The Circle School

The Circle School is an independent self-directed democratic school located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, catering to approximately 70 to 90 students from ages 4-1/2 through about 19. The school's educational approach is centered around practicing life and community, with a focus on hands-on learning, and its methodology balances freedom, responsibility, and community, allowing students to learn not just academics, but also how to navigate their social and personal lives. The Circle School's unique characteristics include its independent and self-directed nature, democratic approach, and alternative education model, which prioritizes community, democracy, and hands-on learning, and features a small-scale working democracy, various community-focused spaces, and no traditional classrooms or rows of desks.