The Open School is a K-12 self-directed democratic school. Instead of curriculum, classes, and assignments, students learn through real life and by authentically helping to run the school.
Rather than forcing students to sit still all day and listen to the answers to questions they didn’t ask, we let them play, talk, go outside, create, and ask their own questions. They decide.
We let students make decisions because they’re preparing for an adulthood in which they’ll have to be independent and self-directed problem-solvers. Not only do our students get a great education — they’re happier and mentally healthier too.
The Open School has a campus in Santa Ana as well as a virtual program for non-local families.
We use an indexed tuition model to best serve our families. See our Tuition page for details.
The Open School is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
The Corporation admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, State, or Local law, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the Corporation. The Corporation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.