5 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a One on One Tutor in Denver

Originally published December 2025

Hiring a one on one tutor in Denver can be one of the most impactful decisions you make for your child, but only if you avoid some common mistakes families often make when trying to find a tutor. With so many tutoring services available, it’s easy to assume that all tutoring is the same. In reality, the quality, structure, and fit of a tutor matter far more than many parents realize.

At Strive Learning Solutions, we often work with families who come to us after trying other forms of tutoring, like learning centers, that didn’t lead to meaningful progress. Below are five mistakes to avoid when hiring a one on one tutor, along with what to look for instead.

Mistake 1: Assuming All Tutors Are Equally Qualified

One of the biggest mistakes families make is assuming that tutoring is all the same, regardless of who provides it. In reality, tutors vary widely in their training, experience, and expertise.

Many tutoring services rely on college students, or even high school students, or generalists who can help with homework. Many tutors lack any specialized training that help them identify and address learning gaps. This often leads to minimal progress.

What to do instead:
Look for a private who is an expert in what they teach. Experienced tutors with backgrounds in specialized instruction often cost more, but they are far more effective. At Strive, all of our tutors are highly trained experts who specialize in working with neurodivergent learners.

Mistake 2: Choosing Price Over Quality

It’s understandable to want to be as frugal as possible. However, with tutoring, choosing the lowest-priced option often leads to frustration, minimal progress, and ultimately spending more time and money trying to fix the issue later.

Low-cost tutoring often means:

• Limited expertise
• Minimal personalization
• One-size-fits-all approach

What to do instead:
Try viewing tutoring as a long-term investment rather than a short-term expense. High-quality, personalized tutoring leads to faster progress, stronger confidence, and more sustainable outcomes. Strive’s tutoring services focus on efficiency and effectiveness, helping students make significant progress over time.

Mistake 3: Making Tutoring Inconvenient for Your Family

Many families unintentionally choose tutoring options that add stress to their already busy schedules. Driving across Denver to a learning center after school, juggling rigid time slots, or rearranging family routines can make tutoring feel overwhelming.

When tutoring becomes inconvenient, consistency often suffers. Consistency is the key to an effective intervention.

What to do instead:
Choose a tutoring service that prioritizes ease. Strive meets students where and when it works best for your family, whether that’s in-home tutoring in Denver, virtual sessions, or flexible scheduling options. Tutoring should support your life, not complicate it.

Mistake 4: Expecting Tutoring to Look Like Homework Help

Another common mistake is hiring a tutor who simply helps students complete assignments without addressing the root causes of their struggles. While homework support can feel helpful in the moment, it rarely leads to lasting improvement.

Students may finish assignments, but gaps in reading, writing, math, or executive functioning remain, and are likely to grow over time.

What to do instead:
Look for one on one tutoring that goes beyond homework help. Effective intervention identifies skill gaps, teaches strategies explicitly, and builds independence. At Strive, tutoring is structured, goal-driven, and designed to help students transfer skills into the classroom.

Mistake 5: Overlooking the Importance of Fit and Relationship

Even the most qualified tutor won’t be effective if your child doesn’t feel comfortable, understood, and supported. Many tutoring services assign tutors based solely on availability rather than fit and expertise, which can lead to disengagement or resistance.

Students are more likely to grow when they feel safe, valued, and confident with their tutor.

What to do instead:
Find a tutor who connects with your child and understands their unique needs. At Strive, we intentionally match students with tutors based on learning profile, personality, goals, and scheduling needs. We aim to support the whole-child, not focusing strictly on academics.

What Sets a Great One on One Tutor Apart

A high-quality one on one tutor should provide:

• Personalized instruction tailored to your child
• Clear goals and progress monitoring
• Strengths-based, encouraging feedback
• Communication with parents & teachers
• Flexibility and convenience

Strive Learning Solutions was built around these principles. Our approach reflects our core values: personalization, partnership, whole-child empowerment, neurodiverse-affirming practices, excellence, and ease.

Finding the Right One on One Tutor in Denver

If you’re trying to find a tutor in Denver, it’s important to look beyond surface-level promises. Not all tutoring services are created equal, and the right one on one tutor can make a lasting difference in your child’s confidence, skills, and relationship with learning.

Ready to Find the Right Tutor?

Strive Learning Solutions provides expert, personalized one on one tutoring for students across the Denver Metro area, including Arvada, Lakewood, Westminster, Golden, and surrounding communities. We offer in-home and virtual academic support designed to fit seamlessly into your family’s life.

If you’re ready to explore whether Strive is the right fit for your child, schedule a consultation to learn more about our tutoring services and how we can support your next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right one on one tutor for my child?
Look for a tutor with extensive training, experience, and expertise, not just availability. The best one on one tutors personalize instruction, understand learning differences, and focus on building long-term skills and confidence, not just completing homework.

Are one on one tutors better than tutoring centers?
For many students, yes. One on one tutoring offers personalized instruction tailored to your child’s needs, while tutoring centers often rely on outdated, one-size-fits-all approaches that will not address specific learning gaps.

Is one on one tutoring worth the higher cost?
High-quality tutoring is an investment. Experienced tutors with specialized training often cost more, but they typically help students make faster, more meaningful progress, reducing frustration and the need for ongoing support.

Should tutoring focus on homework help or skill building?
Effective tutoring should go beyond homework help. While assignments may be supported, strong one on one tutoring addresses underlying skill gaps, teaches strategies, and builds independence so students can succeed on their own.

Do you offer in-home and virtual one on one tutoring in Denver?
Yes. Strive Learning Solutions offers both in-home tutoring across the Denver Metro area and virtual tutoring options. We prioritize flexibility and convenience so tutoring fits seamlessly into your family’s schedule.