Classrooms

Classrooms Inside and Out

Curiosity blooms in our classrooms. It’s obvious right away that this is a place that encourages adventurous learning. The large windows stimulate eager minds, and students love observing and learning from the changing seasons. In every corner, there are irresistible hands-on materials for your child to explore. Bins of supplies, books and other resources are easily accessible.

The two-story main building (formerly the historic Rogers Clark Ballard School building) was constructed in 1914, and it now houses 13 classrooms. The buildings have been completely renovated, including the additions of:

the Media Center (library and technology lab), Funroom (gym), art room and music room
several kitchenettes for cooking projects
technology pits conveniently located in elementary classrooms, with computers and Smart Boards with document cameras

Learning environment

Walk into any classroom, and you will see a welcoming, vibrant, open space, bustling with purposeful work and play. You will notice:

children truly enjoying learning.
students developing and practicing important life skills under the guidance of two certified Teachers.
preschool rooms brimming with exciting centers of creative learning, including areas with blocks, pretend and dress-up, sensory and science, math manipulatives, writing, art and books.
elementary classrooms where students are fully engaged in areas of learning such as reading and writing workshops, math workshops and theme study for small and large groups.

Integrated Outdoor Classroom

Virginia Chance School values outside play and environmental learning through our integrated outdoor classroom focus.

Each child plays outside every day, except during heavy rain and thundering.
Our Outdoor Classroom offers 26 acres available to children, including woods, fields, pond and Goose Creek.
Children experience environmental education through daily natural connections in our learning greenhouse, garden, orchard and chicken coop.
We became a certified Model Green and Healthy School, setting the standard in our region for other schools looking to become environmentally integrated.

Accreditation

The school is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), a membership organization of 230 independent schools from 13 states in the Midwest.

Program Foundation

The hallmark of a Chance education is the way in which educators thoughtfully and deliberately develop the whole child. The curricular foundation is a blend of the school’s progressive education philosophy with age-appropriate milestones and Common Core Standards along with guidelines from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the Gesell Institute, and current academic and cognitive research and published best practices.

Faculty and Staff

Chance faculty and staff number approx. 50, with an average of 10+ years experience.

Enrollment

Approximately 225 students are enrolled each school year.

Maximum Class Size and Student/Teacher Ratio

Inclusion

Typically, the school achieves at least 20 percent racial and ethnic diversity each year. Approximately 20 percent of our elementary students receive need-based financial aid. The school welcomes families of all faiths and does not promote any one belief or practice. The majority of students live in six zip codes within 15 minutes of the school, but more than 25 zip codes are represented in the student population.

Duke Talent

At least 60 percent of intermediate students are typically identified as academically gifted and qualified for the Duke Talent Identification Program, scoring in the 95th percentile on one or more subtests of the Stanford Achievement Test.

Our Instagram feed to give you a window into Virginia Chance School classrooms and learning: