Vermont Commons School

"Our 7th grader is in her second year at this amazing school and we have been continually impressed with the education she is receiving. VCS does an incredible job of fostering a strong sense of community and activism in addition to stellar academics across disciplines, from science to the visual arts. The school transitioned seamlessly to online learning this spring, maintaining a sense of engagement between students and faculty."

"Vermont Commons School has been an excellent fit for my seventh-grade daughter. The school's ability to embrace the nuances of educating and socializing adolescents is apparent throughout its curriculum and learning environment. VCS consistently meets the challenge of nurturing independence and critical thinking while simultaneously providing comfortable boundaries within which students can safely and joyfully bounce around. Challenging students without exploiting a sense of competition is a difficult challenge for an independent school, and VCS successfully balances academic rigor within a supportive school community. VCS's staff is creative, dedicated, and compassionate, and its programming is exemplary. The school's myriad gifts immediately outweighed any reservations our family had about its small size. VCS has helped my daughter discover herself as a scholar and guided her toward becoming a productive, reflective, and compassionate community member. In addition to providing all of this in a pre-pandemic world, VCS is currently meeting the challenge of translating its mission virtually. We've had the good fortune of sharing space with our daughter during her classes as she engages in distance learning, and we marvel daily at VCS's ability to pivot under these extraordinary circumstances. The teachers and staff continue to nurture creativity, community, and scholarship without the benefit of brick, mortar, or proximity. Recent events have only underscored the strength and portability of VCS's success in putting capable, creative, and aware students into the world."

"Vermont Commons teaches the student in front of them. It is a perfect place for the student who needs extra challenge, a different approach, or deeper learning. No matter how they go in, VCS students come out engaged learners. In short, VCS helps students find their educational energy and drive. They see everyone's potential and guide students to see the potential in themselves. They are responsive to student needs and parent concerns, and every teacher is happy to be there every day."

"The guiding principles for the learning environment are profoundly interesting."

"It has been a great place to work for the last 13 years. Great sense of community, amazing co-workers and freedom to start new and innovative projects."