The Community School, Camden, Maine


The Community School in Camden, Maine, United States, is the oldest state-approved independent alternative high school in Maine.

Programs

The Community School offers two core programs, both of which are formed around its core philosophy of relational education.
In the Residential Program, eight students live at the school for a nine-month academic term. The students have internships and apprenticeships in the local area, cook dinner, do chores, have individually tailored academics throughout the day, including group specialty classes such as American Sign Language, social justice and diversity classes, green initiative projects, Experiential Learning Expeditions, etc. The students meet regularly with their advisors and tutors. At the end of the academic term, the students receive their high school diploma.
The second program is called Passages, for pregnant and parenting teens. Teacher-counselors go to students' homes, where students learn about parenting skills, life skills, and other academics, culminating in a 'Passage', a major project that the student creates and finishes.