The Clearwater School is a true testament to the values of diversity, inclusion, and community. Within a year of being there, my 8-year-old son (then six), who had never before felt comfortable in social groups outside his family, began calling this place his second home. He was given the time and space to build relationships with staff and other students at his own pace, always supported but never rushed. Children at Clearwater learn what they are interested in, developing one of the most valuable lifelong skills--how to learn. Through observation and thoughtful discussions with students, staff, and family, my son has deepened his understanding of people, the world around him, and, most importantly, himself. In his two years at Clearwater, he has learned to navigate conflicts through the Justice Committee, advocate for his needs through the democratic process, and appreciate the significance of friendship, culture, and responsibility within a community. And along the way, he has also learned to read, perform arithmetic, estimate probability and statistics, and explore physics through hands-on construction. He loves drawing, music, and the logic of computer programming--all interests that have flourished in an environment where curiosity is nurtured. I am incredibly grateful for the existence of this school and the role it plays in my son's life--and in our family's life. read more

Our kids have been at Clearwater for the past six years. We love that they are empowered to be their authentic selves, have time to pursue their interests, learn to advocate for themselves and what is right AND get to be on a beautiful, large campus that they are working together to restore. The mixed ages were a concern for us at first, but our experience has been that it creates a beautiful caring community that accommodates different ages and abilities. We love the staff (most have been there for over 5 years) and our kids are thriving! read more

I really wanted to love this school. I love the concept and general ideas of independence behind how the school is wanting to function, but without realistic rules, it just becomes an environment where bullies thrive and neurodivergent children are left behind. I would also warn that if you are interested and wanting to do the trial period, 1 week might not be sufficient. Once you sign there tuition agreement if you withdraw, you'll lose out on a lot of money. This is called out in the agreement, but I figured I would point it out since they are very strict on this point. The way the current school is structured it works kind of like a daycare only the staff is very hands off. If you want any sort of oversight, this is not the school for your child. The oversight system requires the student to bring the issues formally to the staff. This is important to note since it is something that neurodivergent (especially autistic kids) can struggle with. This led to my child having multiple incidents within a short period of time including: * An older child hitting my kid multiple times with a hard pillow (not for fun, but out of anger) * An older child also bullied another kid for being autistic * Older kids consistently talk inappropriately including sexual conversations, swearing, and various slurs. * A student also exposed themselves to my kid and when my child asked them to stop and tried to leave the area they chased them * When this was brought to the staffs attention by my child they had a sit down with my kid and the kid that exposed themselves. The kid who exposed themselves ended up walking away from the meeting. * We (the parents) were NOT contacted about the above issue and had to learn about it through our child. I was initially very excited about this school even though family members had reservations about my child going to a school that is structured in the way Clearwater is (no teachers, no classrooms, independence in learning). I still believe this structure can be very beneficial to kids, but the staff at this school do not seem to have good ideas on how to handle conflicts and the current ideas in place support bullying rather than victims. There is also a severe lack of transparency to the parents when issues arise, which I found especially troubling. I ended up being out a lot of money (a fifth of the whole years tuition cost), but even though it was an expensive lesson, I know I made the right choice. read more

As a student who is graduating this year (June 2024) I love this school, its a wonderful place especially for kids who have a hard time in public school like I did, it's not for everyone but it's really a great place read more

What are the goals of education? The ability to listen to and share contradictory ideas and debate multiple sides of issues. The ability to interact with people of all ages and backgrounds with interest, respect, intelligence, and compassion. The ability to enter a new environment and assess its culture, norms and expectations. The ability to figure out how to study what matters to yourself. These are the hallmarks of a Clearwater education as I have seen them play out in three different kids in my family (as well as the dozens of kids I've watched grow up alongside them). My son and nephew both graduated Clearwater after spending their entire K-12 education steeped in responsibility for their own lives and their community, interpersonal communications across age groups, freedom to choose their own paths, democracy, creativity, and conversation. My daughter will be there for a couple more years (depending on what graduation year she herself chooses) and she couldn't be happier or more fulfilled. When I tell adults about Clearwater, most of them ponder what their lives would have been like had they grown up learning skills like these students instead of the relentless focus on the 3 R's -- all of which the kids I know pick up at will when they are ready. read more

My two kids, ages 13 and 6, could hardly be more different from each other, and they are both thriving at The Clearwater School. I'm so glad my kids love this unusual school I found for them, because I would let them try something else if they wanted, and they know that. Of the more than two dozen different schools I have participated in as a student, teacher, or parent, Clearwater is my very favorite by far. Some of the main things I like about it are: 1) Equality between kids and adults - Clearwater students each get a vote in all school rules and everything about how the school is run. And they are respected as full human beings with the same rights that adults in the U.S. take for granted, including free speech, the pursuit of happiness, going to the bathroom without having to ask permission, choosing how to spend time, going outside, moving around, eating when hungry, etc. With all this practice making their own decisions, big and small, they get really good at it. 2) Best environment for learning that I know of - At Clearwater, students do whatever they want to do all day, to the extent they can without infringing on the rights of others to do what they want to do. And over time they become more and more knowledgable and capable. How? Well, the great success of the human species depends on our incredible desire and capacity to learn, create, bond with other humans, and move our bodies in uniquely human ways. Usually more than one of these at once. Just as true for modern, urban Amercans as it was for prehistoric hunter-gatherers. And because our survival depends on it, we find learning, creating, connecting, and moving to be intensely fun and rewarding. Most kids find Clearwater to be a really fun place, and all that fun is the result of human brains operating as they are meant to. 3) Individuality - Many things that might be viewed as "problems" at other schools are viewed as individual differences at Clearwater. There is a recognition that what makes someone different from others is often a part of their greatest strength, even if it takes a long time to understand how. This respect for differences creates an incredibly rich environment of individuals being exactly who they really are. At the same time, Clearwater students must figure out how to be community members, because they share the school with 50 or 60 other people. This skill of being completely themselves while also fitting in with others carries over very well into whatever group situations they find themselves in. 4) Evidence based - Sometimes I have been mistaken for someone who would like anything "alternative" or "holistic", but in fact I am always seeking out the "best" solution I can find to anything, based on the evidence plus my skepticism about evidence. Sudbury Valley School, the original one of this type of school, has been around for over 40 years, and there is a ton of evidence that this form of education works very well. Graduates have no trouble getting into college and doing well there, if that is something they want to do. And they are generally happy, successful adults who feel well prepared to meet whatever goals they have. On the other hand, it seems I am hearing every day about the many ways more usual types of schools are not working for people. And so much of the research I see about what really does work for children supports all the things that happen at Clearwater (for example, I often hear that "play is essential for learning" , "time outside in nature is good for kids", and "pushing kids to learn to read before they are ready is unhelpful at best"). Many people talk about education reform as something that is very needed, and something that hopefully might be possible someday. I'm so glad that my kids have this radically reformed style of education available to them right now, every day. read more

See all

No parental oversight at all. Meaning they are simply missing and aren't aware of anything that goes on in the school. Bullying can prevail and no one bats an eye. That's unacceptable to me. The adults seem disinterested in the children entirely. This place misses the beauty of the Sudbury method completely. read more

Awesome alternative education. Wonderful staff, amazing students. My son loves it, it really was a great choice for us. If you are at interested in what options are out there in terms of schooling I highly recommend you come talk to Clearwater. read more

The Clearwater School is a school modeled after the Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts. If you have heard of unschooling, Clearwater is, in a way, an unschooling school. Their motto is "Freedom, Trust, Responsibility." To truly understand, I recommend checking out their website. My kids have been students at Clearwater for many years. It is an amazing place, a place where they can be free to follow their passions, whatever they may be at the time. It's a place where they get to truly know themselves. It is not a school for the faint of heart, however. As a parent, you will be challenged. Trusting your children in the Clearwater way can be difficult, because it means trusting them in all situations, despite the objections of many around you. Sudden misgivings about the ways they are choosing to spend their time can wake you up at night. But then they will amaze you with some way that they have changed or blossomed in a way that would not have happened in a "normal" school. In my opinion, Clearwater is about the whole person. Graduates end up knowing themselves deeply and knowing how to follow their own path, a knowledge that is immeasurably valuable. read more

clearwater has been cooper's school home since he was 4 & a half {he'll be 10 in just a couple of weeks!}. i'm grateful beyond measure that this little gem is family & heart & community to us. read more