History

In the early 1990s, a growing need was felt among local parents interested in humanistic education. While there were sufficient opportunities at the elementary school level, parents didn’t know where to send their children as they got older. Puget Sound Community School was founded in 1994 to meet this need. The school’s educational philosophy was (and still is) that education be student-centered and non-coercive, that there be no required subjects, no tests, and no grades. Learning is a pursuit that comes from inside the students, rather than being forced on them from the outside.

In its first year, PSCS enrolled eleven students ages 12-14, and the school day happened in a different location each day of the week. Three days of classes took place in parks, libraries, museums, senior centers, churches, and places of business. Another whole day was used for a group field trip or service project, and the final day found students doing independent study, mostly in the form of apprenticeships. This “school-without-a-site” model gave real meaning to the term “community school.” And the students’ learning emerged not only from their own interests, but also from the locations in which the students met.

Thanks in part to PSCS’ ahead-of-its-time embrace of Internet technology — each student was provided a personal email address and had a computer at home connected to the Internet (in 1994!) — the press took quick notice of the school. An article in Newsweek, and television and radio coverage in Chicago, New York, and England (as well as local newspaper and TV reports) generated buzz for PSCS and helped fuel a rapid rise in enrollment.

In the late 1990s, the attraction of having a permanent site began to outweigh the advantages of the “nomadic” model. With a site, equipment-intensive subjects like science and visual art could be better explored. In addition, a site would allow PSCS to become a Washington state Approved Private School, thus able to grant high school credit and award state high school diplomas. PSCS made the move to a regular site beginning in September 2001.

Approved by the state, PSCS has continued to be a pioneer — now in regards to how it awards high school credit. As school districts around the country begin to consider awarding credit based on competence (rather than just class hours), PSCS is doing it now. Students are able to pursue the things that interest them, both inside and outside of school, and earn high school credit for doing so.

PSCS always attracts high quality individuals to serve as staff members. Inquiries about staff openings are received regularly; a recent teaching staff opening drew 150 applicants from all over the world.

As ever, the school looks to move forward while continuing to honor its core principles.