Enough With Performance Metrics at School
October 24, 2019 1:22 PM Subscribe
Where can I find middle schools and high schools that offer a quality education without tests, grades, excessive homework, or a competitive environment befitting a sports tournament?
My daughter has had a Montessori preschool and elementary education. The approach to education is fundamentally different. There is a child-centric focus, with an emphasis on learning for learning's sake. There are no tests, grades, homework, or competition.
I've seen how well this approach works and would like to be able to keep my daughter in this kind of system, but the problem is it seems that 99.9% of schools in the US don't operate this way. Finding the tiny percentage of middle schools and high schools that have the type of system that I'm describing (Montessori or otherwise, public or private) seems to be really, really hard.
So, any suggestions people have for identifying such schools would be much appreciated.
Thank you.
My daughter has had a Montessori preschool and elementary education. The approach to education is fundamentally different. There is a child-centric focus, with an emphasis on learning for learning's sake. There are no tests, grades, homework, or competition.
I've seen how well this approach works and would like to be able to keep my daughter in this kind of system, but the problem is it seems that 99.9% of schools in the US don't operate this way. Finding the tiny percentage of middle schools and high schools that have the type of system that I'm describing (Montessori or otherwise, public or private) seems to be really, really hard.
So, any suggestions people have for identifying such schools would be much appreciated.
Thank you.
The Alternative Education Resource Organization may have some information to help your search.
posted by overeducated_alligator at 1:28 PM on October 24, 2019
posted by overeducated_alligator at 1:28 PM on October 24, 2019
The Coalition of Essential Schools ceased operations in 2016/2017, but their website is still available and includes a list of member schools.
You might also be able to find some pointers via the National Association of Independent Schools.
You might also look for schools that subscribe to the principles of progressive education.
If you tell us where you're located we might be able to give more specific recommendations.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:32 PM on October 24, 2019
You might also be able to find some pointers via the National Association of Independent Schools.
You might also look for schools that subscribe to the principles of progressive education.
If you tell us where you're located we might be able to give more specific recommendations.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:32 PM on October 24, 2019
Have you gotten recommendations from the Montessori schools your child attended? There are definitely high schools without grades out there, though they are relatively uncommon even among progressive schools.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:33 PM on October 24, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:33 PM on October 24, 2019 [2 favorites]
Okay, here's one more:
The Mastery Transcript Consortium is working with project-based and mastery-based high schools to develop a common transcript format that they can use when their students apply to colleges.
As you can imagine, if a school doesn't give grades it can make the college application process... different.
Their website includes a list of member schools.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:41 PM on October 24, 2019
The Mastery Transcript Consortium is working with project-based and mastery-based high schools to develop a common transcript format that they can use when their students apply to colleges.
As you can imagine, if a school doesn't give grades it can make the college application process... different.
Their website includes a list of member schools.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:41 PM on October 24, 2019
(Hmmm, it looks like a lot of the member schools do give grades. But I know that serving schools which do not give grades is part of the core mission of the consortium.)
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:42 PM on October 24, 2019
posted by Winnie the Proust at 1:42 PM on October 24, 2019
In my area, there are Montessori schools that go up through high school. Your profile doesn't say where you live, but it's definitely a thing.
posted by juniperesque at 1:59 PM on October 24, 2019
posted by juniperesque at 1:59 PM on October 24, 2019
Response by poster: I'm in Southern California, but I'm interested in such schools anywhere in the US.
Thank you.
posted by Dansaman at 2:03 PM on October 24, 2019
Thank you.
posted by Dansaman at 2:03 PM on October 24, 2019
Meridian Academy in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston has a multidisciplinary project-based curriculum for grades 6-12. No grades. The kids learn a lot, do amazing work, and go on to good colleges.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 7:04 PM on October 24, 2019
posted by Winnie the Proust at 7:04 PM on October 24, 2019
I have taught for 20+ yrs. Many of those in schools close to what you describe all in NYC, however.
posted by blaneyphoto at 8:15 PM on October 24, 2019
posted by blaneyphoto at 8:15 PM on October 24, 2019
https://www.cityandcountry.org/about-us/philosophy - sounds real close to your needs.
posted by blaneyphoto at 8:17 PM on October 24, 2019
posted by blaneyphoto at 8:17 PM on October 24, 2019
Saint Ann's in Brooklyn doesn't use grades.
posted by praemunire at 8:15 AM on October 25, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 8:15 AM on October 25, 2019 [1 favorite]
I have ZERO idea whether this is a good option or not, but it is an option in your region.
posted by linettasky at 9:58 AM on October 25, 2019
posted by linettasky at 9:58 AM on October 25, 2019
Response by poster: Thanks for the replies. For me, Sudbury and "open" schools are a little too radically hands-off, but Saint Ann's looks great. Maybe I'll have to move the family to Brooklyn!
posted by Dansaman at 11:53 PM on October 25, 2019
posted by Dansaman at 11:53 PM on October 25, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by metahawk at 1:27 PM on October 24, 2019