The Wilkinson School follows Dunbar’s Rule -- the Rule of 150--that is described in the best-selling book, “The Tipping Point,” by Malcolm Gladwell. It states that there is a cognitive limit to the number of people, approximately 150, with whom one can maintain stable social relationships. These are relationships in which an individual knows who each person is, and how each person relates to every other person. At the Wilkinson School everyone knows one another and finds his or her place in the school community. The small village feel engenders caring, trusting and nurturing relationships and a remarkably cohesive whole. Each classroom has two qualified professionals, a teacher and a teacher’s aide, which supports an unbeatable classroom ratio of 10:1.
Multi-Age Classrooms
Academically, the multi-age/multi-grade classroom provides students with the opportunity for a tailored method of meeting their academic needs, whether that is moving at an accelerated pace with extra enrichment or spending more individualized time on a particular subject. Being part of a class and community that more closely mirrors the diversity of real life, students play social roles of leaders, team members, mentors and helpers all within the space of a school day.
Core Values
Empathy, collaboration, ingenuity, perseverance, responsibility, fairness-These are just a few of the core values that are an essential part of our curriculum. Town hall-like school meetings, assemblies, workshops, classroom projects and daily teacher-student relationships are part of Wilkinson School’s culture that develops and supports social-emotional learning.
A Place Where Everyone Belongs
Wilkinson School serves a cross-section of the coastside community. Our teachers and families are multi-cultural and multi-national. Although we aggressively strive to meet every child’s potential, we believe that a child should not be reduced to a test score. The Wilkinson School thrives with students in gifted programs, students who make great leaps every year and students who get extra attention for academic, social or behavioral issues. Because our school is equipped to serve an individual student, and the ratio of different types of learners is balanced, every child and family has a place in our school community. We believe that this is the true definition of a community school!
Commitment to Excellence, Evolution, and Educational Opportunity
Each year the Wilkinson School offers new classes to expose the students to different fields of study. Gardening, etiquette, ecology, world studies, and specialized arts and crafts are some of the classes that have been offered in the last few years. The Wilkinson School has stayed committed to evolving with the changes and demands of a rapidly developing world. Two examples of this are the addition of Rosetta Stone, an interactive computer language learning program, and the adoption of in-school tutoring and extra enrichment programs. Finally, every year the school invites parents, professionals and performers to host assemblies or classroom lectures. With an openness to tapping into any available resource, the school has found some of the greatest opportunities close at hand or connected to a rich and empowered community.