Jordan Lake Sudbury School
"... where living IS learning"
"The best learning happens in real life with real problems
and real people and not in classrooms."
Our School
Jordan Lake Sudbury School is situated on thirty unspoiled acres in beautiful Chatham County, North Carolina. Open fields, a canopy of mature hardwoods and a seasonal creek provide an ideal environment for contemplation, exploration and fun. The school is currently being established and we hope to open in the fall of 2008. It is one of over 30 Sudbury schools worldwide, with more being established yearly.
JLSS students are free to grow intellectually and emotionally through play, conversation, exploration, the arts, reading, music, computer activities, organized classes, cooking, sewing, field trips and anything else that ignites their fancy.
Students and staff hold a weekly School Meeting, where everyone votes on all aspects of the school's operations — from field trips to school rules to budgeting to hiring staff. Each student must also serve on a Judicial Committee on a rotating basis. This Committee is established to resolve any conflicts that develop between students or between students and staff. Within this model, students learn first hand of the freedom and responsibilities inherent in a working democracy.
Enrollment: Students ages 5 through 18 can enroll at JLSS at any time of year.
Hours: Regular school hours are between 9am and 4pm, Monday through Friday, from September through June. Before school care is available starting at 7:45am. After school care is available from 4pm to 6pm.
Attendance: Students may arrive and leave at any time during the school hours, as long as they are on campus a minimum of five hours a day.
Diploma: Students who attend the school for at least two full years will be granted a JLSS diploma by writing and successfully defending a thesis.