The Koan School

I finished my Senior year at Koan after a multi-month mental hospitalization. Immediately the reception was amazing, the people I met were kind and helpful if I had questions. They did not have mental health staff/counselors explicitly on staff but the teachers and even the Superintendent made time for me when I needed it. It was such a drastic change from how I was treated when I previously attended a public school and I loved it. Learning was very interpersonal and revolved around being able to use learned topics practically. Which is a far cry from how I was taught in public school. One last thing I wanted to go through was the effort they would go through to accommodate any student they could. When I had one class left to graduate, but they didn't have any teachers they could dedicate to it, I learned that the superintendent would be able to teach it, as he had a couple years prior. So we were able to get me graduated. Thank you Koan and everyone involved. You allowed me to graduate after a very rough time in education and restored my love in learning.

We couldn’t be happier with our experience at Koan! The school creates a welcoming and inspiring atmosphere where kids truly love to learn. The curriculum is engaging, creative, and full of exciting opportunities that spark curiosity and critical thinking. What really sets Koan apart is the joy our child has for coming to class each day. They are eager to explore new subjects, participate in hands-on activities, and share what they’ve learned at home. The teachers are outstanding—caring, enthusiastic, and deeply invested in every child’s success. Their encouragement and support make students feel valued and motivated to do their best. We highly recommend Koan to any family looking for a school that goes beyond textbooks and testing, and instead focuses on creating a love for learning. It’s truly a special place where kids thrive both academically and personally.

I will start off by saying that private school education is inaccessible for so many - and Koan does it's best to keep costs as low as possible, but I recognize that even with that, it's still unfortunately out of reach for some. So we are very lucky to have the capability to choose what school we send our kids to -- and it's exactly that, a choice that each person needs to take the time to determine what will best serve their child. If you have that option, I would highly recommend The Koan School for anyone looking for an education environment that emphasizes the whole kid, making not only critical-thinking, intelligent kids, but also empathetic, kind, thoughtful humans. It's an environment that brings together parents, teachers, and administration to develop a plan that best suits your kids. If your kid is a traditional learner or not, the teachers are there to know your kid inside and out and tailor their approach to get the best outcomes. You can see this in all the kids, especially those who have grown up in the school. The middle and high school kids are so kind to the lower school kids, not just because they are trying to impress, but because they are genuinely good kids. Also, I know there are a few negative comments about the communication issues, which I understand. But I think how a school responds to criticism shows how deeply they care --- and they have responded to this with focus and concern and real, meaningful changes that we see this year and are so so happy with. The head of school is transparent and really holds the success of the kids at the helm of their choices day-in-and-day-out. We are so lucky we found Koan.Our son is learning and growing into an amazing human because of it. (Also, I'm not a teacher, just a mom who loves her kids and loves the school.)

As a parent and grandparent, I've been in many classrooms and schools over the last fifty years, but I've never experienced a school as inclusive and welcoming as Koan School. My husband and I took a tour of the school last spring, and we were delighted to see the classrooms (indoor and outdoor) where learning and discovery take form in such joyful and unexpected ways. The staff and faculty mirror that enthusiasm; it was clear that everyone is excited to be a part of this revolutionary school. The students were engaged with all manner of projects and tasks: animal husbandry, ceramics, theater, literature, film-making, science and math. We learned about travel abroad opportunities and graduating seniors who were matriculating to impressive colleges. My grandson is in fourth grade, and though he is neurodiverse, he has been mainstreamed in the most thoughtful way. His teachers have challenged him again and again, and he has risen to the occasion. Koan has become his school, a place where he is nurtured and valued. I would have loved Koan when I was school-aged. My children would have thrived in an educational environment like this one. I'm so grateful that my beloved grandchild has landed there. He has no limits, and Koan School believes that, too.

We've been quite happy with the Koan School over the last year and half that our nine-year old son has attended. He loves it too! The project-based curriculum incorporates hands-on learning activities and small class sizes. The students learn by doing with the close support of teachers in an ideal manner that is unfortunately not practical in larger public school settings. Our son is also autistic and instead of "warehousing" him in a separate, special needs classroom, he is fully integrated with his peers while still receiving extra support and attention when necessary. The school's director is a kind and thoughtful former professor of education, and students at Koan get excellent academic training and college preparation. The school's mission also includes an emphasis on affordability. They have a strong fundraising campaign and are able to keep annual tuition $10k-$15k less than other private schools in DFW. Located a few miles outside of the Denton city limits, the school's setting is also wonderful, sited on 15 acres in the Cross Timbers amidst of dozens of post oaks, pecans, and other mature trees, and I fell in love with the vibe the first time I set foot there.

Koan has been an amazing fit for our neurodiverse son. The teachers are incredibly insightful and caring, and he is included in so much! Previously he went to a special needs school that was basically a daycare; in contrast teachers at Koan have consistently worked to make sure our child is progressing academically, and he is! Before that we moved to a suburb with a supposedly "good" special education program, but they wanted to put our child in a segregated classroom. As a historian, that idea seemed too reminiscent of pre-civil rights era education to me. I was deeply uncomfortable at the idea of him being stowed away in a quiet dark classroom and included with other children only at recess. At Koan, he is even in a Spanish class--an opportunity he never would have had through special ed in that particular public school. At Koan his teachers believe he is capable and can learn and can interact with all children. That belief has made all the difference for him. I know all kids are different, and I understand that the classrooms that did not work for our son in the past might work for other children. However, for parents of kids who thrive on flexibility and the freedom to explore, be themselves, and learn in the ways that work best for them, Koan is wonderful. I cannot imagine another scenario besides homeschool where my child would have an experience tailored so specifically to his needs.

We are absolutely delighted to have found this school. I am not sure what people saying it's just a "babysitting service" are talking about. It's not a "wear a uniform and do 3 hours of prep-school" homework sort of school, no. It's a school with farm animals the kids can interact with, a school where my 10th grader is free to be himself, have supportive caring teachers and administrators, and ultimately find his path - be that traditional college, an apprenticeship, arts or a trade. It is a school that values diversity, kindness and tolerance over conformity, a school that cares for children enough to provide a respectful length lunch eaten outdoors whenever possible (no rushed 20-30 min situation in dank room) and facilities for the teens to refrigerate and microwave their meals. A school that respects our need for family time enough to not burden my child with endless homework and time consuming "projects" at night. The schedule is flexible and open, providing the required courses for graduation in TX, while offering freedom to customize the experience with amazing electives from ceramics to cooking, a machine shop for kids interested in trades, exposure to nature, a large and beautiful art studio. The teachers' rooms are all decorated and cozy, feeling more like homes than school rooms. The school is modeled after the Finnish education system, statistically some of the happiest and best performing kids in the world. If you are looking for something unique and a truly caring and holistic approach for your teen's high school years, this place can't be beat. Picture of my child in Spanish class holding a mantis, where the lovely native speaking teacher keeps unique animals for the kids to interact with in addition to helping them toward fluency. This school is truly one-of-kind special, prizes individuality - and it's probably not for every family - but if it IS for your family, you'll feel you've found the nirvana of educational systems for your child! All three of my kids will be attending high school here as they get old enough. We are so thankful for Koan!