What Is Progressive Education?
At City and Country School, children don't just absorb knowledge–they build it.
The misconception: Progressive education is loose, is unstructured, and lacks rigor.
The reality: Progressive education is deeply intentional, research-backed, and incredibly effective.
Over a century ago, pioneering educators like John Dewey and City and Country School founder Caroline Pratt revealed that children learn most effectively by actively engaging in meaningful work and applying authentic problem-solving. Modern cognitive and neuro science confirm what Dewey and Pratt understood: When students discover ideas for themselves, practice them in relevant contexts, and reflect on their learning, they gain lasting insight and are able to synthesize knowledge sharply and effectively.
This understanding shapes everything we do at C&C. Our classrooms are designed for hands-on learning where students grapple with concepts that matter.
Whether they're constructing using wooden unit blocks–Pratt's invention–to explore math and spatial reasoning, managing the school supply store to understand economics and collaboration, or researching ancient cave drawings to sharpen literacy skills and draw meaning across millennia, children learn by doing. Our teachers are experts at guiding students to think independently, work collectively, and take ownership of increasingly demanding challenges.
If you want your child to be not only well-prepared academically, but also grounded in a strong sense of self, ingenuity, purpose, and social responsibility, you want City and Country.
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