Tutoring Locations FAQ

Why is in-person tutoring important? 

Students who are experiencing homelessness face many challenges to learning – particularly more distracting home environments (like a shelter) and low confidence in their education abilities.  A consistent, in-person mentor can be transformative for a student experiencing homelessness helping them overcome these obstacles, build positive relationships, and stay engaged in their education.  

Where does in-person tutoring take place? 

Our tutors go to where our students are living. Often, we are tutoring in the family room or dedicated learning space at a homeless shelter. If the family is living in a vehicle, hotel, or on the street, we meet at a local library or community center. 

All tutoring takes place in public within ear/eye shot of other adults. 

You can choose to select a region closer to your home, work or school, depending on what makes sense for your schedule. 

What time does tutoring take place? 

For both online and in-person tutoring, sessions generally take place during weekday afternoons and evenings (3-7pm), when students and families are available after school and work. Weekend sessions are available, but more limited. 

You provide the days and times that work best for you and we do our best to match you with a student who meets your schedule.  Flexibility in your schedule can help us match you with a student quicker! 

How far will I be expected to drive for an in-person match? 

Whenever possible, we match you with a student who is living within 10-15 miles of your home, work or school. 

On average, our tutors commute 40 minutes (round trip) to their tutoring location. This may be more or less depending on where you live and the closest tutoring locations.   

Tutoring Regions

School on Wheels serves a large geographic area and we divide our service area into regions to support better service of students and volunteers.  The region definitions below represent where most of our students are living. You select the region that would best fit your schedule/ability to serve an in-person student.  If you are an online tutor, you will be assigned to a student in any region who needs an online tutor. 

Los Angeles County: 

  • Region 1:  East Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Whittier  
  • Region 2:  South Los Angeles
  • Region 3:  West Los Angeles, Mid-City, Koreatown, Inglewood 
  • Region 4:  South Bay, Compton, Long Beach, Norwalk 
  • Region 5:  Downtown Los Angeles (South Park), Pico-Union, Northeast Los Angeles, Pasadena
  • Region 7:  San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, Glendale 
  • Region 11:   Downtown Los Angeles (Skid Row). Services here are through our dedicated afterschool program, the Skid Row Learning Center. 

Orange County: 

  • Region 9: North Orange County: Anaheim, Fullerton, Huntington Beach 
  • Region 10: South Orange County: Santa Ana, Irvine, Tustin, Orange 

Ventura: 

  • Region 8: Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties:  Oxnard, Camarillo, downtown Ventura, Santa Paula, Santa Maria, Lompoc 

Inland Empire: 

  • Region 6:  All of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. In-person opportunities in this region are limited.