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A school for active learning
We learn by doing.
The Magnolia School was founded more than 25 years ago to help form confident, flexible, responsible, life-long learners who display positive attitudes and behaviors; excel at communication and problem solving; are at ease with numbers; know how to access, assess and manage information; and are comfortable working with others.
To accomplish its mission, the school has adopted a small, safe, multi-age group setting and has built a supportive and involved family community with a strong sense of belonging. The approach we follow is child-directed and theme-based to emphasize motivation, creativity, research, and team work; it is hands-on to promote concrete understanding. We maintain a diverse student population, whom we guide in the areas of tolerance, respect, and flexibility.
The emphasis is on learning to think, not on learning facts, and on cultivating the joy of learning rather than the stress of testing. Scores, report cards, or standardized testing are not used. Thus our graduates do not leave school with FCAT scores; instead they leave school with a portfolio of work samples, confident and ready to thrive in their new school setting and beyond.
More than just a place of learning, The Magnolia School is a community of hundreds of current and alumni families who are active participants in our school (and in the broader community), sharing their time and talents.
FEATURED NEWS
Magnolia awarded $10,000 Bealls grant
With a $10,000 grant from the Bealls and Whistles for Schools program and matching funds provided by the PTO, alumni and friends of the school, The Magnolia School replaced its 22-year old bus in 2011.
More than 350 schools across Florida applied for funding, and 76 were chosen as finalists. The finalists were narrowed down to 10 winners based on a compelling need, the ability to execute the proposal, and the overall presentation (watch the video!) of the supportive materials. The "back room" (grades 3-5) rose to the occasion, writing a blues song about the bus and creating a music video to go with it. Congratulations Magnolia School students!
Hands-on learning promotes discovery and a concrete understanding of concepts:
* Children are given ample opportunities to be outside to play and learn.
* Our theme-based approach emphasizes motivation, creativity, research and teamwork.
* Graduates are well prepared to enter public and private high school.
Highlights
Very low teacher-student ratio
Multi-age classrooms: K-2, 3-5, 6-8
Individualized, theme-based learning; hands-on approach
Challenging curriculum
Portfolio-based assessment
