South Jersey Sudbury School is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit private school located in Medford, New Jersey. We are governed entirely by our School Meeting, which is comprised of all students and staff members. We are totally democratic; one person, one vote. Anyone age 4 to 18 is welcome to apply.
Rooted in the Sudbury Model, our school empowers kids with freedom, personal responsibility, and community values. SJSS recognizes the paramount role of unstructured play in learning and brain development. Our students are entrusted with the dignity of being themselves and designing their own curriculum, tailored to their goals and aspirations.
Our Priorities and Guiding Principles
1) Safety
Student safety is more important than anything.
2) Respect Human Rights
Our school models respect for oneself and one's peers. Personal boundaries and property rights are strictly enforced.
3) Learning & Exploration
Unstructured play introduces and reinforces life lessons. Staff members are available as resources to all students.
Children are innately curious and all of them desire to learn and succeed.
The deepest learning happens when pursued by the learner.
All people express their talent and creativity when allowed to develop their unique talents.
Mixed-age community promotes growth for all members. Community values grow good people.
Freedom is essential to the development of personal responsibility.
Hear 2022 graduate Gavin Miele deliver his graduation thesis about his time at SJSS! Watch this for an excellent explanation of sudbury.
"All I am saying...can be summed up in two words: Trust Children. Nothing could be more simple, or more difficult. Difficult because to trust children we must first learn to trust ourselves, and most of us were taught as children that we could not be trusted."
—John Holt, How Children Learn (1967)
