Founded in 1969, The Free School in Albany, New York is the longest running inner-city independent alternative school in the United States. We offer a unique alternative to traditional models of education by giving children complete freedom over their learning. Students at the school, many whom have slipped through the cracks of today’s increasingly regimented school system, flourish in a nurturing environment that allows them the freedom to chart their own course of learning while fostering their emotional growth.

Founded in 1969 by Mary Leue, the Albany Free School is the oldest inner-city independent alternative school in the United States. It all began when Mary’s ten-year-old son became so miserable in one of Albany’s better public schools that he asked his mother if she would teach him at home instead. Soon three of Mark’s also-suffering friends joined in and with that a little school was born.

Albany Times Union
Encouraging Children to Explore Their Wild Side

Metroland
Free The Children

Adbusters
Reading, Writing, Revolution (Fall 2006)

USA Today
Paying attention, not drugs, touted for ADHD (June 2004)

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Chris Mercogliano (a long time co-director of The Free School) has published many books about the free school and alternative education in general. Find out more at chrismercogliano.com

Free to Learn is a 70 minute documentary that offers a "fly on the wall" perspective of the daily happenings at The Free School. Find out more at www.freeschoolmovie.com

For over thirty years in perhaps the most radical experiment in American education, this small inner-city alternative school has offered its students complete freedom over their learning. There are no mandatory classes, no grades, tests, or homework, and rules are generally avoided. As a last resort, rules are created democratically by students and teachers, often at the prompting of a student.