Avalon School Information

Approved as an independent, public charter school in December of 2000 under the sponsorship of Hamline University, Avalon School was created by a small group of parents and educators who had the shared vision of providing a different, more democratic learning environment for students in the Twin Cities. Our founders felt that the traditional assembly-line methodology common in most secondary schools did not adequately prepare young people to become fully actualized members of their communities. In an attempt to meet these needs, Avalon's starting teachers researched similar schools with progressive teaching models and political structures to find the right combination that would fit their vision. After collecting data and visiting other schools with similar visions, the founders of Avalon decided to combine Project-Based Learning with a teacher cooperative governance model. This innovative combination would later become the foundation for the Avalon School.