Open Classroom

"The essence of the Open Classroom is to create a community of learners. Community is at the heart of the school, for the children, the teachers, AND the parents & families. We have loved the genuine care for every child and their unique needs. It has been such a gift for me, as a parent, to not only have seen my own child grow up from Kindergarten to (now) 5th grade, but to have witnessed the growth of so many of his Kindergarten buddies also. All these kids have a circle of caring adults around them. The school fosters relationships, self-expression, and learning. And I've made a ton of new friends as well!"

"My daughter is over half way done with Kindergarten here at Open Classroom. Our family’s experience at this school has been wonderful. Some of my favorite things about this school are: 1. Teachers are freed up to spend more time teaching due to parent participation. 2. Teachers are able to help children at different learning levels better due to parent involvement. 3. You always know what is happening in your child’s life because the teacher sends you weekly emails and you are always allowed in the classroom. 4. Parents get to be as involved as they want. 5. I just moved to this area and I found instant friends and community at this school. 6. The level of safety at this school is heart warming because there are adult eyes everywhere. 7. Your child grows up in a school where parent participation is normal (7th and 8th graders think it is normal to have you around). 8. It is amazing to be at a school where we get to do many field trips."

"My kids have loved their experience at the OC. This is our second year at the school and I am amazed at my kids growth. They love going to school every single day and are surrounded by parents and teachers that all want to help them succeed. At the OC, every parent or guardian of the students is required to help out in the classroom each week. Being able to work with my kids in their classroom has been incredibly beneficial not only for them, but also for me. Not only do I get to be involved in my kids education, I also get to know each and every one of their friends and their families. Having a parent stop me in the hall just to tell me something awesome my kid did at school that day, is the best thing for a parent to hear. I love supporting the kids at school with their education, and I love that other parents are supporting my kids too. We are more than just a school, we are a community where every family has chosen to be at the OC, and every parent is dedicated to helping their kids, and everyone else succeed."

"I've actually known about the Open Classroom school for about 30 years now, as some of my cousins attended as children. Last August, my daughter started kindergarten there. We had looked into different schools, after relocating back to the Salt Lake City area. I've been very pleased with her teacher, with the community of other parents, and she has made friends with many, if not all of, her classmates. Since it is a cooperative school, parents are required to volunteer 3 hours each week in the classroom."

"This school has changed our whole family. It's a very different place from a typical public school, and it may or may not fit your family. It fits ours beautifully. The emphasis on the whole child, the requirement/privilege of weekly parental involvement in the classroom, and the community we've found is something I never expected. The parents are intimately involved in running the school, and if something doesn't work, you can pitch in and fix it. My son loves going to school, is ahead of his grade level expectations and says he wishes he could go to the OC through college."