Type Private Chairman Brian Leffler Faculty 23 Founded 1997 | Established 1997 Headmaster Dr. Dexter Mahaffey Phone +1 802-865-8084 | |
Motto "Engaging students with the world" Founders Dr. Robert A. Skiff, Robert A. Skiff, Jr. Leah Mital-Skiff Similar South Burlington High Sch, Rice Memorial High Sch, Burlington High School, Schoolsp, Rock Point School Profiles | ||
The Vermont Commons School is an independent college preparatory school located in South Burlington, Vermont, serving grades 6-12.
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History
The Vermont Commons School was founded in 1997. Its headmaster was former Champlain College President Robert A. Skiff. During its first semester, 32 students were enrolled and the school grew steadily in size and offerings over the next ten years. In 2007, Dr. Skiff retired, at which point enrollment neared 100 students. Dr. Skiff was succeeded by Mr. Peter Ross, who served as Head of School through the fall of 2008. Upon Ross's departure, Science and Math teacher Hans Manske served as Acting Head while the Board of Trustees conducted a search for new leadership. In July 2009, the Board selected Mr. Peter Gilmore as their new Head of School. Mr. Gilmore had previously served as Principal of The Friends School of Baltimore, MD and Upper School Director at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine. Mr. Gilmore left the school at the end of the 2013-14 school year, and was succeeded by Dr. Dexter Mahaffey. Dr. Mahaffey previously served as Director of Diversity and Global Studies at Kentucky Country Day School from 2007 to 2014, when he relocated to Vermont. In the 2016-2017 academic year the school celebrated its 20th year.
Campus
Since its founding in 1997, the campus has been located at 75 Green Mountain Drive in South Burlington, Vermont behind Heritage Ford/Toyota. The school purchased the building and property in the fall of 2010. Vermont Commons School underwent over $1,100,000 in renovations and expansion of the campus and facilities in the summer of 2015.
Grade Structure
Classes are taught by grade, with larger grades broken into smaller sections. Maximum class size is 18 students, with an average class size of 12 students.
Curriculum
Courses include Language Arts, Mathematics, Sciences, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Service Learning, and World Languages (Spanish and Chinese). The school offers advanced courses in Biology, Environmental Science, Spanish Language and Literature, and Calculus. The school considers its 'standard' rank classes to be on par with an Honors program in the public sector.
The school has gained recognition for its Research and Service community service program.
Accreditation
Vermont Commons School is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). It maintains "approved school" status through the State of Vermont and is a member of the Independent Schools Association of Northern New England (ISANNE), the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), and the Vermont Independent Schools Association (VISA).