We believe that the kind of person a child becomes is far more important than how much they know.
The Village School approach goes beyond traditional academics, placing equal emphasis on character development and intellectual growth. We believe that true success stems from integrity, empathy, and resilience as much as from academic mastery. Learners follow personalized learning paths that honor their individual growth journeys. With ample time for play and hands-on, real-world projects, our learners build essential critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. What truly sets The Village School apart is our deep trust in young people, which we demonstrate through our focus on building community. Our micro-school environment fosters meaningful connections between learners, parents, and community members. These relationships create a supportive space where young people feel empowered to take risks, face challenges, and grow into confident, compassionate individuals. At The Village School, we aren’t just preparing children for tests—we’re equipping them with the character and skills to thrive in the real world.
Three Pillars of Learning
Learner-Centered
Our learner-centered approach is designed to nurture self-directed learners who are leaders of themselves and their communities. Instead of a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum, we respect each child’s unique path to growth through a flexible learning plan that allows them to identify, pursue, and accomplish their goals.
Play- and Project-Based
Playful learning is a goal of ours each day, not just for our youngest learners, but for learners of all ages. Research shows play has enormous learning and social benefits across all ages, but, by the time children are in conventional classrooms, they’ve been taught to suppress their natural play-based curiosity. At TVS, kids learn to engage in real-world experiences through material amounts of time at play and creative, hands-on projects. .
Community-Driven
In the TVS community, children work closely with peers on collaborative projects, engage openly with educators on their goals, connect meaningfully with community members, and grow alongside parents who partner rather than direct. This creates an environment where young people feel truly seen, supported, and capable. In response, they take risks, dive deeply into their interests, and develop the confidence that comes from being truly trusted.
TVS Collective Equity Statement
The Village School believes in building collective equity throughout our village by sharing the responsibility of empowering those in our community to achieve their goals and aspirations on their own terms.
We believe that everyone benefits from a community that is made up of a range of perspectives, experiences, backgrounds, and beliefs. When differences are embraced and celebrated, each person's value as an individual and as a member of the community is affirmed. To that end, a key feature of our learning design is learning to live together- cultivating respect, open-mindedness, compassion, and a sense of belonging for every learner, family, and staff member.
We believe that this emphasis on character within a culture of inclusion is critical in developing the sensitivity and competency needed to create a more loving and just world.
As a community, we are committed to continue to lean into collective equity and grow our village to reflect these beliefs.
A Newsletter for Trailblazers
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