GW Community School

The GW Community School is a teacher-owned and operated coeducational college preparatory school located in Springfield, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1999 by Richard Goldie and Alexa Warden to serve the needs of bright, non-traditional learners and their families. The founders had previously been active in the founding of Commonwealth Academy before GW Community School was founded. It currently has an enrollment of 52 students, grades 9-12. Despite being located just outside Washington, D.C., the "GW" does not stand for "George Washington" but for "Goldie" and "Warden", the last names of the school's founders and current directors.PhilosophyThe GW Community School is dedicated to providing individualized flexibility within a supportive academic environment. In keeping with this philosophy, the school offers several innovative programs: Advisory groups of four to six students and a teacher who meet every day to discuss the students academic progress and issues related to working within the school community. Flexible instructional options, including independent study and online courses. Each student and faculty member is issued a laptop computer which connects to a wireless network within the school building. Cross-registration for seniors at Northern Virginia Community College. In keeping with the philosophy of a teacher-owned and operated school, teachers have a large degree of flexibility over curriculum and instructional methods. As a result, classes like "Conspiracy Theories," "Political Geography" and "Sea Adventures" are held alongside more traditional class offerings.