Students, Families, & Staff
Avalon really gave me the tools to be a productive adult, advocate for myself and take learning into my own hands. When I was going through middle school I really struggled with public schooling, so when I made the move to Avalon I learned how to excel at what I do best and use project management skills to my advantage in my future.
Our son has never felt this supported in a school setting before. He feels really seen, heard, and valued at Avalon. When conflicts arise, he feels like there are lots of helpful adults around to support him and yet who also give him space to practice and get better at new social, academic and wellness skills. He has a wide variety of friends and opportunities through Avalon and is absolutely thriving! We can't thank the Avalon community enough for creating this kind of trusting and growth-minded community.
The advisor model is very effective. My child has forged positive, supportive relationships with their advisors which helps them be successful in all their classes. There is also a great parent community at Avalon.
Relationships, small learning community, inclusive community.
My advisors encouraged me to actively engage in the political process rather than sit on the sidelines just because I was too young to vote. As a result, I spent part of my sophomore year working on a political campaign with another student and utilized that volunteer experience towards meeting civic & government standards. One of the candidates we helped to elect won by only a small handful of votes. Avalon empowered us to get involved with our community and helped us to be the change we wanted to see in the world.
Our son has finally become invested in his own learning... it's incredible!
Avalon encourages students who are committed to learning to meet and exceed their goals. For example, I graduated with almost 50 credits at the end of my senior year. I frequently exceeded my goals on the time I spent working on my learning through projects.
Project based. Students are valued and considered individuals with different needs. The advisory concept. The true acceptance of students races , genders, disabilities.
To this day I think Avalon contributed more positively to my life than any other single institution, educational or otherwise. I arrived there in a pretty rough place, had more or less given up on education and I don't think I really believed I'd even graduate high school. Four years later I graduated - I had rediscovered my love of learning. Avalon rekindled my intellectual curiosity, bolstered my confidence, and helped me remember that I cared about the world and wanted to at least try to make it a slightly less crumby place. Avalon was borderline life-saving for me; words can't express how much I love and appreciate the place.