Inside Outside School has been such a blessing for our family. Our kindergartener describes it best: "My favorite thing is that the weather is perfect there and we get to play outside all of the time. I also like that our classes have rainbow centers." This school has truly transformed the way our tender-hearted, introverted daughter feels about education. She used to dread school every single day, but now she cries when it's time to leave. The nurturing environment, emphasis on outdoor play, and creative learning spaces like the "rainbow centers" have made her feel so safe, happy, and excited to learn. We couldn't be more grateful to the teachers and staff for creating such a magical, supportive experience for her. Inside Outside School is a place where children truly thrive. read more

We LOVE the Inside Outside School! I have been following the school since it's opening year, and as an educator (former public school teacher), I love the blend of academics and outside time. From all that I can tell, they are taking the educational research that talks to what truly works in the best interest of children and applying it in all aspects of the school. The class sizes are small, there are many opportunities for mixed-age learning, there is direct teaching of core concepts, highly individualized learning, lots of outside and student-led activities, and an integrated social/emotional component that is woven throughout the structure of the days that helps our children learn one of the most valuable skills that will serve them through life - emotional intelligence! This is not an unstructured school - there is structure and academics happening even when it can appear unstructured. For instance, I volunteer once a week for Nature Literacy in "the woods" as my daughter calls it. I have watched students create amazing learning opportunities for themselves that are completely self-initiated. I've seen them perform experiments on the flow of the creek, figure out how to construct a dragon's lair with tree branches, create mud homes, and compare/contrast plants and rocks. This is all proof to me that these kids are learning HOW to learn and LOVE LEARNING! All things that make both my mommy heart and my teacher heart very happy. :) Our daughter is currently in the 1st grade in a 1st/2nd grade classroom. She came with a high reading level and (in my mind) a low math ability which was compounded with a self-esteem issue from her kinder experience in a local charter school. Her teacher has done an excellent job of finding out what she needs and providing her with opportunities to expand her learning and fill in the gaps she had. Within the first semester the esteem issues I was worried about have all but vanished, and she truly enjoys math as well as reading now! I love the way IOS approaches assessment of the students - there are no grades (which did make this former teacher a little nervous at first), but it has been replaced with anecdotal records that are far more meaningful than a single page of letter grades! I received a 10 page document that took me through the semester, explained what was learned in class and how my daughter is progressing. We used this document to review our previous goals and set new ones as a team - teacher, parents, and student. This is authentic learning at its best! I really cannot say enough about this school. Parents are encouraged to participate in the school day, and I love that this school is as welcoming to the parents as it is for the students. This school may not be for everyone, but I am confident that this is the school for our family and for our daughter. :) read more

The Inside Outside School is a dream come true. Really. I've had a child at IOS for 4 years now and we couldn't be happier with our choice. We did a lot of research when selecting a school. A lot. We did all of the tours, but didn't find anything that felt like a true fit with any of the alternative schools that strictly follow one ideology. Waldorf felt too heavy, Sudbury felt too unorganized... We wanted something in between - a small school with aspects of democracy, a solid curriculum, mixed age classrooms, ample time in nature and a strong support system for the social/emotional development of each child. What we've gotten at IOS has been so much more than that. The small class sizes make it easier for the teachers to customize their lessons to each child. There's no "teaching to the middle" here. Communicating with the teachers is easy and enjoyable. The campus is straight-up magical - you have to see it to believe it. There's a creek on the property and acres of woods for the kids to explore. There are chickens, goats, guinea hens, even a donkey, that live on site. Sadly, IOS doesn't accept 35 year old 3rd graders, or I'd be all over it. It's not all about the curriculum or the democratic meetings or the farm animals the kids help care for. It's not all about the gardens they grow, the amazing community of parents and teachers or the social/emotional support given to (and subsequently created by) the kids. It's about all of it. It's about being in the conversation of cultivating human greatness with a group of families and teachers that think outside the box and truly care for every aspect of each child. There's so many reasons that I send my child to IOS, but the main reason is that I know she is Loved, Supported and Celebrated as a human when she's at school. She wakes up happy every morning, ready to get on the bus with her friends and get to school. What a gift! read more

The Inside Outside school is an AMAZING place! My daughter is halfway through her kindergarten year. As a former public and private school teacher I can tell you I am incredibly impressed at how deftly the staff works together to successfully implement the best teaching practices I learned during my 7 years in the classroom. I was attracted to this school because of the focus on time spent learning in nature and a child centered environment, but I've come to appreciate the philosophy of the school. My daughter has enjoyed her electives, learned to care for her learning space, and learned how to advocate for herself as a learner and community member. Academically, she's grown by leaps and bounds this year, not only in her aptitude but in her confidence as well. I was concerned about my daughter adjusting to a new school after only attending school part time and our family transitioning to two homes. She was emotionally supported and cared for by the staff during what could have been such a tough time. She adapted to her new school much more easily than I could have expected, and adores her friends, teachers, and learning experiences. The only complaint she has EVER made was about marathon, which is clearly because she just doesn't like running and won't walk. That's saying something for a kiddo as expressive and analytical as she is. She's truly found a happy place and a second home at IOS. read more

My son was enrolled at Inside Outside School. After several days, his teacher tried to diagnose my son with a faulty diagnosis. I asked on what criteria she based her comments, and she said he doesn't always pay attention and likes to swing on the playground. HE IS IN KINDERGARTEN! Of course he doesn't pay attention and likes to swing. She also stated he didn't know his alphabet or letter sounds. She clearly didn't know him at all, as he knew his alphabet and was already reading. She also requested we move him from the part-time program to full time. Less than a month later, she and the director told us they COULD NOT teach my son. They told us he could only come to school one day a week to participate in electives. This action conveniently opened up a spot for a full-time student, while still getting money from us. They then quit offering part time enrollment. I emailed the director a list of concerns and questions, which she never addressed. We subsequently enrolled him in public school. He loves his teachers (who CAN teach him) and loves riding the bus. My son is getting everything he needs and more in his neighborhood public school. He is excelling and regularly making the honor roll! We are realizing most of his lack of attention stemmed from not being challenged at IOS because of weak teaching strategies. Overall, I would definitely skip this school. Our bad experience was not the only one at this school. read more

Our son is thriving at IOS! The faculty and staff there really work to weave together their considerable and diverse talents and skills to teach and nurture students as a team, with a focus on taking the time to appreciate every child for the unique individual that he or she is. The guided learning fully embraces a differentiated philosophy of instruction, meeting each student where his or her needs and abilities intersect with his or her interests and passions, whether this is conducted in the classroom, the garden, or along the creekside. The blend of structured learning with time for deep imaginative play that is self-directed, the time spent outdoors, the care for others and self enhanced by caring for animals and each other helps foster a true sense of community that is not bound to a single class or group of students. Most importantly, the kids really want to be there. They get joy from their school day, and are engaged in their learning processes. They are encouraged to find and use their authentic voices. Instilling values like self-reliance, creativity, joy in learning, respect for others, love of the natural world and the animals we share it with, this school is the total package! read more

I LOVE this school. Its a gem in the middle of the forest. From the moment you see the campus you can tell that they have re-imagined what school can be and addressed the concerns I think we all have about public. It's a lovely blend of supporting and inspiring creativity and a deeper applied interest in academic learning. The day starts with structure, math, science, reading and writing in a project based approach, and gradually becomes more open and relaxed, ending with time in the woods or playing in the creek. The classes are small and you can tell that every teacher loves what they do and loves the kids they teach. I also really appreciate that they get the parents involved, its a community for the kids. This school teaches to the whole child, they build confidence, emotional and social intelligence and how have a voice. Older kids play with younger kids. They learn to garden! Did I mention no grades and instead a (very) long written report about your individual child. Basically if you closed your eyes and imagined the ideal elementary for your kiddo- this place is better. read more

So happy to have started my son at this school as he entered Kindergarten. The staff is committed to helping foster a child's love of learning, and can more easily tailor to individual needs because of the small classroom sizes. read more

I am so happy that my family found the Inside Outside School. My son started there as a second grader and is in third grade now, my daughter is in Kindergarten. Inside Outside School really renewed my son's enthusiasm for exploration and learning. Also, his reading has improved and his math skills amaze me. Because of the very small class sizes, the teachers can really work with the children where they are. At first I was curious how the no grades and no tests would work! I now think the push for not labeling or grading has been an asset to my children's learning experience. For example, my son started at public school and there were so many labels and so many comparisons between the children -- complex report cards, charts for homework, and leveled reading books from Kindergarten on! At IOS, he has continued learning and has improved. He gets the direction and assistance he needs -- extra help in reading and inspiration to go further in math. I can't believe he is doing something with binary now in math! I also really appreciate the enthusiasm and love of the teachers for their students. When my daughter calls me by her teacher's name, it makes me smile that she feel so close to her teacher that she mixes up names! Schools can be pretty scary places at times -- to be honest I often felt my son's last school was a hostile place where we were under attack. At IOS, when I get emails or calls from teachers about any discipline issues or needs at school, I feel so much more like the teachers are building a learning environment -- which does require discipline and for children to understand what behavior works at different times -- but the teachers strive to do so in a creative and caring way. I have had numerous friends ask me about Inside Outside School and I always recommend it without hesitation. read more

I can't even express how happy we are with the Inside Outside School. Our two kids were drowning our (highly rated but huge) local elementary school. IOS is just what we needed. While structured (this ISN'T some school where the kids don't learn math is they don't feel like it) the curriculum is self-paced enough to remove much of the stress caused by the ridged pace and the endless test prep of public school. As a result, my non-reader turned into a reader in just a few short weeks and my math-hater voluntarily kept score for a game of dominoes the other night. Lots of outside time, including daily visits to the woods and creek, are a great way for the kids to burn off energy and reduce stress. We love the emphasis on community stewardship and seeing it paying off at home too. The community -- teachers, parents and kids -- is warm and welcoming. We are so glad we found IOS! read more

We could not be happier with the Inside Outside School. To know that our kids spend their days in a happy, healthy environment brings so much peace of mind to our days. Kids are free to be themselves and learn at their own pace. Family participation is encourgaed and it is so fun to spend time with all of the kids at the school! Being part of such a wonderful community has been an amazing experience and we cannot wait to see what the next years bring! read more

This is my daughter's 3 year at the Inside Outside School. We love the school and the community! The small class sizes and multi age classroom has been really great for her academically and socially. She loves all the time spent in nature. read more

My boys, 6 and 8, attended the school's camp and had a fabulous experience. During the two weeks they attended the school, they shared more with me about what they learned than in entire year at regular school. The hands-on approach and time in nature proved to be very meaningful to them, and I have a huge appreciation for the inside/outside method of learning. We can't wait to go back! read more