What began as a Studio project evolved into something deeper. Many learners continued their research outside of school, determined to find the best deals and tax breaks, or even calculating expenses for their own futures. When reflecting on the experience, one learner commented, “I used to think it would be easy, but now I think that all the random stuff really adds up.” Another said, “I used to think budgets were not that helpful, but now I think you need them when you’re older.” These learners will enter adulthood with a foundation many of us never had. They’ll better understand the trade-offs, consequences, and yes, the actual cost of a Lambo.

Do TVS learners thrive in high school? The short answer: absolutely. Our alumni aren't just surviving the transition to conventional high schools—they're thriving. What matters more than excelling in their academic and extracurricular pursuits is that TVS graduates know who they are, understand what real learning looks like, and they're carrying skills that will serve them far beyond any test or transcript.

At The Village School, our learner-centered pedagogical approach invites us to see students not as passive recipients of knowledge, but as active architects of meaning, identity, and ideas. It’s a shift that engages the whole learner and what they bring to our community; their voice, emotions, character and individual experiences. 

We’ve had librarians question learners’ reading ability, museum docents assume poor listening skills, and other parkgoers show disdain at learners taking risks. But how can we blame them when this is what our society has trained us to believe that protection means limitation, rather than preparation. “Children should be seen and not heard,” right? Well, we choose something different: children should be seen, heard, believed in, valued, challenged, encouraged, and so much more.

[Podcast] That kind of laughter - that real, authentic laughter, the kind that bursts out without any hesitation or worry - that’s the sound of Health and Wellness at The Village School. It’s the sound of learners discovering who they are through play, movement, and connection.In those moments of loud, unrestrained laughter, something really honest comes through. It’s a time when a learner is being completely themselves. 

…if you ever find yourself having to convince your mom, dad, aunt, uncle, colleague or friend about the merit of our “no grades” school, my unsolicited advice is this: Explain that we focus first on nurturing a sense of safety in our learners– security in who they are, what they are capable of, where they belong, and why they matter. Ask them if, in our world today, that metric of security and belonging matters more than a grade or bumper sticker from an elite university. Watch them pause.

Session 2 at TVS is full of fall festivities, marine biology, personal finance, fables, and more! Read all about what’s in store for learners in this special Sneak Peek.

What happens when you give 28 middle schoolers complete control of a field trip to the zoo? They navigate the metro system, manage the schedule, and get everyone there safely—while adults at the station nervously shuffle away from the "scary" group of teens. In just six weeks, our learners at The Village School planned field trips, created a music video, wrote an AI guidebook, and proved what we already knew: middle schoolers are wildly more capable than the world gives them credit for.

What happens when, instead of warning “watch out” or “be careful,” we step back and let children discover the courage and problem-solving skills that come from taking risks?

From playing outdoor games to sharing stories during circle time, Spark learners have begun forging connections and creating an atmosphere of trust and friendship. They have shared valuable insights about what it means to be honest and kind, and how these qualities play a vital role in their learning environment. Returning learners jumped right in to show how they could help and collaborate, making the learning space inclusive and exciting.

The next time your child feels upset, disappointed, or uncomfortable, pause before rushing to smooth it over. See it instead as an opportunity. These moments, though challenging, are where growth happens.

This blog was originally published in March of 2021 during my first year as a TVS parent and prior to me taking on my current role at school. Despite the fact that reading this causes a sharp pain in my heart at the realization that time is, in fact, a thief, the message is an important one for me to remember as my kids are older. Listening to them now is just as, or maybe even more important. I hope you’re inspired by this message just as much as I was.

Eight years ago The Village School started its first year with 12 learners and 3 guides with a mission that hasn’t changed: to give young people agency in their learning so they can discover their passions and uniquely contribute to the world.  Each year the school has grown and changed with new families, a new campus, new systems, and a newfound urgency to create a place where all learners can thrive. We begin each year with an infinite set of possibilities.

TVS parents drive back and forth from homes built on a purposeful set of priorities, values, and beliefs to a school where, despite our differences, we all feel like we belong.

“Ms. Elizabeth, no one teaches us how to fish. We teach ourselves. This is The Village School, remember?”