Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS) is a small middle school/high school located in Ithica, New York. LACS enrolls approximately 300 students who are chosen by a random lottery of students seeking admission. It is a public school in the Ithica City School District, so only students residing within that district are eligible for admission. There is no tuition fee to attend. LACS staff design curricula according to areas of student interest. The philosophy of LACS is that students should be involved in the direction of their studies and have opportunities to cultivate their talents and intellectual curiosities. Teachers do not use a traditional evaluation system of letter grades or report cards, but rather complete written evaluations to assess students' development.
The Clonlara School is a private school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school enrolls students between the ages of 5 and 18. At Clonlara, class sizes are restricted to 20 students. Teachers encourage learners to develop their own curiosity, strengths and talents rather than adhering to a strict curriculum. The school takes frequent field trips, as experience outside the classroom is highly valued. Clonlara was one of the founding members of the National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools. The school also provides guidance to homeschooling parents, and it has played an important role in the legal battles over homeschooling parents' rights in the state of Michigan. To read more about Clonlara and its programs, visit clonlara.org.
The Jacob School is a small private high school located in Winter Springs, Florida. It was founded in 1971 as a sister school to the Stonesoup School, the state's first alternative community school. The school's curriculum is very relaxed, designed to be customized to student needs. The school only enrolls 25 students, who must between the ages 14 and 17. Tuition is approximately $13,800, which also covers the cost of many field trips taken throughout the year. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. The Jacob School selects students who have demonstrated themselves to be creative, intelligent and independent-minded. The school employs innovative methods of instruction that emphasize experiential education, hands-on learning. For more information, visit thejacobschool.org.
Cobblestone School is private school located in Rochester, New York. It was founded in 1983 for elementary students, and it has since expanded to include middle-schoolers. There are no standardized evaluations at Cobblestone. Instead of completing traditional report cards, teachers assess student growth and progress. The curricula privileges interdisciplinary themes. The teacher-student ratio is approximately 8:1, which allows teachers to give students much individual attention. Teachers are encouraged to employ different learning styles and methods to meet students' needs. Parents are also encouraged to play a very active role in their child's learning, by suggesting avenues of study. Tuition is approximately $11,000, but financial assistance is available to qualifying families. For more information, visit cobblestone.org.