There is no monolithic definition of democratic education or democratic schools. But what we mean here is “education in which young people have the freedom to organize their daily activities, and in which there is equality and democratic decision-making among young people and adults,” as quoted from AERO’s Directory of Democratic Education.
These schools and programs take many forms and include public and private alternatives and homeschool resource centers. Please send us any suggestions for additions to this list.
Schools & organizations
Africa
- Animalia Learning Center, Kwazulu-Natal
Argentina
- La Cecilia, Santa Fe
Australia
- Alia College, Melbourne, Victoria
- Blackall Range Independent School, Kareelpa, Queensland
- Blacktown Youth College, Bidwill, NSW
- Brisbane Independent School, Pullenvale, Brisbane, Queensland
- Currambena Primary & Preschool, Lane Cove, NSW
- Fitroy Community School, Melbourne, Victoria
- Hurstbridge Learning Coop, Melbourne, Victoria
- Kinma Primary & Preschool, Sydney, NSW
- Koonwarra Village School, Koonwarra, Victoria
- Maridahdi Early Childhood Community School, Toowoomba, Queensland
- Pine Community School, Ferny Hills, Brisbane, Queensland
- Preshil, The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School, Melbourne, Victoria
- Sherbrooke Community School, Sassafrass, Victoria
- Village School, Croydon, Victoria
Austria
- Lernwerkstatt im Wasserschloss, Pottenbrunn
- Schuelerinnenschule im Wuk, Vienna
- Schule der Fruede, Feldkirchen
- Schulkollektiv Wien Wuk, Vienna
Belgium
- De Weide, Erpe-Mere
- Sudbury School Gent, Gent
- Vlinderwijs, Stabroek
Brazil
- Associacao Cidade Escika Aprendiz, Sao Paulo
- Centro Integrado de Educacao de Jovens e Adultos do Campo Limpo (CIEJA) Integrated Center for Young and Adult Education of Campo Limpo, Sao Paulo
- Escolas Lumiar, Sao Paulo
- Live College, Sao Paulo
- Politeia, Sao Paulo
- Teia Multicultural School, Sao Paulo
- Tuyuka School
Bulgaria
Canada
- Agate Private School, London, ON
- ALPHA Alternative School, Toronto, ON
- ALPHA II Alternative School, Tornoto, ON
- Alternative High School, Calgary, AB
- Fraser Valley Free Learners, Mission, BC
- Passages Centre, Toronto
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
- CoLibri Elementary School, Předklášteří
- Da Vinci Grammar School, Primary School and Kindergarten, Dolní Břežany
- Donum Felix, Kladno
Denmark
- Bernadotteskolen. Den Internationale Skole i Danmark, Copenhagen
- Det Frie Gymnasium, Kobenhavn
- Naestved Fri Skole, Naestved, Rislev
- Yggdrasil Skolen / Det Sydfynske, Stenstrup
Estonia
- Village school of inventors, Rõuge vald
Finland
- Feeniks-Koulu, Helsinki
- Kehittyv� koulu -yhdistys ry, Helsinki
France
- Ecole Agile Démocratique et Bilingue, Perpignan
- Ecole de la Neuville, Chalmaison
- École Démocratique de Paris, Paris
- La Prairie, Toulouse
- La Ferme des Enfants, Lablachere
- L’école Dé-couverte, Vaugneray
- L’École Dynamique, Paris
- Lycee Autogere De Paris, Paris
- Lycee Experimental, Saint Nazaire
- The Dynamic School, Paris
- The School of Grivery, Grivery
Germany
- Aktive Schule Dresden, Dresden
- Apego Schule, Berlin
- Bildungsschule Harzberg
- Demokratische Schule Infinita, Steinhorst
- Demokratische Schule X, Berlin
- Drachenschule Odenwald, Wald-Michelbach
- FLeKS – Freies Lernen – Kollektiv & Selbstbestimmt), Hamburg
- Freie aktive Schule auf den Fildern e.V., Leinfelden-Echterdingen
- Freie Aktive Schule in Esslingen – Kinderkosmos, Esslingen
- Freie Aktive Schule Karlsruhe e. V., Karlsruhe
- Freie Aktive Schule Tübingen, Tübingen
- Freie Schule Gleichen, Gleichen
- Freie Schule am Mauerpark, Berlin
- Freie Schule Frankfurt, Frankfurt, am Main
- Freie Schule Heckenbeck, Heckenbeck
- Freie Schule Leben und Lernen, Preetz
- Freie Humanistiche Schule, Huntlosen
- Freie Reformschule, Spayer
- Freie Schule Leipzig, Leipzig
- Freie Schule Pankow, Berlin
- Freie Schule Spatz – Schule für Erziehungshilfe, Offenburg
- Freie Schule Stuttgart, Stuttgart
- INFINITA, Steinhorst
- Kapriole, Freiburg, Baden-Wuerttemberg
- Leonardo, Jena
- Lernwerk e.V. – Freie Aktive Montessorischule, Zuzenhausen
- Methodos e.V.
- Netzwerk Schule, Berlin
- Neue Schule Hamburg, Hamburg
- Schulwerkstatt – Freie Schule für lebendiges Lernen, Altenriet
- Sudbury Schule Ammersee, Ludenhausen
- Ting Freie demokratische Schule Berlin e.V., Berlin
Guatemala
- El Colegio Naleb, Don Justo, Fraijanes
- Miguel Angel Asturias Academy, Quetzaltenango
Hungary
- Rogers Person Centered High School, Budapest
- EUDEC Hungary, Budapest
India
- Abacus Montessori School, Perungudi, Chennai
- The Blue Mountains School, Tamil Nadu
- Butterflies Program for Street and Working Children, New Delhi
- Sri Atmananda Memorial School, Kerala
Indonesia
- KBKPM (Komunitas Belajar Kampung Pingin Maju), Bangsri, Kab. Jepara
Ireland
- Wicklow Sudbury School, Kilpedder
- Sligo Sudbury School, Faughts
Israel
- Beit Meitar, Meitar
- Bikat Ono, Kiryat Ono
- Democrati Lev Hasharon, Lev Hasharon
- The Democratic School of Kfar Sava, Kfar-Sava
- The Democratic School of Ono Valley, Kiryat-Ono
- Dolfin, Eilat
- Eynot-Yarden, Upper Galilee
- Givol Democratic Communal School, Hadera
- Hadera Democratic School, Hadera
- Hashita, Rehovot
- Hod Hasharon Democratic School, Hod Hasharon
- Jersalem Sudbury School, Jerusalem
- Kanaf Democratic School, Ramat HaGolan
- Kedem The Democratic School in Arad, Arad
- Kehila Democratic School in Tel Aviv, Tel-Aviv
- The Keshet School, Zichron Yaakov
- Kfar Kera Democratic School, Kfar Kera
- Kishor, Ziv-Kishorit
- Merchav, Raanana
- Nadav The Modiin Democratic School, Modiin
- The Arab Democratic School Jaffa, Tel-Aviv
- Shachaf Democratic School, Shoham
- Shalem, Upper Galilee
- Tefen Experimental School, Tefen Industrial Estate
- Yafa The Arab Democratic School, Jaffa
- Yahad Democratic School, Holon
Italy
- Flow ALC, Vigo VI
- I Saltafossi,
- Kiskanu Libertario, Avesa
- Scuola Poggio D’oro, Montalcino
Japan
- Democratic school Makkuro-Kurosuke, Kanzakigun, Hyogo
- Global Community School, Takasago City, Hyogo
- Manje School, Ichinomiya Aichi
- Kinokuni Childrens Village, Hashimoto-shi, Wakayama
- Network of Democratic Schools
- Mie Shure, Tsu City
- Nishinomiya Sudbury School, Hyogo
- Okinawa Sudbury School, Okinawa-ken
- Terakoya Houjousya, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima
- Tokyo Shure, Tokyo
- Tokyo Sudbury, Tokyo
Lithuania
- Demokratine mokykla, Vilnius
- Primary School ŽINIUKAS, Vilnius
Mexico
Nepal
- Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir, Kathmandu
Netherlands
- Aventurijn School, Loenen, GA
- Basisschool De Vallei, Driel
- Blink Basisschool
- De Buitenplaats
- De Ruimte, Soest, MA
- DOE: Democratisch Onderwijs
Eindhoven - De Ontdekking, Drenthe
- De Ruimte Soest, Soest
- De Vrije Ruimte, Scheveningen, SB
- Guus Kieft School, Amsterdam
- Libertad, Breda
- LIFE!
- Lumiar
- Newschool
- Nova Vita, Maastricht
- Sociocratische Leeromgeving LOS Deurne
- Vivere Democratische Basisschool
- VO de Vallei (Voortgezet Onderwijs)
New Zealand
- Deep Green Bush-School, Auckland
- Discovery One, Christchurch
- Freyberg Memorial Community School Te Atatu South, Auckland
- The Kaitiaki Collective, Auckland
- Tamariki School, Christchurch, Linwood
- Timatanga Community School, Auckland
- Nyskolen i Oslo, Oslo
Palestine
- Hope Flowers School, Bethlehem
Peru
Poland
- ASSA, Wroclaw
- Bullerbyn, Świętochów
- Horyzont – Wolna Szkola, Poznań
- Pestka – Języki Obce,
- Przedszkole Przyjaciele Żyrafy, Warsaw
- Szkoła Podstawowa PRACOWNIA, Łódź
- Trampolina, Poznan
- Wolna Szkoła Ogórkowa, Warszawa
Portugal
- Escola da Ponte, Villa Das AVES
- Expression International Alternative School, Penamacor
Puerto Rico
- Nuestra Escuela, San Juan
- Espacio A Viejo San Juan
Russia
- Bullerbu, Moscow
- Dubravushka, Moscow
- Family Coworking “Gnome House”, Saint Petersburg
- Konvert Free School, Saint Petersburg
- Moscow International Film School, Moscow
- NOS, Severnyy
- Natural School, Moscow
- Peremena Park-School, Moscow
- School of Self-Determination, Moscow
- U.Dacha, Popovka
Romania
- Bucharest Free School, Bucharest
South Africa
- Animalia Learning Center, KwaZulu-Natal
- Misty Meadows School, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
- Open Minds, Midrand
- Re-Imagined Learning Centre, Johannesburg
- Riverstone Village, Johannesburg
South Korea
- Dream School, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul
- San Childrens School, Gyeonggi-Do
- School Star, Kwanakgu, Seoul
- Small School (Gwang jin), Seoul
- Small School (Youngsan), Seoul
- Sung Mi San School, Seoul
Spain
- Ambiente Educativo
- El Jardi dels Somnis
- Escuela Activa Savia, Valladolid
- La Rosa de los Vientos, Madrid
- La Serrada, Alcoy, Alicante
- Madrid Active School, Madrid
- Mango Children, Grenada
- Ojo de Agua Educativo, Orba, Alicante
- Playa Escuela, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Tximeleta, Navarra
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
- Fokus School Bottmingen
- Lindenschule, Oberkirch
- Waldkinder Bern, Bern
Thailand
- Moo Baan Dek, Kanchanaburi, Siam
- Wispering Seed, Sanglkaburi, Kanchanaburi
Taiwan
- Holistic Education School, Zhuolan Township
- Permaculture House, Chiang Mai
Ukraine
- 7 Fields Eco-School, Kyiv
- DEC Life School, Kyiv
- DIXI (Park School), Kiev
- Koloshkola, Dnipro
- Licentia, Kyiv
- Kids Life School, Kyiv
- Magic People, Kyiv
- Maibutni, Kyiv
- Papaya School, Kyiv
- Practicum, Kyiv
- Private Secondary Family School AIST (Stork Family School), Vinnytsia
- Savage Kangaroo School, Kyiv
- Spilno School, Kyiv
- AIST (Stork) Family School
United Kingdom
- Center For Self-Managed Learning, Brighton
- Hebden Bridge School, Hebden Bridge
- Park School, Totnes, Devon
- Room 13, Scotland
- Sands School, Ashburton, Devon
- Small Acres School, London
- Self-Managed Learning College, Brighton
- Summerhill School, Leiston, Suffolk
United States of America
Alabama
- Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education, Fairhope, AL
Alaska
- School Within a School (East Anchorage High School), Anchorage, AK
- Stellar Secondary School, Anchorage, AK
Arizona
- Highland Free School, Tucson, AZ
California
- Altadena Free School, Altadena
- Diablo Valley School, Concord, CA
- Five Creeks Studio, Berkley, CA
- Global Village School, Ojai, CA
- Leeway Sudbury School, San Diego, CA
- Life Lived Freely, Los Angeles, CA
- The Open School, Orange, CA
- Play Mountain Place, Los Angeles, CA
- Village Sudbury School, Whittier
Colorado
- Alpine Valley School, Wheat Ridge, CO
- The Boulder Sudbury School, Boulder, CO
- Compass for Life Long Discovery, CO
- Eagle Rock School, Estes Park, CO
- Jefferson County Open School, Lakewood, CO
- Sudbury Ft. Collins, Fort Collins
- The Patchwork School, Louisville, CO
Connecticut
Delaware
- The New School, Newark, DE
Florida
- Gainesville Sudbury School, Gainesville
- Grassroots School, Tallahassee, FL
- SAIL High School, Tallahassee, FL
- Spring Valley School, Palm Harbor, FL
- Sudbury School of Jacksonville, Jacksonville
- Sunset Sudbury School, Davie, FL
Georgia
- Heartwood ALC, Clarkston, GA
- Oasis Agile Learning Center, Acworth
- Sudbury School of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Hawaii
- Dragon’s eye Learning Center, Pahoa, HI
- Open Source Learning, Kapaa, HI
Idaho
- Willow Creek Sudbury School, Idaho Falls
Illinois
- Apogee Academy, Chicago, IL
- Tallgrass Sudbury School, Riverside, IL
Indiana
- Harmony Education Center, Bloomington, IN
Kentucky
- Mosaic Sudbury School, Louisville
Louisiana
- Layfayette Sudbury School, Maurice
Maine
- The Community School, Camden, ME
- The Discovery School, Lewiston, ME
- The New School, Kennebunk, ME
- River School, Belfast, ME
- School Around Us, Arundel, ME
Maryland
- Arts & Ideas Sudbury School, Baltimore, MD
- Fairhaven School, Upper Marlboro, MD
Massachusetts
- Balance Rock Center, Jefferson, MA
- Mission Hill School, Boston, MA
- The Raven Freedom School, Worcester, MA
- School Within a School (Brookline High School), Brookline, MA
- Stone Soup School, Worcester, MA
- Sudbury Valley School, Framingham, MA
Michigan
- Clonlara School, Ann Arbor, MI
- Flexible Scheduling Program, Birmingham, MI
- Little Lake Learning Community, Ann Arbor, MI
Minnesota
- GAIA Democratic School, MinneapolisMissouriMissour
Missouri
Montana
- Glacier Lake School, Saint Ignatius, MT
- Kids by Nature, Kalispell, MT
New Hampshire
- The Community School, South Tamworth, NH
- Hanover High School, Hanover, NH
- Woodland Community School, Bethlehem, NH
New Jersey
- Jersey Shore Free School, Monmouth Beach, NJ
- South Jersey Sudbury School, Medford
- Voyagers Community School, Farmingdale, NJ
New Mexico
- The Tutorial School, Sante Fe, NM
New York
- Academic Community for Educational Success, Bedford Hills, NY
- Agile Learning Center, NYC
- Brooklyn Free School, Brooklyn, NY
- Coney Island Clubhouse, Brooklyn
- The Free School, Albany, NY
- Hudson Valley Sudbury School, Kingston, NY
- Lehman Alternative Community School, Ithaca, NY
- Little River Community School, Canton, NY
- Longview School, Brewster, NY
- Pono, New York, NY
- Scarsdale Alternative School, Scarsdale, NY
- School Without Walls, Rochester, NY
North Carolina
- Arthur Morgan School, Burnsville, NC
- The Mosaic School, Charlotte, NC
- Pathfinder, Durham, NC
- Wildwood ALC, Boone
Ohio
- Antioch School, Yellow Springs, OH
- Kelly’s Working Well Farm, Chagrin Falls, OH
- Kokosing Valley School, Gambier, OH
Oregon
- Eugene Sudbury School, Eugene, OR
- The Village Free School, Portland, OR
- Village Home, Portland
Pennsylvania
- The Circle School, Harrisburg, PA
- The Delta Program, State College, PA
- Philly Free School, Philadelphia, PA
- Three Rivers Village School, Pittsburgh, PA
Rhode Island
- The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, Providence, RI
Tennessee
- The Farm School, Summertown, TN
- Nashville Sudbury School, Nashville, TN
Texas
- 9th Street Schoolhouse, Austin
- Abrome, Austin
- Clearview Sudbury School, Austin, TX
- Great Oak School, Houston, TX
- Greenbriar Community School, Bastrop, TX
- Houston Sudbury School, Houston, TX
- Makarios Learning Community, Dallas-Ft. Worth Area
- The Real School AKA Dragon Valley, Houston, TX
- Sudbury Schoolhouse, Kyle, TX
- Whole Life Learning Center, Austin, TX
Utah
- Sego Lily School, Salt Lake City, UT
Vermont
- Red Cedar School, Bristol, VT
Virginia
- H-B Woodlawn Program, Arlington, VA
- The New School of Northern Virginia, Fairfax, VA
- Raw Learning, Staunton, VA
Washington
- The Clearwater School, Bothell, WA
- Nova, Seattle
- Puget Sound Community School, Seattle, WA
- The Trillium School, Indianola, WA
- Wheels of Life School, Bellingham, WA
West Virginia
- The Highland School, Highland, WV
Wisconsin
- Milestone Democratic School, Madison
- The Young Women’s Institute for Global Studies, Milwaukee, WI
- Youth Initiative High School, Viroqua, WI