A microschool is a very small school, usually one or a few mixed-age groups, led by one or two adults instead of a full staff. Some are full-time private schools, some run part of the week, and some are groups of homeschooling families sharing a space and a guide. What they have in common is size: everyone knows everyone, and the school can change course quickly.
I run a microschool myself, so I see both sides of this every week. Small can be wonderful. Small can also be fragile. Here is what parents should know before signing up.
How does a microschool actually work?
Most microschools look more like a big family room than a classroom. Kids of different ages work in the same space, often with a mix of group lessons, independent work and projects. The adult in charge might be called a teacher, a guide or a learning coach, and that name usually tells you something about how much they teach directly.
Under the hood, microschools tend to fall into a few legal setups:
- Registered private schools. The school enrolls your child, keeps records and follows your state's private school rules.
- Homeschool groups or learning pods. Each family is legally homeschooling, and the microschool provides space, supervision and sometimes curriculum. In this setup, you are usually responsible for meeting your state's homeschool requirements.
- Programs inside a network. Some microschools belong to a network that supplies a model, training and software. We compare the best-known ones in our guide to learner-driven school networks.
Ask which one a school is on your first call. It affects paperwork, testing, transcripts and whether school-choice funding can be used.
What philosophy does a microschool follow?
"Microschool" describes size, not philosophy. You can find microschools built on almost any approach. Some are small Montessori rooms with real Montessori materials. Some are Classical schools with Latin and great books. Many lean toward project-based learning or self-directed models closer to unschooling, partly because a small group makes those approaches easier to run.
So the useful question is not "should we do a microschool?" It is "what does this particular microschool believe about how kids learn, and does that match what we believe?"
How much does a microschool cost?
It varies more than almost any other kind of school. Prices depend on your region, how many days a week the program runs, whether the founder rents a building or uses a home, and how many adults are in the room. Some microschools cost noticeably less than the private schools near them. Others cost as much or more, especially those with low student-to-adult ratios or expensive software.
A few things to ask about beyond the tuition number:
- Registration, materials, technology or field trip fees
- Whether lunch, before-care or after-care is included
- Sibling discounts and payment plans
- Whether the school accepts your state's education savings account, voucher or scholarship funds, if your state has one
Our post on how families pay for private school or a microschool walks through those funding options in more detail.
What are the pros of a microschool?
- Your child is known. With a small group, it is hard for a kid to disappear in the back row.
- Flexible pacing. Mixed ages and small numbers make it easier for a child to work ahead in one subject and slow down in another.
- Close relationships with families. You will likely know the founder by first name and see them often.
- Room for a clear point of view. A small school can commit fully to one approach instead of compromising to please hundreds of families.
- Older kids help younger ones. Mixed-age groups give kids a chance to lead and to learn from someone just a step ahead.
What are the cons of a microschool?
- Fewer friends to choose from. A child who doesn't click with the group has fewer other options. Ask how many kids are near your child's age.
- Fewer extras. Sports teams, a band, a science lab and specialists for learning differences are less common.
- A lot rides on one or two adults. If a great guide leaves, the school can change overnight.
- Newer schools can close. Many microschools are young and run on thin margins. Ask how long they have operated and what happens if enrollment dips.
- Less outside oversight. Accreditation, licensing and teacher credentials vary. That isn't always a problem, but it means you have to do more of the checking yourself.
Who is a microschool a good fit for?
Microschools tend to work well for kids who got lost or bored in a big class, for families who want a strong philosophy without a large institution around it, and for parents who want to be involved. They tend to work less well for kids who need a wide social circle, specialized services, or a big menu of sports and activities.
Visit more than once if you can. Ask for a shadow day. Watch how the kids treat each other when no one is directing them. In a room this small, the culture is the school.
Frequently asked questions
Is a microschool the same as homeschooling?
Sometimes legally, but not always. Some microschools are registered private schools. Others serve families who are legally homeschooling and simply share a space and a guide. Ask which setup a school uses, because it changes who is responsible for records and state requirements.
Are microschools accredited?
Some are and many are not. Accreditation matters more for some families than others, often around high school transcripts. Ask the school directly, and ask how former students moved on to other schools.
How small is a microschool?
There is no official cutoff. Most are small enough that one or two adults know every child well, often a single room or a handful of mixed-age groups.
Take the free school fit quiz to see which philosophy fits your family and find schools near you that match your budget and your child's age.