About Principia Education
Principia Education (formerly Principia Tutors & Consultants) is a tutoring, test preparation, and college admissions consulting company based in McLean, Virginia. Founded in 2017 by Oliver and Elaina, Principia Education serves students throughout Northern Virginia in person and families nationwide online.
Our Story
We started Principia…
…with our daughter in mind. She hadn’t been born yet, but we’d already heard the stories from friends in the DC area — how hard it was to find academic support that was not only effective, but personal. There were plenty of options out there, but few that offered everything a parent would truly want: consistency, quality, and care.
So we built the kind of company we’d want for our own family — a place where long-term relationships matter, intellectual curiosity is nurtured, and students are guided with both warmth and strategy. At every stage, when faced with big decisions, we asked ourselves one simple question: Is this what we would want for our daughter?
Years later, with hundreds of students supported and a team of nearly 40 exceptional educators, the answer is still yes.
Our instructors and consultants are chosen first for their empathy, energy, and communication. They don’t just teach — they mentor. And they don’t just understand the curriculum — they take the time to understand the student behind it: their goals, their story, their spark. Whether we’re working with a seventh grader just beginning their journey or a senior finalizing essays, we bring a hyperlocal approach to each student, learning not only their schedule and school but also their family, community, and values.
Today, Principia works with students across the country and abroad, but our founding mindset remains the same: this work is personal. We’re proud to be a team, a community, and a part of your family.
With love (and plenty of erasable pens),
Oliver & Elaina