The Community School, Camden, Maine

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

[edit] Programs

The Community School offers three programs, all of which are formed around its core philosophy of relational education.

In the Residential Program, eight students live at the school for 6 months. The students work in the local area, pay room and board, cook dinner, do chores, have individually-tailored academics in the evening, and learn about conflict resolution, harm reduction/substance abuse, respect, sexuality, and diversity. The students meet weekly with their one-to-one, a teacher-counselor who acts as mentor, friend, and sometimes, nag. At the end of the six-month period, the students receive their high school diploma.

If a student hasn't completed her requirements, she may be eligible for the school's Outreach Program. In the Outreach Program, a student can finish his requirements and earn his diploma. In addition, all students receive a lifetime guarantee of support from Outreach.

The third program is 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.

One of the unique facts about The Community School is that it accepts students from all financial backgrounds, enabling students with no financial resources to achieve their diplomas in an alternative setting. Students absolutely rave about their teachers and their experience at the school and often maintain a lifelong connection to the school. Regan Littlefield Russell, a 1991 Community School graduate writes: "I look back and know I would not be where I am today had I not begun there...That is the magic of CSchool, it is a circle of love that forms a family that never will judge you, will hold you when you cry, kick you in the ass when you feel sorry for yourself, celebrate when you succeed, and help you up when you fail."-The Community School newsletter, April 2003.