Three smiling children, age 4-6 in circular frames, one child holding magnifying glass, one child stacking small boards

Build Common
Understanding

At The Common School, discovery never ends. We empower children ages 3 to 12 to become curious learners and critical thinkers.

Question Common Knowledge

Our progressive curriculum and In-Depth-Studies challenge students to explore big questions using an interdisciplinary, hands-on approach. Inside and outside the classroom, students use their reading, math, science, and social studies skills to engage deeply with these questions over weeks and months. Learning is joyful because it is driven by a sense of purpose and a delight in discovery, and it opens up new ways of understanding the world.

The Common School by the Numbers

107

Enrollment: 107;
average 105–112

20

Communities Served: 20 towns, 3 counties (½ from Amherst)

46%

Students of Color represent about 46% of the student body

53%

Tuition Assistance:
53% of students receive awards of 40–60%

Many elementary school children and teachers walking down paved path through farm, trees on one side, fenced in field on the other

Discover Common Ground

We are situated among 140 acres of conservation land, making plenty of green space accessible for learning, play, and quiet time. For students interested in sustainability and environmental science, our close partnership with Bramble Hill Farm offers unique opportunities to plant and harvest crops, observe pollinators at work, study the ponds and other ecosystems, and reflect on the purpose and use of land in society.

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🌟 The Pay-It-Forward drive ends on graduation day and we are less than $10k away! Today we are reflecting on the incredible impact Linda and Dana have had at The Common School. From keeping in-person learning during the pandemic to increasing the si
What a beautiful day to plant an apple tree in honor of our beloved Green Nursery teacher, @marcysala who will be retiring after teaching at the @thecommonschoolamherst for 38 years. Thank you for bringing your early childhood magic to so many childr
🌟 Our Spring Fundraising Drive is going strong! 🌟 We just received word that, inspired by the many gifts of varying sizes we have been receiving, one generous donor has made a large pledge that puts us within 15% of our goal. We can’t believe