FAQ

 

What age range do you accept at The Forest School Online?

We are currently accepting learners entering grades 5-12 for our Transatlantic Middle and High School Studios. We also offer a combined Middle & High School for grades 5-12 in Asia-Oceania.

In what ways are you diverse?

We believe learning is better in a diverse environment. As a community we want to bring together families from across lines of difference to learn to be, do, learn, and live together. We strive to maximize diversity across seven dimensions:

  • race

  • economics

  • gender

  • geography

  • age

  • religion

  • school & community background

Currently, our families reside in 8 states across all 4 time zones in the contiguous United States as well as Uganda and Kenya. The racial demographics of our student population are 47% Black, 27% White, 18% Latinx, and 9% Asian American. 38% of our families receive income-based scholarships. Our learners are 41% female, 53% male, and 6% non-binary.

What is the school’s academic calendar?

The Forest School Online’s academic calendar consists of 7 sessions, typically with four to six weeks. Each session is followed by at least one week off. The complete academic calendar can be found here.

 

What kind of learner thrives at The Forest School Online?

Kids who love to learn, are curious, self-motivated, and respectful. Our environment is an accelerator for the independent learner who can tackle challenging questions, follow instructions, and solve problems.

Do you serve learners with special needs?

While we welcome all learners who are interested in the online self directed learning model for their education to apply, we are not trained or staffed to serve children with serious learning disabilities, special needs, or who need specialized attention. We have multiple learners with exceptionalities, including autism and dyslexia, who are successful in our Studios. If you are interested in The Forest School Online and believe it is a great fit for your family, please inquire and we will personally assess your unique situation and the fit of your learner.

Why Guides instead of teachers?

We believe self-directed learners with strong character will be the leaders of the next generation. In order for this to happen, learners - not teachers - must be the designers of their own learning. Find out more about how the role of a teacher is reimagined here.

Is The Forest School Online accredited?

The Forest School Online is accredited by the ACS WASC and the Georgia Accrediting Commission.

How much does The Forest School Online cost?

The Forest School Online provides financial assistance by providing income-based scholarships so that finances are not a barrier for any family to attend. Learn more on our website’s tuition page.

How do you measure a child’s progress at The Forest School Online?

We measure learner progress in several different ways:

  1. Learners create their own daily-, weekly-, and Session goals that they share with their Guides and parents.

  2. We utilize robust real-time data for each of our online learning tools. At any given time both parents and Guides can find out exactly what their student is learning and what their progress is. This allows Guides to determine whether learners are on pace to meet their self-identified goals, target areas of struggle, and close any learning gaps.

  3. Multiple e-learning courses our school utilizes will not allow the learner to move on to a new skill until the current one has been mastered.

  4. We utilize individual portfolios where each learner showcases and adds their best work at the end of every Session. We can measure their growth in things such as Civilization, Storytelling, and Quests using projects learners have completed.

  5. Though we never “teach to the test,” standardized tests are given each year to provide useful benchmark data.

Is The Forest School Online like Montessori?

There are many shared practices between The Forest School Online and the Montessori methods: mixed-age classrooms, student choice within limits, large blocks of work time, learning through “discovery,” and freedom over their own schedule. Three ways the self directed learning model differs from what you may see in a Montessori school are the use of 21st century e-Learning tools, immersing learners in hands-on or real-world projects every Session, and adhering to the Socratic method of instruction, which emphasizes asking questions to cultivate learner’s own critical thinking. Our learners don’t just memorize facts; they learn how to be, learn how to do, learn how to learn, and learn how to live together.

Is The Forest School Online a religious school?

While we guide children to explore mindfulness, ethical principles, and the significance of religion in history and the development of society, we are not a religious school. We value and respect each individual’s beliefs.

 

Are you a part of a chain or franchise?

We are not a franchise or chain. The Forest School Online is an independent school. We have a sibling brick-and-mortar school, The Forest School, and we are a learning lab for the Institute of Self Directed Learning. Our network of affiliates are passionate about revolutionizing education, pursuing best practices, and have agreed to protect a learner-driven environment. Each affiliate follows their own methods in keeping with these commitments and vary based on the leadership at each school and community they serve.