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.

Take a Virtual Tour

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.

LEARN MORE

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.