Did the Dance Mom Girls Go to School? Behind the Scenes of Their Education

• how-the-dance-mom-schedule-affected-schooling - How the Dance Mom Schedule Affected Schooling
• did-the-dance-mom-girls-go-to-school - Did the Dance Mom Girls Go to School?
• balancing-education-and-dance-training - Balancing Education and Dance Training
• individual-cases-inside-the-dance-mom-classroom - Individual Cases: Inside the Dance Mom “Classroom”
• life-after-dance-moms-academics-and-beyond - Life After Dance Moms: Academics and Beyond
• what-this-means-for-young-dancers-today - What This Means for Young Dancers Today

1. How the Dance Mom Schedule Affected Schooling

Anyone familiar with the hit reality show Dance Moms knows the girls were far from typical students. Between traveling for competitions, filming episodes, rehearsals, and practice schedules, their weekdays often looked nothing like the standard school day. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t go to school—it just meant school looked a little different for them.

The structure of the show required flexibility. While other kids were seated in a classroom from 8 to 3, these young dancers were often rehearsing intricate routines or sitting through tense meetings with Abby Lee Miller. Yet behind the scenes, education remained a critical (if challenging) priority.

2. Did the Dance Mom Girls Go to School?

Yes, the Dance Mom girls did go to school, but not in the traditional sense. Many of them were homeschooled or used on-set tutoring programs, especially during filming seasons. This allowed them to keep up with academics while managing demanding dance and filming obligations.

Production companies working with child performers are often required to provide licensed tutors. In the case of Dance Moms, several cast members later confirmed in interviews and on social media that they followed customized curriculums designed to keep them on track academically.

3. Balancing Education and Dance Training

Balancing full-time dance with full-time schooling is no easy feat. The average dance competition kid might spend 15–20 hours a week training—but for the Dance Moms cast, that number easily doubled. It took a carefully planned system involving parents, educators, and sometimes even online school platforms.

3.1 A Day in Their Life

Typical days often began early with stretches and choreography, followed by tutoring hours either on location or at home. As the show gained popularity, online education tools became more common, and students were given assignments they could complete around filming hours.

3.2 Prioritizing Both Passions

The cast and their families repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining education alongside dance. Melissa Gisoni, mother of Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler, once stated that she made sure her daughters “never fell behind in school—even if that meant studying in airport lounges.”

4. Individual Cases: Inside the Dance Mom “Classroom”

4.1 Maddie Ziegler

One of the show’s most prominent figures, Maddie Ziegler, was homeschooled for the majority of her time on the show. Her mom worked closely with teachers to ensure she maintained a solid academic foundation. Maddie has since spoken openly about continuing education through a more private, independent learning structure, especially after her rise to fame.

4.2 Chloe Lukasiak

Chloe took a more traditional route after leaving the show, enrolling in a brick-and-mortar high school and even attending college classes. She has frequently shared her love of writing and reading—proof that dance didn’t stop her from pursuing intellectual goals.

4.3 Nia Sioux

Nia stands out as a cast member who always emphasized academics. While dancing, she managed to keep up with a traditional school curriculum, eventually graduating high school and enrolling in UCLA. She became a role model for young fans who wanted to know if success in both worlds was possible.

5. Life After Dance Moms: Academics and Beyond

Many of the Dance Moms girls have continued their education or successfully pivoted to careers in acting, modeling, or business. Their ability to juggle school and dance speaks volumes about the support systems they had—and the inner discipline they developed from a young age.

In today’s world, where online education and hybrid models are more widely accepted, the Dance Moms cast was arguably ahead of their time. Their experience shows that passion-based careers can coexist with structured academic paths, even under pressure.

6. What This Means for Young Dancers Today

If you're a young dancer (or the parent of one) wondering if dance and education can truly co-exist—the answer is yes, but it takes planning, discipline, and support. Today’s resources are more flexible than ever. Online schools, accredited tutors, and structured dance academies now offer integrated programs that didn’t exist a decade ago.

If you're looking for the right educational and dance balance, American Dance Academy provides mentorship, resources, and carefully designed training schedules that allow young performers to thrive in both academics and performance. The lesson from Dance Moms? You don’t have to choose between your dream and your diploma—you can have both.