Harmony School

Description: Since its founding in 1974, Harmony School has been dedicated to the historic purpose of schooling: preparing young people to participate thoughtfully and actively in our democratic society. Harmony School provides a setting in which teachers, students, researchers, administrators, parents and community members come together to develop creative yet sensible educational theories, practices, and materials. Under the direction of Steve Bonchek, M.Ed., Harmony's early childhood, elementary, middle, high school, and community youth programs have pioneered imaginative approaches to student/teacher relationships, integration of social services into the school environment, curricular and instructional design, student learning, and school governance. State officials, business leaders, professional associations and numerous educators from around the nation have recognized Harmony School for its highly successful policies and programs. In 1990, with the creation of the Office of Outreach Services and the Institute for Research, the Harmony School Education Center was established. In 2000 the Harmony School Education Center became the home of the National School Reform Faculty and in 2001 the home of the Looking At Student Work Collaborative. Harmony School Education Center is a unique organization dedicated to substantive change in schools. Harmony serves as a setting in which inventive ideas can be applied and as a demonstration site from which other educators can learn. The synergistic power of Harmony School Education Center lies in the relationship that exists among components. Harmony's school and community programs, the Institute for Research, the Office for Outreach Services , the National School Reform Faculty and the Looking At Student Work Collaborative operate in concert with each other. This collaboration creates a dynamic environment which fosters creative, working solutions to the complex challenges of educating today's young people.

Mission: We believe that the role of a school in a democracy is to support students in attaining the cognitive and affective skills necessary for them to be successful as adults. The attainment of these competencies is accomplished in a school environment that treats the young people with respect and as equal partners, while simultaneously sensitizing them to the delicate balance between individual growth and community responsibilities.

School Type: Urban Independent school

Serving Grades: PK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Number of Students: 189