What is a Microschool?

🎯 PURPOSE: Microschools emerged from increasing dissatisfaction with standardized education's one-size-fits-all approach[2][5]. While inspired by historical one-room schoolhouses, the modern microschool movement gained significant momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic as families sought alternatives to crowded classrooms[6]. Since 2020, these educational models have experienced rapid growth, with researchers estimating between 1.1-2.1 million students now participating in some form of microschooling[7].

⚙️ HOW IT WORKS: Unlike conventional schools with rigid structures, microschools embrace flexibility in curriculum design and implementation[2]. Many utilize project-based learning, competency-based progression, and personalized learning plans tailored to individual students' needs and interests[8][9]. Assessment typically involves performance tasks and real-world applications rather than standardized testing[10]. With their small size, teachers function more as facilitators or guides, creating environments where curiosity drives learning and education feels meaningful to students[2][11].

🌐 CONTEXT: If educational models were compared to transportation options, traditional schools would be public transit with fixed routes serving large groups, homeschooling would function like a private family car with parents controlling every aspect, and microschooling would be a guided tour bus where a trusted leader directs multiple families with everyone having input on the destination[2]. Families increasingly choose microschools for their personalized approach, stronger community connections, and middle-ground positioning between expensive private education and parent-intensive homeschooling[12][13][14]. This rapidly expanding movement represents not just a temporary trend but potentially a significant evolution in education[13].