Education without Walls

We discovered Education Without Walls a few years ago when looking for an alternative to my daughter's current school. I never knew such a thing even existed or that there were alternatives to the traditional model.

It's been a really great fit for us. My daughter loves everything about it. The supportive teachers, the kids, the independence, the relaxed nature of the community, and all the various learning opportunities.

I love it because my daughter is thriving. She's happy, engaged in her education, and has a really great supportive group of friends and teachers.

If you are looking for a different option - you should check them out. You might be as surprised as I was that this gem exists.

My oldest struggled in public school, but she stayed in due to my husband and I not knowing much about homeschooling. When my youngest got to Middle School, she experienced the same issues, so we pulled her out mid-year. I remember finding a brochure about some art classes in downtown New Milford and signed her up for those. When my daughter came home and said there were other homeschooling classes at the facility, I quickly got in touch with the coordinator Lockey and signed her up for a social studies class. My oldest, after seeing how happy her younger sister was with homeschooling, decided to withdraw from her Freshman year in High School. Both kids now take classes at Education Without Walls. When they struggle, the teachers are right there to help and get them up to speed. The curriculum I think far exceeds public schools. And they have choices as to what they want to take. They have made lifelong friends, are able to experience downtown New Milford, social activities and meet other kids just like them. I highly recommend EWW!

I preface this by saying as a homeschooler, my experience has been extremely rewarding. This is thanks in large part to the academic guidance of Education Without Walls. I genuinely hope that telling my experience serves other families well as they decide what is best for their child and his/her educational needs during these formative years.

Education Without Walls provided me with an extremely well rounded educational experience. Socially, there is always a very friendly atmosphere where inclusiveness is paramount, creating a strong sense of community between all students without exception. The space is very inviting and cozy, giving a "home away from home" vibe which is particularly nice during the winter months. When the weather is nice all the kids usually go out during their breaks and hang around the many scenic spots in New Milford. While many consider homeschooling to be an isolating experience, this place has the opposite effect.

As for the teachers, what stands out most is their personal investment in the success of their students. I also took college classes during my high school career and was disappointed by the lack of opportunities to get individual help from my teachers. At Education Without Walls every teacher is consistently available outside of class to help with whatever you need and they always make that clear. Once I met with a teacher for a private and they immediately helped me with my problem and also complimented me on my initiative, as if for sport. All in all very helpful and kind people.

In closing, sure, there are plenty of toxic, sadistic, and psychologically damaging homeschool groups in the Connecticut area... but Education Without Walls I can confidently say is not one of them.

Hope this helps!

Education Without Walls has been a true lifesaver for us. If you are reading reviews, you are where we were 3 years ago.

We left the Waldorf school after 5 years and I had no idea where to bring my child. I knew I couldn't homeschool, and public school was never an option. When I found EWW, I simply couldn't believe my luck.

Lockey created the very setting we dreamed of. An environment of learning, creativity, freedom and ambience that my daughter LOVES! It was such a huge relief. There's nothing like it and I'm so grateful every day when I drop my child off.

It's a beautiful space that is continually evolving with a curriculum that feels individually tailored. If all schools followed this path, our education system problems would be solved. It's brilliant.

I often imaging what it would have been like if I had been given this opportunity as a kid. Giving it to my kid is truly a gift.

Yolie Moreno

I came to Education without Walls during its first year of operation and loved every day. I attended classes from eighth grade through my senior year. I can honestly say that Education without Walls offers the most personalized and flexible education I have ever seen. Students, parents, and educators all work together to create a unique curriculum for each child (this can rage from one class per week to a full course load.)

I was able to graduate high school within 4 years on top of taking a rigorous pre-professional theater arts training program. I am now attending college for Musical Theater on a full academic scholarship and this is largely dude to the top notch guidance I received from Lockey Coughlin and Francesca Morrissey through EWoW.

One concern of mine throughout my time homeschooling was that I would not be able to make friends and learn social skills because I would not have an opportunity to spend time with my peers. At Education without Walls however, there is an atmosphere of inclusion and fun that always seems to evolve into a classwide trip to the coffee shop, or a walk down to the park with anyone who wants to come. I made so many friends and the amazing thing about it was that there were no cliques or exclusive groups. For the most part, everyone was invited to everything.

I must also make a special shoutout to Monica Harcken who was my primary math and science teacher throughout high school. She has degrees in biology, education, and she has a PhD in agricultural economics and her thorough knowledge of each subject showed through in all of her classes, as did her enthusiasm for the subject matter. She instilled in me a love of science which I have carried into my college education; even though I am an Arts major, I still take as many science classes as I can.

I highly encourage those interested to check out the website and watch the informational videos on Education without Walls. They touch on many subjects that I have not covered in my review and provide excellent insight into the atmosphere at Education without Walls. Overall, it is a wonderful place to foster a growing mind.

My family loves Education without Walls, it is helping my kids learn, grow and think in a safe and fun environment. I enthusiastically recommend Education without Walls!

Best experience ever!!! Changed our lives, we will be forever grateful!!!! From the coordinator, to the teachers, to the students, to the facility, what an incredible journey it has been, looking forward to many more "educational years"!!!! If your child is struggling in public school, either academically or socially, I highly recommend giving this a try.

Great experience!