Hybrid Schools and Microschools

What is a hybrid school?

Hybrid homeschools: In their most common form these schools operate 2-3 days per week in brick and mortar buildings, with classes of students, teachers who assign work, etc. The balance of the week, these students are homeschooled. (Individual schools might offer classes in other weekly formats, such a four half days per week, for example, or give students the flexibility to come an amount up to four days per week). The defining characteristics of these schools are that most or all of the curriculum is decided by the school, students attend live classes a few days per week in a physical building, and are “homeschooled” the rest of the week.¹   

What is a microschool?

Microschools: The Christiansen Institute’s Michael Horn has suggested that “micro schools” follow a variety of structure, but generally “model a combination of one-room schoolhouse, blended learning, home schooling and private schooling.”²

[1] Wearne, E. (2016). “A descriptive survey of why parents choose hybrid homeschools.” Journal of School Choice, 10(3), 364-380.

2 Horn, M. (2015). “The rise of AltSchool and other micro-schools.” EducationNext 15, 3.