LONG TRAIL SCHOOL Founded 1975

WELCOME

At Long Trail we are guided by the belief that true learning happens when students take responsibility for their own education. We encourage independent and critical thinking in class with a focus on exploring ideas, articulating opinions, and asking questions. This is why we never have more than 15 students in a class. Long Trail has a student/teacher ratio of 6:1 and classes average 10 students. Students quickly feel at home and discover their participation is important.

This philosophy is highly successful: our students score an average of 30% higher than those in other area schools in the Vermont Standards Testing. The academic program provides a solid foundation in the liberal arts, preparing students for college. From the middle school (grades six through eight) to the upper school (grades nine through 12), students progress through a sequence of courses in English, history, mathematics, science, world languages, the arts, and technology. The curriculum is designed to build on skills and knowledge from one year to the next, with an emphasis on analyzing texts, solving problems, conducting research, and mastering clear expression in writing. Students spend class time in many different ways, from giving oral presentations to participating in hands-on projects individually or in small groups. Long Trail's approach to learning enables every student to achieve.

Peter Ahlfeld
Dean of School