The Clearwater School is an independent school in Bothell, Washington, a northern suburb of Seattle, Washington, United States. Clearwater is a Sudbury school that serves students from ages 4 to 19.
| The Clearwater School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
1510 196th St SE, Bothell, Washington, United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Sudbury school |
| Established | 1996 |
| Age range | 4 - 19 |
| Enrollment | 90 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Campus size | 3.4 acres (14,000 m2) |
| Information | (425) 489-2050 |
| Philosophy | Sudbury |
| Governance | School Meeting (democratic, vote by students and staff) |
| Website | https://clearwaterschool.com/ |
The school began in 1996 as a twice-weekly homeschool cooperative, and opened as a full-time school in 1999. In 2006 the school moved to its current campus in Bothell.[1]
Philosophy
editClearwater is a democratic school where students create the rules and policies that affect the entire school. The educational philosophy is similar to unschooling in that student-chosen activities are the primary means of learning.[2]
Curriculum
editClearwater students explore their own interests at their own pace. Students are not segregated by age and are free to determine how they spend their time.[2] The school has no assignments, no grades, and no classes unless students organize them.[3]
Facilities
editThe school's campus consists of five buildings on 3.4 acres and includes a kitchen, an art room, a music room, a theater, a computer room, an office, a library, an active room, and quiet areas. The school also has a play yard, and North Creek flows through the campus.[4][5]
The school has an ongoing partnership with Snohomish County for ecological restoration of North Creek for salmon and other wildlife.[6][7]
The campus generates solar energy using a photovoltaic system as part of the school's commitment to sustainable practices.[8]
Government
editThe democratic structure of the school gives students a direct say in how the school is managed. Students and staff members each have a vote in School Meeting, where rules and policies are created, and in Judicial Committee, where rules are enforced.[2]
Staff
editThe adults at Clearwater are called staff, to distinguish their role from the role of traditional teachers. Staff members do not tell students how they should spend their time; instead they play, encourage, and learn alongside students.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "20+ years of learning". The Clearwater School. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
- ^ a b c "Education Model". The Clearwater School. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
- ^ "No assignments. No tests. No grades. It's "no problem" for Bothell school". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
- ^ "Our Campus". The Clearwater School. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
- ^ de Lapparent Alvarez, Aina (March 4, 2024). "No grades, no teachers: Inside a Bothell school run by student vote". The Everett Herald. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Clearwater School/Commons Restoration (North Creek) Project
- ^ "The Clearwater School: Clearwater Students Work for Salmon". blog.clearwaterschool.com. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
- ^ "The Clearwater School | Residential | Snohomish County PUD". snopud.com. Retrieved 2018-01-20.
- ^ "How it works". The Clearwater School. Retrieved 2018-01-20.