Field School endowed with $1.5 million matching grant

Field School of Charlottesville, a private, all-boys middle school currently located in Crozet, announced that its goal of a new Barracks Road campus is one step closer to reality thanks to a matching grant of $1.5 million from an anonymous benefactor. The school described the grant as “transformative” in a September 24 press release. “[It] […]

Educational opportunities

Nestled at the edge of the 10th and Page neighborhood, Lugo-McGinness Academy looks like a miniature version of a typical American high school. The alternative school is sandwiched between houses, standing out with its parking lot, two-building campus, solar panel-covered tin roof, and cyan columns that frame the main entrance.  Compared to Charlottesville High School, LMA is tiny—which […]

Up to standards?

On January 6, the Virginia Department of Education released a revised proposal of the state’s history and social science standards of learning, after previously proposed standards sparked severe public backlash in November. Critics—including educators, activist groups, parents, and Democratic lawmakers—accused Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration of whitewashing history, perpetuating political bias, and teaching historical inaccuracies.  In […]

Quick change artists: Teachers deserve kudos for adapting on the fly

By Virginia Daugherty “We teachers stay in touch and try to keep up our morale.”  “Children aren’t meant to sit in front of computers all day.” “I’m upping my skills daily.”    “I didn’t sign up for this.” It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, and this year our local educators deserve a special shout-out as they try their […]

Little wonder: Why it’s so hard to find affordable, high-quality child care

Jessica Maslaney remembers trying to navigate the complex maze of child care options before her first child was born. “It’s a confusing process where everything matters, from cost to educational environment to teacher qualifications, and you’re just scrambling to figure it all out.” After toting her baby son to work with her at the Piedmont […]

Co-op travails: Molly Michie seeks preschoolers—and their parents

Faced with a recent decline in enrollment, the city’s first co-operative preschool, which has operated for more than 50 years, is struggling to stay on its feet. Molly Michie Cooperative Preschool was founded in 1967 as the city’s first integrated preschool, with an emphasis on learning through play. Being a co-op means parents are deeply […]