When Mysa started in 2016, we noticed the world was rapidly changing, but education was almost frozen in time.
Kids were bored in classrooms as the teacher had to teach to the middle - not too high but not too low because kids have varied topical understanding regardless of their grade.
Mysa decided to personalize ALL of the work that kids are responsible for - this way students can go fast when something comes easily or your child can take their time on concepts that are challenging. This is the foundation of mastery / competency based learning.
Kids were disengaged because subjects didn’t feel relevant. Why divide fractions?!
Though quarterly Connect Units, ALL of our teaching and learning is connected to the real-world; 20% of the curriculum is devoted to experiential / place-based learning. Your child sees a learned concept in action like Potomac water testing or visiting the ofrenda at The Mexican Cultural Institute.
Kids were feeling unsafe, anxious and disconnected from their peers in large schools and middle school students were lost in a huge new setting.
If kids don’t feel safe, they cannot learn. We decided a small, family-like setting with mixed-age classrooms would allow students the freedom to be themselves, be curious and form deep relationships with fellow students and teachers.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Mysa schools serve as models for relevant and modern education; we pilot research-informed teaching and learning practices that are transferable to public schools. Mysa students own their educational journey. In small, nurturing communities, students discover their gifts, build on their strengths, and engage as citizens to make meaningful contributions to our world.