What is a Micro School?

Imagine the old one-room schoolhouse. Now bring it into the modern era. That’s a Micro School.

While no two micro schools are identical, most share several common traits: a small student population, an innovative curriculum, place-based and experiential learning, the use of cutting-edge technology, and an emphasis on mastering or understanding material. The education that micro schools provide is highly personalized. Teachers typically guide students’ curiosity rather than lecture at them. Instead of utilizing a fixed curriculum, they integrate subjects that students are passionate about into daily lesson plans and account for each student’s unique strengths, learning style, and existing knowledge.

In many micro schools:

Students of multiple ages learn together in a classroom. This model allows students of different ages to learn from each other, gaining a more holistic understanding of the topics they’re studying.

Technology is used to track individual students’ progress, allowing them the freedom to structure their own time and set their own goals. Individual programs of study are created that allow students to take deep dives into subjects that they’re passionate about.

The learning experience extends far beyond the physical confines of the school. The surrounding community and its resources become the students’ classroom, in line with place-based education. Students are encouraged to focus on mastering subjects and understanding why they’re important within a broader context, rather than on trying to get a good grade.