THE LAUREL MICROSCHOOL

Microschooling is a rapidly growing educational movement. Current estimates suggest that roughly 1 to 2 million American students attend microschools or similar small, personalized learning programs nationwide.

While an internet search will yield many different definitions of the term microschool, at Laurel, we define it as a “small-by-design” learning environment where students are educated in mixed-age classrooms, which we call Forms. Form One serves students in grades K–2, Form Two serves grades 3–5, Form Three serves grades 6–8, and Form Four serves high school students.

Our model is loosely inspired by the one-room schoolhouses that once played a prominent role in American education. Although that model is no longer the norm, we believe a small, mixed-age learning environment offers many important benefits. These include helping us keep tuition and operating costs manageable, creating opportunities for collaborative learning across age groups, and fostering a close-knit, family-like school community.

Click on our contact us tab to arrange a visit to our school through our Be a Laurel Kid program.

 

TRADITIONAL FIVE-DAY   Monday – Thursday, students experience a robust academic curriculum that includes Bible study, math, language arts, literature, science, history, geography, folk songs, folk dancing, composer study, picture study, and nature study, among other areas of instruction. Friday is our enrichment day, when students engage in hands-on learning through STEM activities and handicrafts. They also have opportunities to explore other cultures and strengthen their research, writing, and public speaking skills by preparing reports and presentations on a variety of topics. Approximately once a month, students also have the opportunity to participate in educational field trips. All students have lunch and recess each day. Families are responsible for providing their child’s lunch, with the option to purchase a hot lunch two days per week.

HOME AND SCHOOL HYBRID

For students enrolled in the Home and School hybrid, parents choose either the morning or afternoon option for Monday–Thursday. On Fridays, all students come together for a full day of shared learning and community.

Morning sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 1:00 p.m., following lunch and recess. Afternoon sessions begin at 12:00 pm with lunch and recess and end at 3:30 p.m.

 

Classes:

Monday-Thursday

Form One (K-2)                            Morning: Hymn Singing, Scripture Memory, Bible, Reading, Math,                                                        History, Geography, Picture Study, Music Appreciation.

 

                                                      Afternoon: Handwriting, Read Aloud, Science, Nature Study,                                                                Imaginative Playtime, Physical Education, Poetry Tea-time.

 

Form Two (3-5)                             Morning: Hymn Singing, Scripture Memory, Bible, Reading, Math,                                                        Language Arts*, Geography.

 

                                                      Afternoon: Picture Study, Composer Study, History, Science,                                                                Physical Ed, Composition and Creative Writing, Nature Study,                                                              Poetry Tea Time, Folk Song, Poetry Recitation.

 

                                                     *Language Arts – Phonics or Grammar (depending upon grade                                                            level), Handwriting, Spelling, and Literature Read Aloud

 

Form Three (6-8)                          Morning: Hymn Singing, Scripture Memory, Bible, Math,                                                                       Geography, Science, Typing

 

                                                     Afternoon: Picture Study, Composer Study, History, Physical Ed,                                                         Poetry Tea Time, Spelling, Composition and Creative Writing,                                                               Nature Study, Poetry Tea Time, Folk Song, Poetry Recitation,                                                               Literature, Grammar

 

Form Four (9+)                            Morning: Hymn Singing, Scripture Memory, Bible, Math, Science,                                                        Typing, Study Skills. Afternoon: History, Geography, Physical Ed,                                                        Poetry Tea Time, Spelling, Composition and Creative Writing,                                                               Literature, Foreign Language

 

Friday

 

On Fridays, our Home and School Hybrid students join the entire student body for a full day of enrichment activities. Please see the description of Fridays in the Full-Time Program section for more information.

 

Students enrolled in our Home and School Hybrid option must be registered as homeschooled with their local school district. Parents of hybrid students retain responsibility for their child’s education.

TUITION

 

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them.” Laurel Community School believes that cost should not prevent children from receiving a robust Christian education. We will work with you if you have concerns about affording Laurel.

To learn more about how affordable sending your child to Laurel can be, call or email us at info@laurelcs.org or 612-325-4035.

 

Program	Form	Amount
Full-time	1, 2, or 3 (K-8)	$7,950
Full-time	4 (9+)	$8,750
Hybrid	1, 2, or 3 (K-8)	$5,900
Hybrid	4 ((+)	$6,900

 

Sibling Discount

For families with more than one child, the cost for each subsequent child will be $6,360. Please note that this discount only applies to full-time families.