New Private School to Open Next Fall in Reston

The Reston School for Tomorrow is coming to town, opening in Fall 2015 for grades 6-12 and is holding informational sessions for interested families. The Reston school will be the second School for Tomorrow to open in the DC metro area; the first was founded in 2009 in Rockville.

The school is expected to be located within walking distance of the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.

The school was founded by Alan Shusterman, a Harvard Law-educated lawyer who has said he found his true calling later as a teacher; after home-schooling one of his three children, he founded School for Tomorrow in 2009 in Rockville.

School for Tomorrow is accredited by the Maryland State Board of Education and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. SFT-Reston will be considered accredited as a site within the broader School for Tomorrow umbrella, according to Laura DeLima, who will serve as head of school.

The school describes itself as “a groundbreaking, nonprofit, model independent school committed to serving a diversity of students.”

SFT notes that it “uses the most current and compelling research, resources, and prac­tices from the field of educa­tion and beyond to empower individuals to reach their fullest potential in academics and in life in the decades ahead.”

What makes the school unlike any other? Here’s what they say:

1. We provide a truly customized education, tailoring the curriculum to each child’s needs. This means that the most academically gifted and the below average student can be fully challenged and grow far beyond where they could in a traditional setting.
2. We provide a holistic education. We recognize that success in academics and in life is predicated on far more than academic skills and content knowledge. Without emotional, social, and physical well-being, one cannot reach their fullest potential. Therefore, we integrate the development of the emotional, physical, and social aspects of self into our curriculum and community.
3. We serve a diverse student body. We believe that most students can benefit from an SFT education. We also believe that students gain important social and life skills by interacting with people who are different than them. While other schools are becoming increasingly specialized, we want to create a school that mirrors the broader society. Customization allows students to achieve and be challenged within a diverse setting.
4. Our methods encourage constant inves­ti­ga­tion, analysis, crit­ical thinking, collab­o­ra­tion, and problem solving. We respect and support students as they take risks, learn from mistakes, and stretch them­selves in an inclusive envi­ron­ment of mutual caring and respect.

A few things to note, in response to a few questions from Patch:

• Will there be a cafeteria? Students will bring lunch except on special occasions. Every other week on Wednesdays, students will have a lunch with their mentor, a faculty member who serves as an advisor to a small group of students. Mentor lunches offer an opportunity to develop a positive relationship with one’s faculty mentor and other kids in one’s mentor group.
• Will there be a library? Most of our work (research, writing, etc.) is done using the internet or engaging in experiential learning, such as through field trips, interactive discussions and labs. However, we will have plenty of books available.
• Will there be a playground? We will have access to outside space, but not specifically a playground. Recess is part of the daily lunch period and we encourage students to go outside and move.
• What time will classes begin? Is there before and after care? Classes begin at 9:30 and end at 3:30. “This is intentional as neurological research has consistently shown that adolescents need sleep to function at their fullest level. However, we do offer before school care from 8 am to 9:30 am. We have a variety of clubs and performing arts rehearsals after school that last until 5 pm each day. For those not involved in an activity but who need supervision after classes finish, we offer supervision until 5 pm.”
• Tuition cost? $30,300; the school offers need-based financial aid. Approximately 36 percent of their current students are on some level of scholarship, ranging from a few hundred dollars off to full tuition.
• Will the school operate during the summers? Not at this time.
• When will you begin accepting new students? We have rolling admissions and are currently accepting applicants.
• What is the admission process? We require an application that includes short answer questions for parents and the applicant, official transcripts, two teacher recommendations, and an interview. We do not require test scores.
• When will you begin hiring staff/teachers? We will begin to hire staff and teachers in the late spring/early summer.

For more information contact the school at: 301–460-4747