Louisville microschool offers alternative learning environment for young students

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Some families in Louisville are opting for a smaller, more hands-on learning environment for their young students over traditional public schools.

McFalls Academy is located in the basement of Sojourn Church Carlisle in the Jacobs neighborhood and is a modern take on the one-room school.

It is known as a microschool, serving just 11 students this past year, and teaches students from kindergarten to fifth grade primarily in the same classroom.

The school was founded in 2020 by former Jefferson County Public Schools teacher Jasmine McFalls.

"We always want to be sensitive to the needs of each individual child because every child is different," McFalls said. "You have children (who), they thrive in the traditional setting, they make straight A's, they’re natural readers, but that’s not all students."

McFalls said while teaching in public schools, she noticed the need to offer students flexibility in their learning.

"I felt very constricted with the rigid learning standards and just having to move students along in learning even if they weren’t ready," she said. "I really wanted to be in an environment that was very much flexible, fluid and in tune with what our families and our students specifically need."

A day at McFalls Academy begins with students coming in and starting the day with those closer in age. They then have a morning meeting focusing on community building exercises and social emotional development, and Christian-based studies.

That is followed by about two and-a-half hours of "work cycle," which focuses on core math and reading skills. Teachers work one-one-one with students or in small groups.

"We can really meet them where they are and can respond very quickly if they are struggling with specific areas, but we can also, with our students ready to move on quicker, we can move them on quicker so they are not being, not having to repeat things they already know," said McFalls.

McFalls Academy also puts an emphasis on nature and how it fosters development.

"On the supply list it's not just crayons and glue sticks, on the supply list it's snowsuits, it's ponchos, it's rain boots ... they really have a chance for a lot of spontaneous play opportunities, which help fosters their learning," McFalls said.

Students do not receive a typical letter grade as expected in traditional schools. The school's website reads: "A typical report card with letter grades does not align with the style of learning that we expect or want to happen at McFalls Academy. However, we do value feedback and reporting that guide the teacher as well as inform the parents. We want to ensure we are nurturing a love for learning in students without the unnecessary pressures of traditional letter grades or standardized assessments."

For parents like Kinya Embry-Wright, she has noticed a positive difference in her son's development.

"He’s not a kid that loves school, but he loves coming to McFalls Academy so I knew that a smaller setting would better meet his needs," said Embry-Wright. "There's no pressure to be on grade level or meet these crazy, ridiculous standards. He's able to just be himself and he is, you know, acknowledge where he is, and progress is being made based on those priorities."

Prospective families are invited to the school's open house event on July 13. It will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. at Sojourn Church Carlisle located at 3548 Taylor Boulevard.

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