Elements Academy, Inc

Elements Academy is a nonprofit alternative school just south of Boston that operates as a PreK-12 microschool alongside a family wellness community. Rather than recreating a traditional school with smaller classes, it sets out to rethink what school can be. Learning is individualized and holistic, and teachers try to understand each child’s strengths, motivations, stressors, interests and quirks so instruction can move at the child’s own pace and in the child’s own way.

Daily life prioritizes relationships, curiosity and choice. Children are free to move, play, question, create and explore, and creativity, art, outings and spontaneous conversation are treated as core parts of the day. The model fits families who care more about character development than test performance, or whose parenting at home feels different from how most schools treat children, and it openly acknowledges that it is not the right fit for every family.

What to Know

• Children ages 3 to 18 can enroll in Braintree or online, part time or full time.
• The family wellness community provides education and support for families of all ages and stages.
• Mental health and emotional intelligence are part of everyday programming.
• It appeals to families who like the freedom of homeschooling but cannot or do not want to do it all themselves.