Explore: Our Learner-Centered Pillar

Learner-centered education puts children’s interests, curiosity and active involvement at the heart of learning. Our curriculum adapts to the individual needs and passions of each student.

The PCS learner-centered approach is inspired by well-studied models such as Progressive Education, Reggio Emilia and Montessori. A large body of research has found that meaningfully involving students in their education can increase their academic success, motivation, effort, participation, and engagement in their learning. We have developed a curriculum that centers students and makes them the drivers of their own education.

Giving young students more voice and choice in their learning can make them more enthusiastic learners and higher achievers.

The learning spaces, routines and practices at PCS are thoughtfully structured to align with the strengths and needs of our students and create a safe and joyful environment where each and every student feels valued, supported and heard. Student voice and choice are integral to building trust and community, and students are a part of everything that happens at PCS. From hanging their original work on the walls and writing their own Classroom Agreements, to addressing community concerns in Morning Meetings, identifying their pronouns, and drafting their own learning goals: students know right from the start that school is a place where their ideas are important, where their identities are valued and where learning answers to them.

Learner-centered education in action at PCS:

Key Evidence and Outcomes of Learner-Centered Education:

Love of Learning:

  • Qualitative research frequently observes that children in learner-centered environments are more engaged and motivated. They take ownership of their work which can translate into greater enthusiasm and persistence — traits that serve them well academically and beyond.

Creativity and Problem Solving:

  • Studies find students in these models generate more creative writing and more creative solutions to problems.

Stronger Core Skills:

  • A review of several studies found that students’ overall academic performance in learner-centered programs was significantly higher than in traditional settings.

  • Children in these programs often perform better than traditionally schooled peers in reading and math.

  • A 2023 systematic review compiling data from 32 studies (over 132,000 students) found that students in Montessori models, for example, consistently outperformed those in traditional schools on a wide range of outcomes.

Social and Emotional Development:

  • Learner-centered students have shown more positive interactions in social situations and better self-control than traditional students of the same age.