OUR APPROACH
It’s time your child had a relevant, modern education that doesn’t just teach them how to pass a test.
At The Studio School of Durham we believe that school should be a place for critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and character building.
With low student to teacher ratios, our students learn “how to learn,” and push themselves forward through self-paced, significant project-based instruction tailored towards their strengths and interests. Education shouldn't be one-size-fits-all.
Students are given the creative opportunities and spaces to master critical thinking, problem solving skills, and a spirit of adventure about their own purpose and educational development.
We see children as competent individuals capable of guiding their own learning. To that end, we combine several educational approaches to encourage deep and lasting learning and academic growth.
“If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.”
Discovery
Our project-focused approach to education is hands-on and collaborative, and allows children to learn through their innate curiosity, not just by reading from a textbook.
In our mixed age environment across grades, students discover how to engage and form meaningful relationships with their fellow students and their teachers. By providing students with double the outdoors time of most schools, we’re able to increase and maximize their levels of engagement and focus while learning throughout the day.
Across these kinds of rich experiences, students create real-world deliverables in our open, indoor classrooms (or studios), that enable cutting edge design thinking and cross discipline innovation.
Mastery
An individualized approach to developing core skills of reading, writing, and math assure our students are always gaining new knowledge. We model and instill values and strong character, and also allow students to have freedom and agency over their learning to foster their own growth mindsets and perspectives.
In our classrooms, a lesson doesn’t end just because the syllabus says it’s time to move on. Our teachers work closely with their students to continually assess their knowledge and proficiency with a subject before advancing to the next concept.
Mastery-based learning relies on revision, reflection, and review to guide students in the right direction -- but only once they’re ready. If a child needs a little more time “to get it,” that’s fine. For those students working above grade level, they have the opportunity to push on to the next step and accelerate their learning. Children are given the space to meet and surpass their goals on their terms.
Adventure
Learning at the Studio School is never boring. A spirit of adventure is infused into every part of our innovative, individualized program. This stems from the freedom our students have to pursue their own interests and explore core subjects in hands-on, personal ways.
We also work to make tangible experiences part of our lessons. By including the real world in our classrooms — either through field trips that excite and motivate, or world-class experts who bring concepts to life — our students are given the chance to be inspired by what they’re learning.
Each child must go through his or her own hero’s journey as they make their way through the learning process. This cycle of challenge, achievement, and progress offers our students the opportunity to become champions for their education as they continue to grow and learn.
“I love seeing my child having so many more experiences that just aren’t possible in a traditional school environment. Between the hands-on project work and a real recess where kids get to burn off the energy needed to focus on learning, we couldn’t be happier with The Studio School.”
Come discover our unique approach to education, where children are empowered through knowledge and every day is a new adventure.