Students at The Sycamore School in Arlington Virginia

An independent secondary school helping students find their place... in the classroom, in the community, in the world.

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An independent secondary school helping students find their place... in the classroom, in the community, in the world.

Watch Video

The Sycamore School in Arlington, Virginia cultivates intellectual curiosity, independent thought, and a love of learning. We can help transform how your child experiences education.

Academic Development

Social & Emotional Growth

Civic Engagement

WHY THE SYCAMORE SCHOOL?

  • The middle & high school years are a pivotal, predictive, and possibly life-altering stage of development.
  • Conventional education is focused on standardized tests, rigid standards and forced acceleration that diminishes curiosity and the desire to learn.
  • Conventional education often creates excessive stress and can undermine individual development of character, connection to the community and compassion.
  • Traditional practices force students into one way of learning and thinking, producing a system of winners and losers. Our world needs strong leaders, thinkers, and feelers, not just survivors.
DONATE TO THE SYCAMORE SCHOOL

WE BELIEVE

  • Young people are curious, resilient, and capable of creating innovative solutions to real-world problems.
  • Learning should be meaningful, challenging and engaging.
  • Students reach their individual potential when they are allowed to master a skill at their own pace vs. a fixed time frame.
  • Intelligence and ability are not fixed but can be developed.
  • Learning is messy, not linear. It’s a process of trying, making changes and moving forward.
  • Learning requires a partnership between students, staff, and parents.
  • Students should be assessed at various points over the year, not at a specific point in time using a standardized test.
  • Assessments are ongoing and take many shapes and forms, from an argumentative essay to a multimedia presentation and mathematical modeling.

We can provide the tools and opportunities to reignite your child’s desire to learn.

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School should be a place where students thrive and don’t just survive. The Sycamore School cultivates intellectual curiosity, independent thought, and a love of learning. We can help transform how your child experiences education. Learn more about an innovative approach to learning.