Is Progressive Education Right for My Child?

At Sacramento Community School, we believe that every child deserves to learn in a way that feels joyful, meaningful, and connected. Here are a few signs that a Progressive approach might align with your child’s needs and your family’s values.

Your child is curious, and asks a lot of questions

In progressive classrooms, questions are welcomed, not seen as distractions. Learning often begins with students’ wonderings, and teachers design projects and investigations around authentic inquiry. If your child is naturally inquisitive or loves diving deep into topics of interest, they may thrive in an environment that values their voice and encourages exploration.

Your child learns best by doing, not just listening

Progressive education emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning. Rather than relying on worksheets and lectures, students engage with real-world problems, collaborate with peers, and build knowledge through meaningful projects. If your child lights up when creating, building, experimenting, or moving, this approach can bring their learning to life.

Your child expresses themselves through art, movement, and imagination

In Progressive schools, creativity isn’t treated as an “extra.” It is woven into the fabric of everyday learning. Whether your child thinks with their hands, their body, or their imagination, they’ll find space to explore and express their ideas through art, music, storytelling, building, or movement. From making illustrations in a science journal to acting out history or composing music for a group project, children are invited to use the full range of their expressive capacities. 

You care more about thinking than memorizing

Progressive schools prioritize critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving over rote memorization or test prep. Children are encouraged to make connections across subjects, reflect on their learning, and approach challenges with curiosity and persistence. If you want your child to develop lifelong skills, not just short-term knowledge, this philosophy supports that growth.

Your child is more than just a test score

We believe in nurturing the whole child, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and creatively. Progressive schools value emotional regulation, empathy, communication, and community. If you want your child to be in an environment that fosters belonging, self-awareness, and social responsibility, this approach is designed for that.

Your child learns differently, or doesn’t fit the mold

Progressive education often appeals to divergent thinkers, twice-exceptional learners, and kids who feel constrained by traditional structures. Multi-age classrooms, flexible schedules, and differentiated support allow students to move at their own pace, build confidence, and engage with learning in ways that work for them.

Your child is 2E (twice-exceptional)

Twice-exceptional children, those who are both gifted and have learning differences, often struggle to fit neatly into traditional school environments. They may be bored by rote academics but overwhelmed by rigid expectations or limited supports. In a Progressive classroom, these children are seen in their full complexity: as bright, creative, capable learners who also need flexibility and scaffolding.

You value thoughtful use of technology

In our classrooms, technology is not a distraction, it is not a teacher, it’s a tool for collaboration, creation, and connection. Whether documenting a project, coding a simulation, or connecting with a partner school across the globe, students learn to use technology with intention, not passively.

You’re looking for something more

If you’ve felt like traditional education doesn’t fully serve your child, or that school should be more joyful, more relevant, and more human, Progressive education might be what you’ve been searching for. We’d love to help you explore what this type of learning environment might look like for your child!