Microschools are popping up in more places ā in the news, on social media, and in communities across the country. Families are drawn to the idea of smaller groups, flexible schedules, and more personalized learning. But not all microschools are created equal.
At Meridian Learning, weāve been reimagining education since 2008. In 2009, we opened Meridian Montessori, our first micro lab school, intentionally designed to support how children learn best. In 2016, we launched Meridian Micro School, and in 2020, we started Meridian Micro Farm, which became a fully independent 501(c)(3) in 2024. Today, our three lab schools allow us to study microschooling in practice and refine our model in real time.
What weāve learned is this: smaller isnāt enough. Many new programs use the term āmicroschoolā but operate more like mini public schools. Teachers are trained the same way, the curricula look familiar, and authority is often viewed exactly as it would be in a traditional classroom. These schools may be smaller, but they arenāt fundamentally rethinking education ā theyāre just shrinking it.
Through our lab schools, weāve discovered that intentional design is everything. True microschools are built around relationships, flexibility, and responsiveness. They create environments where educators are supported differently, where curiosity drives learning, and where structure evolves to meet the needs of real children and families.
We didnāt just shrink the old system. We reimagined what school could be, and our three lab schools continue to shape whatās possible. Families today have more choices than ever, but more options donāt always mean better ones. Over the years, weāve studied what makes small learning environments truly effective, and weāre sharing what weāve learned along the way.
If youāre curious about how technology fits into the conversation, read here.
The microschool movement is focused on sustainability, not “school choice.” “School choice” is largely being funded by billionaires with a goal to privatize public schools. The grassroots microschool movement, which evolved from the desire to incorporate the freedom and flexibility of homeschooling with the benefits of traditional schooling, operates outside of any movement to privatize public schools or shift funding to private schools. We have never needed public schools to “fail” in order for grassroots microschools to succeed, and we never will.
While Meridian Learning empathizes with families seeking temporary alternatives to traditional public school, it’s important to note that