A growing number of educators are leaving traditional public and charter school systems to launch their own small, independent schools, often called microschools. For some, this shift has resulted in a significant increase in income and professional autonomy. Apryl Shackelford, a 55-year-old teacher in Miami, now earns $101,000 annually running her own microschool, a substantial jump from the salaries she earned in public and charter schools.
Key Takeaways
- Educators are partnering with companies like Primer to open their own small schools, known as microschools.
- Apryl Shackelford, a former public school teacher, increased her annual salary from as low as $34,000 to $101,000 after starting her own microschool.
- The microschool movement has grown, with estimates suggesting between 750,000 and 2 million students now attend them full-time.
- These schools offer smaller class sizes and more curriculum control but have raised concerns about accountability and their impact on public school funding.
From Low Pay to Six-Figure Salaries
For many teachers, financial instability is a constant concern. Apryl Shackelford began her career in a Jacksonville, Florida, public school in 2003 with a salary of $34,000. Years later, after moving to the charter school system, her pay rose to $50,000, but it still wasn't enough to provide financial security. Like many of her peers, she often worked summer jobs to make ends meet.
Today, Shackelford's situation is dramatically different. As the founder of Liberty City Primer, a private microschool in Miami, she earns $101,000 a year. This change was made possible through a partnership with Primer, a venture-backed startup that provides the administrative and logistical support for teachers to become school owners.
"Primer made me not just a teacher, but an entrepreneur," Shackelford stated. "I’m building a legacy, not just running a school."
The company handles backend operations such as payroll, tuition collection, and navigating local zoning laws. This allows educators like Shackelford to focus on teaching and curriculum development. She now has the freedom to shape her school's culture, from selecting library books to designing after-school programs.
The Rise of the Microschool Model
The concept of microschools, which are small learning communities often with mixed-age groups, gained significant momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. As families experienced remote learning firsthand, many sought alternatives to the standardized public school system.
This period highlighted existing frustrations within the education sector, leading to increased teacher burnout. One survey found that nearly a quarter of all teachers were considering leaving the profession due to the pressures of the pandemic. This environment created an opportunity for new educational models to emerge.
Microschools by the Numbers
- Student Population: An estimated 750,000 to 2 million students attend full-time.
- Tuition Range: Typically costs between $5,000 and $10,000 per year.
- Funding: Nearly 40% of these schools utilize state-funded school choice programs or vouchers.
- Growth States: Florida, Arizona, and Indiana have seen significant expansion.
Ryan Delk, the co-founder and CEO of Primer, views the large, industrial-style public school system as an "experiment" that has not adequately served every student. He argues that microschooling empowers teachers as entrepreneurs and allows for a more personalized learning experience for each child.
A New Path for Veteran Educators
The appeal of microschools extends to veteran teachers frustrated with the limitations of traditional classrooms. LaKenya Mitchell-Grace, an educator with 22 years of experience in Alabama, felt constrained by the focus on standardized testing.
"You basically are teaching to test. There’s no creativity; the only creativity that I could provide is how I presented the material," she explained. At one point in her career at a private school with declining enrollment, she was managing a combined fifth and sixth-grade class for just $12.50 an hour.
What Defines a Microschool?
Microschools are a modern version of the one-room schoolhouse. They are characterized by very small class sizes, often with fewer than 15 students, and frequently feature mixed-age classrooms. The curriculum can be highly flexible and tailored to the students' needs, departing from the rigid structure of larger school systems.
After learning about the microschool model, Mitchell-Grace decided to make a change. Last month, she opened her own Primer microschool in Montgomery, Alabama, serving about two dozen students from kindergarten to eighth grade. "It feels like the beginning of my career all over again," she said.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite the benefits for some teachers and families, the microschool movement is not without its critics. Equity advocates express concern that the growth of these private institutions, particularly those funded by vouchers, could divert essential resources and students away from public schools.
There are also questions about oversight and academic standards. A recent report from the Rand Corporation concluded that researchers were unable to comprehensively measure the academic performance of students in microschools, pointing to significant gaps in accountability compared to the public system.
However, for teachers like Mitchell-Grace, the shift represents a necessary evolution in education. She compares embracing this new model to adapting to technological changes like artificial intelligence. "We have to ensure that our children are in spaces and places where they can compete with one another that none feels left behind," she said.
For these educators turned entrepreneurs, the ability to create a supportive and challenging learning environment, combined with newfound financial stability, marks a profound and welcome change in their professional lives.
