The Grove School History
We opened on September 1st, 1999 in Redlands, California
as California's 180th Charter School
Our Story
With the support and approval of Redlands Unified School District (RUSD), The Grove School was first chartered as a The Grove High School in 1999 by a passionate group of parents and community members who wanted to bring the opportunity of a Montessori education to adolescents in the Inland Empire. From its inaugural community of 37 9th and 10th graders, the school has grown to offer the full spectrum of adolescent education (7th-12th grades) to 280 students, and we're growing!
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From an initial single classroom, to a full high school building, to two campuses and 6 acres of farmland, The Grove School has come to fully embody Dr. Maria Montessori’s vision for adolescent education - to help children and young adults find what is necessary for their individual development, and to participate in real-life experiences to learn:
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What it means to live a fulfilled life in the company of others
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What it means to exercise freedom of choice while taking responsibility for the impact of their actions on the well-being of their local and global community
What Makes Us Unique
The Grove School students have:
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The opportunity to learn on a working farm and participate in agricultural programs like Applied Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Students interested in agricultural science and economics have raised animals from chickens to pigs to cows over the years, many of which win awards at county fairs.
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The opportunity to practice entrepreneurial skills in a real-world setting. The Grove Farm is a functioning business run by students. Produce and products grown and harvested by students and used in the kitchen or sold at The Grove School Farmers Market, which is also supported by students.
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The opportunity to participate in project-based learning. Project-based learning is a key component of the curriculum at The Grove School and serves to meet adolescents’ developmental need for community and social learning.
