A cottage school is a hybrid education model where homeschool students attend formal classes with professional teachers 1-3 days per week, completing remaining work at home under parental supervision.
What is Cottage School?
Cottage schools split the teaching responsibility between professional instructors and parents. Students attend a small facility—often a home, church, or rented space—for formal instruction 1-3 days weekly, typically from morning through early afternoon. Professional teachers (not parent volunteers) deliver core academic content in a classroom setting. On remaining days, parents supervise homework, reinforce concepts, and handle subjects not covered at the cottage school. Students remain registered as homeschoolers, with parents maintaining primary educational responsibility while sharing the teaching load with qualified instructors.
Key Takeaways
- Students attend classes 1-3 days/week with professional teachers, complete work at home remaining days
- Different from co-ops: hired teachers, not parent volunteers; more frequent attendance
- Costs less than private school while providing classroom experience
- Students remain legally registered as homeschoolers in most states
- Often follows specific educational philosophies (Classical, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf)
How Cottage Schools Differ from Co-ops
What to Expect
Most cottage schools operate 2-3 days weekly with class hours running roughly 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Teachers provide instruction in core subjects—language arts, math, science, history—often following specific educational philosophies like Classical, Charlotte Mason, or Waldorf. Some schools emphasize early foreign language exposure, literature discussions, or nature study depending on their approach. Class sizes stay small, typically 10-15 students. Parents handle homework supervision and additional subjects on non-attendance days. The atmosphere feels more like a one-room schoolhouse than an institutional school.
Costs and Practical Considerations
Tuition varies widely based on location, days attended, and grade level, but generally runs less than half the cost of traditional private school. You'll also pay for textbooks, materials, and possibly uniforms or activity fees. Legal status matters: students typically remain registered as homeschoolers, meaning parents may still need to file homeschool notifications depending on state law. Verify your state's specific requirements—some jurisdictions have laws specifying that home education applies only when each child is educated in their own home, which could complicate cottage school participation.
Finding or Starting a Cottage School
Search local homeschool networks, Facebook groups, and state organizations for existing cottage schools. Churches often host these programs. Classical cottage schools may affiliate with programs like Highlands Latin. If nothing exists locally, consider starting one: gather 3-4 like-minded families, pool resources to hire qualified teachers, secure a location, choose your educational philosophy, and establish a schedule. The beauty of cottage schools lies in their grassroots nature—small groups of families creating exactly the educational environment they want for their children.
The Bottom Line
Cottage schools offer homeschool families a middle path: classroom instruction and professional teaching without surrendering to full-time institutional schooling. Your children get peer interaction, expert instruction in challenging subjects, and the structure some kids need—while you maintain the flexibility, family time, and educational control that drew you to homeschooling. The model works best for families who value specific educational philosophies, want professional support in subjects they find challenging, and can manage the logistics and cost of part-time enrollment. If you're feeling torn between homeschool flexibility and classroom structure, a cottage school might be exactly the hybrid you're looking for.
