More and more families are seeking something different in education—something that centers real learning, not just achievement. Whether they’re homeschooling and looking for community, leaving a high-pressure private school, or stepping away from a rigid public system, they’re not alone.

What if school looked more like life? What if education prioritized authentic learning over test scores and letter grades?

Discovering Partnership Education in Malvern, PA

Cupola Academy (CA) offers a fresh approach. This secular, nonprofit learning community serves ages 4–18 on 10 picturesque acres in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

For over 50 years, CA has pioneered an innovative model rooted in one core belief: youth are naturally curious. CA offers part-time, in-person programs that support homeschooling families who want something more than school and more than going it alone.

Expertly trained Facilitators guide youth through applied academics, emphasizing process over product with hands-on learning and collaboration. For families seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking, hybrid educational environment, CA serves as a one-stop shop.

More Than Students: Whole, Thriving People

The Power of Process Consciousness

Process Consciousness (PC) makes Cupola Academy truly unique. PC means paying attention not only to what students do, but how they do it. This approach creates a safe, supportive environment where youth feel empowered to take creative risks and work together to solve real-world problems.

CA’s youth-initiated Plastic Renewal Project brings this philosophy to life. Young people don’t just learn about sustainability—they actively inquire, plan, collaborate, experiment, and reflect on their process to design actionable solutions.

This exemplifies how Cupola sees youth as co-pilots. Students gain autonomy in what they learn while Facilitators provide guidance and expertise. CA supplies the physical resources and materials, and together, they bring student visions to reality.

Through this process, CA youth discover something powerful: the journey of listening, problem-solving, and creating together holds as much value as the final outcome. This prepares them to bring curiosity and confidence to every challenge they face.

Trust, Curiosity, and Community: A Powerful Combination

Youth thrive when they receive trust, curiosity, and community. Families often notice their CA young people are happier, more engaged, and more confident than they were in traditional settings. At Cupola, every youth gets lifted up and their gifts are seen. They stretch to grow into their best selves and learn to lift others up too.

One six-year-old CA youth recently pondered out loud, “Why are people at Cupola so kind?” CA co-director Julia Bergson-Shilcock replied, “because we place a lot of emphasis on the impact that words have on people, and we work to encourage respectful language that builds each other up.”

Cupola Academy mom Kellie shares: “My daughter (14) is beginning her 2nd year at Cupola Academy and we couldn’t be happier. She never enjoyed public school, but absolutely loves CA. She’s rushing me out the door when it’s still too early to leave. As a family, we appreciate the culture on campus, the sense of community, shared values, and focus on the larger community.”

Why Learning Without Grades Works Better Than Traditional Report Cards

Cupola Academy starts from one core belief: young people are naturally curious about the world. Their intrinsic motivation, coupled with mutual respect, drives both productivity and accountability. That’s why Cupola Academy doesn’t use traditional grades.

The Problem with Letter Grades

Traditional grades often measure compliance, not learning. They reward how well a student follows instructions and memorizes for tests, but don’t necessarily measure deep understanding or creative application.

In a project-based, real-world learning environment like Cupola’s, “success” can’t be boiled down to a percentage. CA cares about the thinking, collaboration, and growth behind the work—nurtured in a culture of mutual respect, social capital, and presence.

Why Letter Grades Shut Down the Conversation

A “B+” or “85%” creates a false sense of clarity and ends the conversation before it starts. But what does that number actually mean? It doesn’t identify strengths or areas for improvement. Cupola Academy replaces grades with descriptive, detailed feedback that keeps the focus on the work and the learner, not the score.

How Feedback Replaces Grades for Real Learning

Using Feedback as a Tool for Growth, Not Judgment

CA uses three powerful assessment methods instead of traditional grades:

Balanced Response: Facilitators share three positives or “pluses,” then ask a “How to…” question that frames improvement as an achievable next step.

Descriptive Review: Facilitators provide rich, specific observations in a narrative format, noting what a young person has done well and suggesting where they might take their work next.

SMART Goals: Facilitators and youth co-create goals together that are measurable, attainable, and relevant to each learner’s personal journey.

This approach turns assessment into a conversation where the young person actively participates rather than passively receives a grade.

Real Work Deserves Real Evaluation

Cupola Academy looks at the work itself, in context, which they believe is the best way to measure learning.

Consider what students actually do: one young person may design a market-ready product in CA’s Materials Science program, another might organize a fundraiser, while another leads a Model Senate debate. The quality of that work speaks louder than any number could.

CA evaluates based on authenticity, creativity, problem-solving, and skill growth—the abilities that will serve youth for life.

Building Accountability Without Punishment or Grades

How Deadlines Work in a Non-Punitive Environment

Mutual respect drives both productivity and accountability at Cupola Academy. Meeting deadlines isn’t about avoiding punishment—it’s about honoring the time, energy, and process of everyone involved.

When a young person completes work on schedule, they contribute to the momentum of a group project, show reliability to their peers, and build trust with Facilitators.

Understanding Social Capital in Education

CA emphasizes building social capital—the trust, goodwill, and credibility people earn through their actions.

Social capital works like financial capital: when someone follows through on commitments, communicates openly about delays, and goes the extra mile, they invest in their own social capital. It can grow over time or deplete through inattention or lack of follow-through.

Discipline at CA doesn’t come from fear or bad grades. Instead, students cultivate discipline through understanding that each person’s work and effort affects the whole community.

The Importance of Being Present

Collaboration at Cupola Academy means more than dividing up tasks—it’s about truly showing up for one another.

CA has maintained a no-phone policy for nearly two decades. This isn’t about rejecting technology; it’s about creating space for focus, active listening, and genuine connection.

Presence is one of the simplest forms of respect anyone can offer their community, and it’s also one of the most powerful.

Making the Transition to Learning Without Grades

Guidance, Reassurance, and Support for Families

Stepping outside the traditional school system to try something new takes courage. But what feels new for a family isn’t new for Cupola Academy—they’ve championed Partnership Education for over 50 years.

Cupola Academy alumna Evelyn explains: “In my experience, it was incredibly helpful to have a group of other young people who were following a similar path and also for my parents to have other parents so we could trust the process. Being part of a community helps you to find more resources, form study groups, join field trip groups, and enriches the whole experience of a self-directed learner.”

Who Thrives in an Environment Focused on Learning Without Grades?

Cupola Academy designs its programs for families seeking an intellectually rich atmosphere focused on a growth mindset and lifelong learning. They value social and environmental justice, which CA fosters in all programs.

Youth who are intellectually curious and intrinsically motivated thrive at CA. Being around other equally engaged and passionate learners fuels them.

At CA, parents find a community with deep roots, expertly trained Facilitators, and thoughtfully curated programs, workshops, and support services that help families transition from traditional school to Partnership Education.

The Results Speak for Themselves

Families consistently report positive changes: their children are happier, more engaged, and more confident in a learning environment without grades.

When assessment focuses on authentic growth rather than arbitrary numbers, students develop genuine intrinsic motivation and a love of learning that extends far beyond the classroom.

Cupola Academy removes the stress and competition from traditional grading systems, creating space for students to take creative risks, collaborate meaningfully with peers, and develop critical thinking skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

For families ready to explore an alternative to traditional schooling—one that honors their child’s natural curiosity and builds accountability, confidence, and real-world skills—learning without grades offers a compelling path forward.

---

Photos courtesy of Cupola Academy, as seen in the Fall Education Guide.

Cupola Academy’s story supports the Main Line Parent Community. Collaborate with us.