Our mission is to inspire our students to achieve academic and personal excellence. Our innovative learning community creates classroom, farm and wilderness adventure–engaging the head, hands, and heart–enabling students to achieve more than they think possible and to take an active role in our ever-changing world.
One-of-a-kind education
Our learning model
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Our school is based upon the concept of a small community schoolhouse or "learning family." It is designed to be an intimate, inter-age learning community ranging in age and ability. Our classrooms are combined into three cohorts (K-2, 3-5, and 6-8). This model allows our students to learn at an individual pace, while building strong relationships and learning how to become mentors and leaders.
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Our school is an Expeditionary Learning inspired school. Our school aims to make education relevant, experiential, compelling, and engaging. We emphasize "hands on" project-based learning, the workshop model, and a culture of revision and adventurous farm and wilderness exploration as methods to motivate and engage students in the educational process.
At the heart of Expeditionary Learning is the concept of the "Learning Expedition", an engaging interdisciplinary, academically rigorous thematic unit which lasts for many weeks. Each learning expedition at RWCS is aligned with the New Mexico State Content Standards and therefore meets all state requirements.
The Expeditionary Learning model has been shown to be particularly effective with students who find themselves bored or dissatisfied in traditional school settings.
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Our school site is located at 8000' elevation on the flanks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Lama Canyon, approximately 15 miles north of Taos and 5 miles south of Questa, New Mexico. The community here is a bit different. Students learn to work within diverse groups and to create a community of kindness, respect, and caring. Students learn to express themselves, to see another person's side of the story, to solve problems, and to set goals. Service and leadership are the norms here, not the exception.
Our classrooms
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The K-2 grade cohort at Roots and Wings Community School thrives in a kind and caring learning environment where students feel safe and nurtured. With fun and creative student-centered activities, children are encouraged to explore and learn through play. The cohort enjoys daily garden time, discovering the benefits of companion planting in the food forest and caring for plants in the greenhouse. Our emphasis on exploratory and outdoor learning opportunities helps develop both academic and interpersonal skills. This holistic approach ensures that each child grows in a nurturing and supportive setting.
- Ms. Jaclyn
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Ms. Rose's 3-5 Cohort is a vibrant, energetic community in which creative and curious students thrive. Children are encouraged to ask questions and discover new things every day, in line with the RWCS model of exploratory learning. The emotionally-supportive atmosphere in Ms. Rose's classroom fosters a sense of safety and belonging, allowing students to express themselves and take risks in their learning journey.
-Ms. Rose
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The 6-8 grade cohort at Roots and Wings Community School offers a student-centered experience that emphasizes both academic growth and the development of executive functioning skills. In our small classroom setting, we can target skill gaps effectively, ensuring each student receives the personalized attention they need. Our emotionally supportive environment fosters an accepting and inclusive classroom community where every student feels valued and understood. This approach nurtures both academic success and personal growth, preparing students for future challenges.
-Ms. Amelia
Our programs
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In the winter, students have the option to participate in skiing or snowboarding lessons at the Rio Hondo Learning Center in Taos Ski Valley. Transportation must be provided by families once a week, but the lessons and gear are provided by the school.
This program is optional. Special activities are available at the school for students who choose not to participate.
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The school is located near the Rio Grande National Monument, Carson National Forest, and the Red River Fish Hatchery. Each year, all of our students participate in fall and spring camping trips to age-appropriate destinations accompanied by their teachers and wilderness professionals.
These camping trips are mandatory and counted as learning school days. While there is a small fee to cover food costs, financial support is available. Camping supplies (e.g. tents, sleeping bags, snow shoes, rain gear, etc.) are also available on loan to ensure the trips are accessible for all.
If you would like to sponsor a student's camping trip, reach out to jorris@rwcs.org.
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At Roots and Wings Community School, our Music, Art, and Film program offers students a rich variety of creative opportunities. In music, students learn to play instruments like the violin and guitar, mastering chord structures, reading music, and reading tablature. Our art classes explore a variety of mediums, connecting to classroom learning and fostering individual expression and composition. The film program introduces students to video production software, film theory, audio recording and sound design, providing a comprehensive understanding of the cinematic arts. This holistic approach ensures that students develop both technical skills and artistic expression.
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Our school is surrounded by vast expanses of mountain wilderness and sits of 11 acres of forest. On a given day, students' explorations may take them outside the school building to do environmental research in the greenhouse, our emerging food forest, or on a wilderness trail. Each day provides opportunities for quiet reflection -- time for students to write in their journals, gather their thoughts, and reflect on what they have learned. Adventure and environmental education challenges students to foster teamwork, and nurture students’ understanding of nature and self.
