Is Chrysalis Right for Your Family?

Chrysalis is a unique school. It is definitely not a "one size fits all" kind of school. Some families come and gratefully stay with us through 8th grade graduation with 3 or 4 of their children. Other families decide within a year that this school is not the right fit for their children. Being enrolled in a school for only a few months is hard on the child, the family, and the school so we try to give families the information to move beyond hopeful thinking to a decision that works for them.

One of the best ways to decide is have your child spend a day at the school. That will usually give both you and us a sense whether Chrysalis is a good place for your child.

Another way is to listen to other parents. We asked some of our loyal, long-term parents to share what they think a questing family should know about Chrysalis..

"I think one of the main things that makes Chrysalis unique is the family atmosphere where kids can feel safe to learn and grow. One thing I think prospective families should be aware of is that Chrysalis is a "chaordic" type of organization and it might help if they know what that looks like and would that be right for their family. Some families need more structure. Miss you guys,"

Chaordic is a dynamic balance between chaos and order. Highly responsive but a bit messy.

"Chrysalis Charter School is a place where children don't have to fit into a specific mold.  If as a parent you think children need a strict structured environment to learn, then Chrysalis would not be a good choice.
 
"Chrysalis allows children to thrive and develop at their own pace. For example, if your child is reading lower than grade level, the teachers will work with your child at that level, until they are up to speed. This also works if your child is above their grade level, they will be allowed to work where their mind and abilities are best suited. Each student is given the opportunity to develop and learn at a pace that best fits the student. Small class size allows for a lot of one on one learning.
 
"Chrysalis Charter School doesn't fit the "traditional" public school pattern, in that a lot of the experiences in learning the teachers provide for the students are of a more physical and hands on approach, rather than a desk & text book approach. For example: in Math the students use manipulative objects to create and solve a math problem, such as, weighing fruit at a grocery store and calculating the cost based on the current days price. It is a much more visual and realistic approach to learning.
 
"For so many years a system has been used to teach in schools, without giving in to the idea that not everyone learns in the same way, at the same pace and level. If a student can't keep up they fail, if they are above level they are forced to wait for others to reach their level. Chrysalis takes each student as an individual and creates a learning plan which works best for the students needs. The school's system can look, to an outsider, as unorganized and chaotic, but when examined more closely, and taking into account the students best interest, it truly is a great way to provide an interesting, creative, stimulating and personally responsive learning environment.
 
"We chose Chrysalis for our children because we wanted (and felt they needed), a place where they could grow and learn at their own individual speeds. They have done tremendously well, and can often be heard saying "I love my school." I have consistently felt that my children have been nurtured and cared for by their teachers. There are a lot of options available when choosing a school, and Chrysalis isn't for everyone, but if you are looking for a school that can give your child individual attention using a hands-on learning style, then Chrysalis is the right choice."