Circle School

727 Wilhelm Rd

Harrisburg, PA 17111

12 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 28, 2018

My kid's success during and after The Circle School speaks for itself: a happy, healthy, involved, free, passionate and compassionate teenager, now with three advanced degrees, a happy adult life, multiple employers clamoring for her to work for them, and a strong work ethic of community service and patriotic civic engagement. Couldn't be happier.
Submitted by student on June 09, 2018

the way the school presents itself is entirely incorrect it like to think of itself as the holy saint of schools when in reality it's no different if not worse. there are essentially two cliques maybe three, the popular kids/kids who get roles of authority, the children, and the everyone else (which was the one i was in) the popular kids (who is 12) got away with waving a condom in a high traffic area and saying that he is gonna use it tonight , while if someone who isn't part of that clique says anything that someone with power doesn't like then they can get suspended. one of my friends who is 17 years old can barely read is learning basic multiplication and has no understanding on how the world works this school has way too many problems to put into words just trust me as a former student this is a terrible school do not, i repeat, DO NOT, send your kids here
Submitted by other on January 30, 2018

On a scale of one to ten? This school is a solid three, it's an excellent concept that have become executed poorly and riddled with corruption and injustice. Many students flourish here, many succeed in entrepreneurship through selling products in the school, many learn a great deal on subjects they wish to pursue, but unfortunately, the school is by no means a safe haven, it's more of a refugee camp for children who have suffered and great deal and have been damaged by the public school system simply there and unable to leave because they feel it's there only option, their last resort if you will, and the other percent are naive to their privilege and seemingly unaware of the realities of this outside world.Take what you will from this experience, all I can say to anyone who may be reading this is to ask themselves, "Is a child who may very well have more than a decade of brain development left to go through mentally capable to make responsible decision for structure and time management?""Is a young child mature enough to choose to do some learning on things that may seem mundane but are needed so they will thrive as a functioning member of society?""Is a child capable of being mentally and emotionally mature enough to speak out against injustice and fight bias as opposed to contributing to it just because it's what everyone else is doing?"The entire system's emotionally distressing attributes can be most likely traced to one thing, lack of experience, and understanding of how the undeveloped human mind responds to having to naturally create authority. And the result? A Stanford prison experiment in a democratic school enviroment with children aged four and five to eighteen.Stay safe....Sincerely,One who suffered and failed to thrive.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2013

This is our second year at the Circle School and my kids love it. They are happy and well-adjusted. They are learning things they are interested in and becoming self-motivated. I am also happy that they don't talk about clothes or how they look (as they were beginning to do in public school). They are too busy being creative and using their imaginations.
Submitted by parent on October 21, 2013

Look at schools in other countries - they're all trying to get away from "drill and kill" and rote memorization. If you've ever met a person who left Circle School and is now in college or working, you'll meet interesting, intelligent and (most importantly) happy people. If you find yourself saying things like "work isn't supposed to be fun, that's why they call it work" or "better get used to it: the world isn't fun", you probably won't like the Circle School. My daughter is in her second year at Circle School. She doesn't know the lexicon of the parts of speech, but she speaks well to adults and other kids. She's working on her handwriting but only because she values good handwriting (because I do). Just like ANY school, if you aren't involved as a parent, your child won't succeed. If you think that it's ONLY the school's responsibility to teach your child, NO school is going to bring your child to excellence.
Submitted by other on November 03, 2011

Set up some kind of curriculm for those entering in the Kindergarden grade level so they can at least read and write appropriately, so as to not be teased or looked at strangley when they are around children who otherwise can.
Submitted by parent on July 07, 2011

After researching several other schools in the area, we settled on The Circle School four years ago, and have not been disappointed. Our daughter is excited every day about going to school. If you are looking for a safe place where your child is free to explore their world at their pace, look no further. They have regular informational meetings, where you can tour the school and hear about it first hand from staff, parents, students and alumni.
Submitted by other on May 17, 2011

There are 13 year-olds who can't read or write yet, 8 year-olds who don't even know how old they are, you can't get a diploma, and the staff asks the students and students' parents for money all the time, even though they pay thousands of dollars a year.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2011

When it comes down to what really matters in living life, The Circle School's *curriculum* of freedom, coupled with responsibility, allows young people to grow in ways that far surpass what is possible with a curriculum based on memorization of facts, submission to authority, and rote practice. My daughter has been a student at The Circle School for 8 years. Her grasp of interpersonal relations, communication skills, responsibility, cause and effect, the power of decision-making, justice, fairness, and ownership of her own personal power are the skills that do and will continue to support her in living her life- not whether or not she can diagram a sentence. The three 'R's are easy- it's the lessons that young people learn everyday through being in an empowering environment where they are respected that will stay with them through life.
Submitted by other on March 16, 2011

I am a graduate of the Circle School and am currently attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, majoring in Environmental Design, which is comprised of Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design Studies. I am constantly amazed by how applicable my experiences at TCS are to my college life. Once you start college, it is up to you to choose your own classes, to attend them and to do the work required. The professors and faculty do not breath down your neck or send you reminders if you don't come to class or turn in assignments. The self-directed learning method used at TCS and Sudbury Schools in general directly prepared me to think for myself and take responsibility for all my actions relating to my studies and my life here. In terms of school-book knowledge I don't think I am lacking in anyway in terms of my ability to understand and complete assignments. Most of the students here who went to a traditional high school are struggling even more then those who didn't because they didn't retain any of the information they learned in school because it held no interest for them. College is about pursuing your interests and at TCS, you get a head start.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2011

"We change the world not by what we say or do, but as a consequence of what we have become." ~ Dr. David R. Hawkins The Circle school provides an environment for my daughter to become and exceptional human being. Our 10 year old daughter is thriving at the Circle School and we know that whatever she chooses to "become" she will have the best shot by attending this School. The staff are wonderful, open and loving, highly educated people who care deeply about and appreciate every aspect of her. A safe, loving and supportive school that allows her to pursue whatever passion(s) she has. We know that whatever makes her heart soar may end up being the one thing she was meant to become in this world. Knowing that she has the freedom to light that fire, in a capable and supportive environment any "academic" concerns we have quickly diminish because we know she'll be eager to master them. It will all be part of HER plan. Oh and yes, she will be a productive citizen participating in democracy too. Knowing our daughter, she may end up running for President ...and she'll probably win! I hope so. We could use someone like her.
Submitted by parent on April 14, 2010

The philosophy of the school supports the development of 'real' people: self-motivated, self-determined, critically thinking, responsible and community orientated, in an atmosphere of mutual respect, loving support, and freedom.