Hybrid Schools Society

“Hybrid schools” is a popular term used to include any educational entity that meets less than a full five days per week, but which also institutionally drives most of their students’ curriculum.  These institutions go by many names: “hybrid schools,” “hybrid homeschools,” “collegiate model” schools, and a variety of others.  In their most common form these schools operate 2-3 days per week in brick and mortar buildings, with classes of students, teachers who assign work, etc. The balance of the week, these students are homeschooled. (Individual schools might offer classes in other weekly formats, such a four half days per week, for example, or give students the flexibility to come an amount up to four days per week).  

We understand that there a variety of circumstances – some, all, or none of a hybrid’s students may be formally registered as homeschoolers.  One particular institution might fully consider itself a school; another with an identical weekly schedule might argue that it is not a school at all.  These institutions could be private, or charter schools, or projects of a public school system.  They might be religious or secular.  They could be stand-alone entities, or members of a larger network, or programs within other, larger schools.  No matter what they call themselves, we consider any entity that meets for only part of the week, but determines most of its students’ curriculum, to functionally be a “hybrid school.”  Our goal is not to over-define this space, but to provide a network and membership group in which schools facing similar practical issues can come together for learning, support, and community.