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The Sycamore School
The Sycamore School, nominated by Mastery Transcript Consortium, is an elementary/middle/high school in Arlington, Virginia, that describes itself as an independent (private) school serving learners from a primarily suburban area.
Location Arlington, Virginia
Governance Independent (Private) School
Grades Elementary, Middle, High
Students 50
Locale Suburban
Head of School Karyn Ewart
Demographics
Percentage of students*
—
English Learners
—
Free/Reduced Lunch
85%
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black 7%
American Indian/Alaska Native —
Asian 5%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —
Hispanic or Latino 10%
White 73%
2+ Races —
Why The Sycamore School was nominated
This school has a fully implemented mastery-based learning system and uses the Mastery Transcript as the official summative record for some or all graduates., This school has implemented a competency-based learning model and is or will soon be publishing Mastery Transcripts or MTC Learning Records as summative records for some or all graduates., The school has implemented mastery-based learning system and uses the Mastery Transcript as the official summative record for some or all graduates or supplements the legacy transcript with the MTC Learning Record reporting on "durable skills) (aka "portrait of a gradudate" competencies).
Student experience design
The Sycamore School integrates academic development, social and emotional learning, and civic engagement. We follow a mastery-based learning model that provides engaging and individualized instruction that is self-paced, offering both remediation and accelerated learning, depending on the student and subject area. We teach social-emotional and executive functioning skills alongside academic skills and regularly take our students into the community. We create a meaningful learning process, whereby teachers personalize instruction according to students’ interests, needs, and aptitudes. Teaching focuses on cultivating transferable skills in students that apply to various jobs or tasks across settings, such as effective communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. We want to partner with parents and the community to design experiences in and outside the classroom. TSS offers middle and high school students a different type of learning community that actively engages students through providing: >Small classes in a safe, nurturing, and inclusive community >Self-paced competency-based learning >Engaging “hands on” and cooperative learning opportunities >Curricula that incorporates student interests and connects to life outside school Student choices of how they engage with the curriculum and display mastery >Tools to increase self-awareness, self-monitoring and mindfulness Real-world learning experiences
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Career Exploration |
5+ years
|
|
College Advising & Support |
5+ years
|
|
Competency/mastery-based Education |
5+ years
|
|
SEL Integration School-wide |
5+ years
|
|
Universal Design For Learning |
5+ years
|
All Practices
Adaptive Learning Software
Advancement On Mastery
Student Advisories
AI For Learning Materials
Anti-racist Practices
Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning
Assessments For Career Readiness
Assessments For Deeper Learning
Assessments For Social-emotional Skills
Blended Learning
Career Advising & Support
Co-leadership
Community And Workforce Partnerships
Family And Community Support Services
Culturally Responsive Practices
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles
Grading Policies Focus On Mastery
Higher Education Partnerships
All Courses Designed For Inclusion
Educators Have Industry Experience
Individual Learner Profiles
Individual Learning Paths
Mental Health Services
1:1 Mentoring
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics
Multi-age Classrooms
Industry Networking
No Tracked Classes
Project-based Learning
Peer To Peer Support
Performance Based Assessment
High Quality Instructional Materials
Reallocation Of Resources For Students Most In Need
Restorative Practices
SEL Curriculum
Service Learning
Student-led Conferences
Students Access Their Own Data
Student-led Goal Setting
Self-paced Learning
Students Develop Projects
Trauma-informed Practices
Career Prep
key reasons for innovating
Better support a specific population of students
Better support economically disadvantaged students
Better support students in the foster care system
Better support students of color
Better support students with disabilities
Better support students with interrupted formal education
Improve school culture
Some other reason
Date Updated: 4/1/2026
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.