Our Story
Bringing Educational Enrichment to America
From a kitchen table in India to Enrichment Academies across the country — this is how A Grade Ahead began.
How It Began
Our Story
“Every great journey begins with a simple idea.”
It started at a kitchen table
For A Grade Ahead, that journey started at a kitchen table in India, where a young girl was regularly quizzed in math and English while her mother prepared dinner. Those moments instilled two lifelong beliefs: education is the foundation for future success, and consistent practice leads to deeper understanding. Those values would one day inspire the creation of A Grade Ahead.
A program of their own
Years later, that young girl — Meenal Singhal — was raising her own family in the United States with her husband, Parag. Like many parents, they wanted to give their son the strongest possible academic foundation. When they searched for an educational enrichment program in 2001, they found the available options focused on repetitive drills rather than developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Instead of settling, they created their own.
From the basement to the nation
What began as personalized math worksheets for their son quickly caught the attention of friends and family, who wanted the same materials for their own children. While both working full-time, Meenal and Parag spent evenings and weekends developing curriculum and mailing worksheets from their basement. As demand continued to grow, Parag left his corporate career to devote himself full-time to building the educational program they knew families were searching for.
The first learning center
Originally founded as MathWizard, the program quickly earned a reputation for its engaging curriculum and measurable results. In 2006, the first learning center opened in Dublin, Ohio, giving students the opportunity to learn in a collaborative classroom environment.
Growing nationwide
As more families experienced success, A Grade Ahead expanded through partner-owned and franchised academies across the country. Today, many of our academy owners are former parents whose own children benefited from the program — a testament to the lasting impact of the A Grade Ahead experience.
A Grade Ahead
Now known as A Grade Ahead, we continue to serve thousands of students nationwide through our enrichment academies and at-home learning programs. While our programs have grown to include multiple subjects, grade levels, and flexible learning options, our mission remains the same: to inspire confidence, develop critical thinking skills, and help every student build a strong academic foundation for lifelong success.
More than two decades later, we are still guided by the same belief that inspired our founders from the very beginning: with consistent practice, quality instruction, and encouragement, every child can achieve more than they ever imagined.
Meet the Founders
Our Founders: Meenal & Parag Singhal
“We get feedback from parents across the country who thank us for setting their kids up to succeed. That’s what keeps us motivated to continue to improve and provide the best program out there.” — Parag Singhal, Co-founder
Like most parents, Meenal and Parag Singhal wanted to give their children the best possible future — and believed a strong academic foundation was the way to get there. In 2001, when they looked to supplement their son Akshat’s education, they weren’t satisfied with the available options: they didn’t want monotonous drills, but a program that promoted analytical thinking and problem solving. Not finding it, the Singhals created their own worksheets and materials — and soon friends and family were asking to use them too.
While still working full-time, the couple began mailing worksheets around the nation from a small operation in their basement. Realizing there was an untapped need, Parag left his job to build the enrichment program they’d always wanted.
That success led to the first Learning Center in Dublin, Ohio in 2006, and partner-owned and franchised locations from 2012 onward — with parents of successful students making up the majority of franchisees. Today, there are Enrichment Academies and students across the country, with plans to keep growing.
Find out more about the Singhals’ journey in the recent article in Dublin Life magazine.
The Singhal family — founders of A Grade Ahead
Learn More
A Grade Ahead’s History & Core Beliefs
- Our Promises — the commitments we make to every family.
- How It Works — our proprietary, proven approach.
- Experience Our Curriculum — expert-crafted for grades K–12.
- Find Your Location — discover an academy near you.
Get Started
Become part of the A Grade Ahead story.
Enter your ZIP code to find an academy near you, or start with a free assessment to see where your child stands.
No commitment required · Free assessment · 30+ locations nationwide