The Country School

The Country School (TCS) shines as an emblem of excellence, embracing progressive education, personalized learning, and overall student wellness. We are a vibrant, diverse school that is committed to “doing right by kids”. That simple phrase guides every facet of our curriculum, culture and community. AT TCS, students are encouraged to explore their unique voices, traits, and talents.

By "Progressive Education", we do not mean "progressive" in the political or ideological sense...

Progressive education is rooted in the ideas of early 20th-century education reformers such as scholar and philosopher, John Dewey. Dewey advocated for an approach where students were placed at the center of their own learning, and believed children should be thinking, doing, and experimenting rather than simply sitting quietly and memorizing. Dewey, now known as “the father of progressive education,” pioneered a vision that continues to influence elite schools across the world today.

At TCS, we believe that when you teach to the individual child and facilitate collaboration amongst peers, it builds a love of learning in students, without sacrificing academic rigor.

Each year, our graduates are accepted to Los Angeles’ most competitive H.S. programs, including: Oakwood, Harvard Westlake, Campbell Hall, Sierra Canyon, Notre Dame, Providence, Loyola, Buckley - to name a few. Post secondary school, our students have gone on to attend the best colleges and universities across the country, including the top liberal arts schools.

What does Progressive Education look like in the Classroom?

For younger children, this might mean more unstructured play time; for older students, this might mean project-based assignments centered around their passions or interests. We view critical thinking skills and active student participation as benchmarks. At TCS, students often sit in circles or pods to encourage collaboration and discourse with each other, rather than sitting in rows for hours with strict attention toward a teacher.

As our students move up through grade-levels, they develop more autonomy over what they learn and how they learn it. For example, our families may discover that their child is reading beyond grade-level or may be excelling in science at a rate past their peers. Our signature Movers Program, a cornerstone of our progressive philosophy, allows for subject acceleration across grade-levels. This ensures that students are consistently growing and being challenged in ways that best serve them as individuals.