Academics · Subject Resources

Compare small schools
on the big questions

A microschool can be a dozen children with one gifted teacher, or a room without a plan. Weigh the lead adult and the curriculum first, ask how each is registered, and rate what you saw on a real morning.

Start a comparisonWhat you get

Comparisons

The worked example is made up: three microschools for a seven-year-old, where a nature school with a small group has no clear reading plan, and two part-time middle school programs. Use initials or a code for the child.

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What you get

Academics · Subject ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A saved comparison per decision: how much the lead adult, curriculum, group, legal setup and cost matter; each microschool rated 1 to 5 with students and yearly tuition; seven questions such as registration, background checks and safety marked answered or still to ask; and a next step. The flags rank the microschools, show tuition a month and call out a must-have rated 2 or lower. A side-by-side table prints.
Who it is for
Families considering a microschool, learning pod or small independent program for elementary or middle school.
Format
Browser tool with a saved record per decision. Prints a side-by-side table with the scores, the full record, every comparison in a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Subject Resources space in Caveat Academics.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Weigh the teacher and the curriculum first.
  2. Ask how each is registered.
  3. Spend a morning in each.
  4. Rate what you saw.
  5. Print the side-by-side table.

Start a comparison

How microschools are set up

Three ways a microschool can be set upWho keeps recordsFamily filesPrivate schoolThe schoolUsually nothingHomeschool groupEach familyHomeschool notice, if requiredDistrict programThe districtEnrollment formsThree ways a microschool can be set upPrivate schoolWho keeps records: The schoolFamily files: Usually nothingHomeschool groupWho keeps records: Each familyFamily files: Homeschool notice, if requiredDistrict programWho keeps records: The districtFamily files: Enrollment forms
Rules differ by state. Ask each microschool which setup it uses and check your state education department's rules.

Why the setup matters

If a microschool runs as a group of homeschooling families, each family is the legal school: it may need to file a notice, keep records and arrange testing, depending on the state. If it is a registered private school, the school does that. Ask, so nothing falls through when the child moves on.

Safety and the adults

Ask whether every adult has had a background check, whether the building is insured and inspected, and what happens in an emergency. Small programs can be excellent and still miss the basics.

Sources

  1. National Microschooling Center. What is a microschool (microschoolingcenter.org).
  2. National Center for Education Statistics. Fast Facts: Homeschooling, and Private School Universe Survey (nces.ed.gov).
  3. EdChoice. Microschooling survey reports (edchoice.org).
  4. Your state education department. Rules for private schools and home instruction.

The worked example and its microschools are made up. How a microschool is registered and what families must file depends on the state. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.