The Free School of Evanston was an
alternative school
An alternative school is an educational establishment with a curriculum and methods that are nontraditional. Such schools offer a wide range of philosophies and teaching methods; some have strong political, scholarly, or philosophical orientati ...
that existed in
Evanston,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
,
United States from 1971 to 1976, for five
school years
An academic term (or simply term) is a portion of an academic year, the time during which an educational institution holds classes. The school timetable, schedules adopted vary widely.
In most countries, the academic year begins in late summer o ...
.
Influences
The Free School was influenced by
Summerhill School. At meetings, parents, students, and teachers were all equal, each having one vote.
Tuition
Tuition payments, usually known as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in Commonwealth English, are fees charged by education institutions for instruction or other services. Besides public spending (by governments and other public bo ...
was based on a
sliding scale
Sliding scale fees are variable prices for products, services, or taxes based on a customer's ability to pay. Such fees are thereby reduced for those who have lower incomes, or alternatively, less money to spare after their personal expenses, regar ...
percentage of parents' income. The school did not pursue
educational accreditation.
Location
The school rented space at:
Student body
The school enrolled more than 100 students, aged 5–16, divided into lower, middle, and upper age groups. Most were from the
Chicago suburbs
The Chicago metropolitan area, also colloquially referred to as Chicagoland, is a metropolitan area in the Midwestern United States. Encompassing 10,286 sq mi (28,120 km2), the metropolitan area includes the city of Chicago, its suburbs and hint ...
, with a few from
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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's
inner city
The term ''inner city'' has been used, especially in the United States, as a euphemism for majority-minority lower-income residential districts that often refer to rundown neighborhoods, in a downtown or city centre area. Sociologists some ...
neighborhoods.
Principals
See also
*
Anarchistic free school
Self-managed social centers, also known as autonomous social centers, are self-organized community centers in which anti-authoritarians put on voluntary activities. These autonomous spaces, often in multi-purpose venues affiliated with anarc ...
*
Alternative education
*
Student voice
References
Defunct schools in Illinois
Schools in Evanston, Illinois
Democratic free schools
Educational institutions established in 1971
Educational institutions disestablished in 1976
Underground culture
1971 establishments in Illinois
1976 disestablishments in Illinois
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