When I say the word “school,” you probably imagine a large building with connected hallways and rooms containing desks in neat rows. While many schools still look this way, this isn’t the case everywhere.
As a high school sophomore, I have had the opportunity to study in both learner-centered and conventional environments. I have connected with lots of students and mentors, and have also done some work with Education Reimagined. I have the unique experience of attending three learner-centered schools that were private, two conventional public schools, and a conventional private school. Through my experience in learner-centered schools, I have learned that while they often differ in structure, they develop skills that traditional schools aren’t designed to teach. I would say that I have a good understanding of what a learner-centered school really looks like, and how some of the schools are similar to each other, and how they differ.
After being at a public charter school for almost the entirety of my elementary school experience, I decided to switch after my fourth-grade year. I wanted to have a say in my education. I was curious and wanted to explore, but I felt limited in a conventional setting.
I transferred to Mysa, which is a micro school in DC. I was drawn there because they promoted independence, leadership, and building connections, which was exactly what I had wanted. It was much smaller than my previous school, with less than 50 kids in K–12. I had classes with older students, which gave me the chance to push myself and build connections with them. I had a lot of freedom within the school, where I had to take on the responsibility of doing my own work, and figuring out my interests. Although it was hard to stay on task and truly show interest in my schoolwork at first, it has taught me, as I got older and even now, to be more independent.
During my sixth-grade year, I realized that I needed more structure, but I still wanted to learn more outside of the classroom. I toured a few schools, but the one that really stood out to me was Acton Academy. Although it was really small, I saw strong connections between students of all grades, creativity, exploration, and, best of all, real-world experiences. I started there for my seventh-grade year. In Acton, there was structure, but I was still in charge of my own work and getting it done. I felt more motivated and really used my peers as a resource instead of a distraction. My favorite part of Acton was our weekly field trips. Every few months, we had a different skill that we would learn through the field trips. In my one year there, I got certified in sailing, I tried woodworking, I went hiking, and I learned outdoor skills. Acton has taught me so many things that I wouldn’t have experienced fully at a conventional school. Even though I was only there for a limited time, I learned so many life skills and explored so many new things.
I wanted to have a say in my education. I was curious and wanted to explore, but I felt limited in a conventional setting.
Olivia Navin
Unfortunately, Acton Academy closed in DC, so then I had to search for a new school. I was hoping for something similar, but a little bit bigger. Thankfully, The Village School reached out. Two other students from Acton and I transferred there for the 2023–2024 school year. They were similar to Acton, but they focused less on field trips and more on spending time outside. The Village School was very student-led, with the mentors there to offer support. There was also about an hour or more a day spent outside, meant for building connections with other students, and allowing students to be creative. I didn’t do as well at The Village School in comparison to some of my other schools, but it was still a valuable learning experience. I learned how to step up as a leader while also letting others take charge sometimes. I learned how to work with my peers even when we weren’t in agreement, and I learned how to step away from situations that weren’t benefiting me or helping me reach my full potential.
Without the experience from all of these schools, I would not know all of the things I know today. I learned from experiences like sailing and hiking, and developed life skills like leadership and self-advocacy, and overall, I wouldn’t change anything. Learner-centered education has proven to me that a strong education system isn’t always about the structure, but the lessons that are taught that can be transferred outside the classroom. Learner-centered schools are never going to look exactly the same, but they all have something valuable to offer that most schools won’t teach.
Through these experiences, I have gained so much knowledge and many skills. If I could implement all of my favorite aspects of these schools into one, I would create a school with about 75–100 students per grade, ranging from middle school to high school. I would encourage independence while still providing a support system through other learners and teachers. I would add more field trips to the curriculum to provide students with outside experiences. And I would create an environment where students’ passions are supported so that they can use them to their full potential.
