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The Village School
The Village School, nominated by Center on Reinventing Public Education, is an elementary/middle 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 Pre-Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle
Students 75
Locale Suburban
Head of Learning Elizabeth Dean
Demographics
Percentage of students*
—
English Learners
—
Free/Reduced Lunch
—
Students with Disabilities
African American or Black —
American Indian/Alaska Native —
Asian 14%
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander —
Hispanic or Latino 2%
White 66%
2+ Races —
Why The Village School was nominated
This small school is centered around self-directed learning. Students learn through projects and play, demonstrating growth through flexible proficiency rather than worksheets and assessments. In their own words, at TVS they "focus first on nurturing a sense of safety in our learners– security in who they are, what they are capable of, where they belong, and why they matter."
Student experience design
The Village School is a community of lifelong learners who have a strong sense of agency, character, belonging, and joy.
Core Practices
| Core Practices | Length of Use |
|---|---|
|
Co-leadership |
5+ years
|
|
Competency/mastery-based Education |
5+ years
|
|
Internships |
5+ years
|
|
Multi-age Classrooms |
5+ years
|
|
SEL Integration School-wide |
3-4 years
|
All Practices
Advancement On Mastery
AI Literacy
Career Exploration
Community And Workforce Partnerships
Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles
All Courses Designed For Inclusion
Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies
Individual Learner Profiles
Industry Networking
No Tracked Classes
Project-based Learning
Peer To Peer Support
Performance Based Assessment
Restorative Practices
Service Learning
Student-led Conferences
Student-led Goal Setting
Self-paced Learning
Students Develop Projects
Universal Design For Learning
Career Prep
key reasons for innovating
Demonstrate what’s possible for other schools
Increase student agency
Increase teacher agency
Date Updated: 4/1/2026
*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.