challenging.
As we approach back-to-school season, what advice do you have to help students succeed?
My advice to parents is that you do not have to do it all. We are here to help your students succeed and save you from the argument over homework at the kitchen table. For students, my advice would be to start strong. If you put in the work upfront by turning in your assignments, studying hard for that first test, and double-checking that first essay, it will be much easier for you. It is easier to keep an A than it is to get a lower grade up.
What are your future goals for Studyville?
I have very ambitious goals for Studyville because there is work to do in our area around academic achievement. With 53% of total students at proficiency level, that means we have 47% below proficiency. I want to grow Studyville’s physical locations and in-school tutoring to help as many students as I possibly can while it is in my power to do so.
About the authors
Lillian Chase
Lillian Chase is a communications intern at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
