Queens Paideia School
The Queens Paideia School (QPS) is a progressive, independent school for students age 5 to 14 in Long Island City, Queens.
Educational Orientation and Philosophy
The Queens Paideia School models an individualized approach to elementary and middle school education that is designed to instill in its students a life-long love of learning. QPS's core beliefs are that optimal education takes into account the diversity of students’ learning needs, interests, and learning styles, and that the standard textbook/lecture/test-driven large classroom situation is a detrimental compromise with what is best for children.
A central feature of the QPS approach is the formulation of individualized learning plans that map out what each student is ready to learn, should learn, and wants to learn. Students learn to take responsibility for achieving their chosen objectives. As they strive to achieve these, teachers monitor their efforts and provide assistance with appropriate feedback and reinforcement. Each student's learning achievements are documented in a digital and physical portfolio that the student assists in building. The school also programs activities that involve collaboration among some or all of the students and encourages older ones to help younger ones (and the reverse, when appropriate).
QPS’s approach is enabled by (1) an exceptionally low student-to-teacher ratio (5:1 maximum); (2) its continuous evaluation and acquisition of learning resources that are varied and matched to a student's area of study and unique learning style; (3) and regular communication between teachers and parents.
QPS is a demonstration project of the Mechner Foundation, which conducts research in the fields of learning and education. The Paideia approach originated in 1969 with psychologist Dr. Francis Mechner, an important contributor in the fields of learning and educational technology. His first school, the Paideia School in Armonk, NY, ran from 1969 to 1974. The goal of the Queens Paideia project is to demonstrate that this educational model can be expanded and implemented economically while maintaining the 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio.