Fairhaven School

Fairhaven School follows the Sudbury model, emphasizing self-directed learning in which students have autonomy to choose how they spend their time and what they pursue, trusting that children are natural learners who thrive when following their curiosity. Rather than traditional teachers, staff act as mentors/facilitators, and the school operates as a direct democracy where students and staff have an equal voice and vote, with no standard grades/tests and learning occurring through daily activities, play, projects, and community governance.

Fairhaven School enrolls students year-round; families start by reviewing the school’s materials and then scheduling an admissions interview and tour with the Admissions Director (by phone or through the site’s contact form), with open houses offered as an entry point. All applicants are required to complete a one-week “Visiting Week,” including a pre-visiting interview and a post-week conference to determine fit; the site lists a $70 per-family application fee and $175 per prospective student for Visiting Week tuition. To apply, families download and submit the school’s PDF forms (including the application/visiting-week request, a visitor liability release that must be signed by the visitor and both parents/guardians, and an emergency treatment/medical consent form), and prospective students should be age 5 or older by December 31 of the enrollment year. If all parties agree after the visit that enrollment is a good idea, families complete the enrollment paperwork and pay tuition (the first payment is 40% due upon enrollment, with remaining payments available via an intermediary billing organization/payment plan). The website does not describe a formal admissions deadline, waitlist process, or any priority categories; key timing info is primarily calendar-based (e.g., open houses) and the school year generally runs from the first Tuesday after Labor Day through the first full week of June.