Public schools matter profoundly to us, to our community, and to our democracy. Many of us building Sacramento Community School are former public school educators, current public school parents, or both. We know firsthand how deeply teachers care about their students and how hard they are working inside systems that are underfunded, overcrowded, and asked to solve increasingly complex social challenges with too few resources and too little flexibility.

None of this is a failure of individual teachers, administrators, or families. It is a structural reality. Large systems move slowly. They are bound by mandates, staffing ratios, funding formulas, and political pressures that make it extremely difficult to adapt quickly to the diverse and urgent needs of today’s children.

At the same time, our children are in crisis, academically, emotionally, and socially. Anxiety, disengagement, school refusal, and loss of joy in learning are increasingly common. For some students, especially those who need smaller, calmer, more flexible environments, waiting for large-scale systems change is simply not an option. They need places now where learning feels safe again, where relationships come first, and where curiosity and confidence can be rebuilt.

Sacramento Community School exists not in opposition to public education, but alongside it. We see our work as complementary and additive: a human-scale learning environment where innovative, relationship-centered, project-based approaches can be practiced deeply and modeled clearly. Our hope is that what we build here: joyful learning, strong community partnerships, integrated social-emotional development, and trust in children, can help inspire what is possible across all kinds of schools.

We are building this school because we love public education enough to be honest about its limits and because some children cannot wait. They deserve places where they are deeply known, supported, and allowed to thrive now. This is one way we answer that call, with care, humility, and deep respect for the educators and families working within public systems every day.

Progressive Education includes many of the best practices found in Montessori and Waldorf Education: child-centered learning, experiential and hands-on classwork, connection to nature, respect for the whole child, and attunement to their social-emotional development. There are shared values across all three educational approaches. However, by not ascribing to one curriculum and methodology, we are able to remain nimble, and responsive to the needs, interests and personalities of the children in our schools. 

Progressive schools stand apart from other child-centered philosophies by designing each day around curiosity, connection, and purposeful learning. Students engage in hands-on projects and inquiry-driven exploration that make learning relevant and meaningful. Technology is used thoughtfully. Classrooms are inclusive and responsive, honoring diverse learners through flexible structures, differentiated support, and multi-age groupings. The curriculum is flexible and interdisciplinary, allowing students to pursue individual interests. It’s a dynamic, student-centered environment where academic rigor lives alongside creativity, joy, and belonging.

This is not a one-size-fits-all model.

As we shape our founding cohort, we’d love to learn more about what families are hoping to find. While we’re starting small, our long-term vision includes serving a wide range of ages, from pre-kinder through high school. If you’re interested, we encourage you to reach out and share more about your child. Your input helps us build a program that truly reflects the needs of our community.

If you have any concerns about whether this school will be a good fit for your child, we encourage you to reach out and talk with us. These conversations help us understand your child’s needs and explore whether this will be a place where they can feel supported and thrive.

Because we take the well-being of all children seriously, we take time to get to know each applicant through a holistic admissions process. We consider the whole child, their family, and their unique strengths and needs. Our goal is always to ensure that our program is a good fit for the child and for the broader community.

Once we receive your application, we’ll reach out to set up a time to talk. This conversation helps us get to know you and your child a bit better, and gives you a chance to ask questions and learn more about how things work at Sacramento Community School. We want to understand what you're looking for in a school and share more about what we’re building here. Some students with certain learning profiles may benefit more from other schools or programs that are specifically equipped to support their unique needs. We’ll always be honest and thoughtful in those conversations because we want every child to be in a place where they can truly thrive.

We are still finalizing our tuition structure and are committed to keeping it as accessible as possible, while also maintaining our ability to fairly compensate our educators and staff. We also will have the responsibility to consider the long-term success of the school and lay a solid foundation. Once our location and core costs are confirmed, we’ll be able to share specific tuition rates.

We do plan to offer financial aid and sliding scale options, and we’re exploring creative ways to support families from a range of economic backgrounds. If you’re excited about the school but concerned about affordability, please don’t hesitate to reach out; we want to be in conversation with you.

Private schools in California are required to adhere to the state's immunizations laws, meaning they must ensure students are vaccinated. And since 2016, all California schools, public or private, have been legally mandated to eliminate personal belief exemptions. Medical exemptions are allowed, but they require medical documentation from a licensed physician.

This is an option that we will continue to explore. If you are interested in researching this as a possibility, please let us know.

We’re actively searching for a location in Sacramento. Our ideal space includes a large piece of land with plenty of trees, open areas for movement and play, and a warm, welcoming environment that feels closely connected to nature. We’re looking for a place that can support mixed-age learning, outdoor exploration, and creative, hands-on experiences.

If you know of any properties, land, or community spaces that might be a good fit, we’d love to hear from you! Community leads and ideas are incredibly helpful as we search for the right home for our school.

Many of our teachers will hold traditional teaching credentials and advanced degrees, but that’s not our primary requirement. We will carefully select educators who bring a wealth of experience, deep emotional intelligence, and a genuine gift for connecting with children. Many have backgrounds in progressive education, the arts, outdoor learning, or other hands-on, child-centered approaches. Every teacher at our school is chosen because of their strong instincts, creative thinking, flexible nature, and ability to support both the academic and emotional growth of their students. All of our teachers are exceptionally skilled and bring heart, insight, and professionalism to their work each day. We’re also committed to supporting our educators through ongoing professional development and learning opportunities that deepen their practice and keep our community growing together.

We understand that choosing an independent school education is an investment of both time and resources. We are aiming to make SCS as inclusive and affordable to families as possible. Yes, we will offer a financial assistance program to ensure that the school enrolls a socio-economically diverse community of families.

We plan to offer a limited number of work-trade opportunities for families who are able to contribute time or skills in meaningful ways. These arrangements will be designed to be fair, respectful, and mutually supportive, and we will approach them thoughtfully to ensure they align with the values of our school community. Work-trade will be one of several ways we aim to make our school more accessible while honoring the diverse ways families can contribute.

Once our 501(c)(3) status is approved, we’ll begin interviewing for founding board members. In the meantime, we’re forming a founding working team to help lay the groundwork. We’re looking for people who are fully aligned with the vision we’ve established and are excited to contribute their time and energy. Members of the working team should be able to commit to meeting regularly for 2–3 hours each week as we continue building this school together.