Welcome to Pacem

Celebrating Curiosity - Igniting Passions

Pacem School is an intellectually inspiring, joyful learning community in Montpelier, VT. We are a state-approved, full-time independent 6th - 12th grade school, and in addition, we offer coursework and extra-curricular support to homeschoolers age 8 - 18.  Our students are curious and passionate. We give them time and freedom to pursue their interests while supporting them with an intellectually rich curriculum. Our exceptional faculty, all experts in their fields, inspire and guide our students every day. Pacem provides a community where each student is known and cherished. This setting allows our students to develop confidence, feel empowered, and to blossom.

Support our Scholarship Fund!  Bid on our online auction!  

Pacem: /pah' chem/ n. Latin for "peace"

At Pacem School we work together to solve problems collaboratively and create a community that honors everyone; we seek peace within ourselves; and we wrestle with the hard questions about how people could live together more peacefully in the world.

 

Pacem's Love Letters to the Community

The Love Letters to the Community Video Project was a collaborative effort by Pacem students, teachers, and alumni in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to express our love and support for each other and for Pacem.

 
Pacem: 10 years and beyond

Enjoy our visual retrospective of the past 10 years

 
What is Pacem?

Students at Pacem tell us what they love about their school.

 
 Too Much Information!

 Check out this fabulous quiz show video made by our Video Production Class in collaboration with ORCA media.

 
 Outdoor Days

 Every year we start start the fall outside.  Click to see the fun!

Join us!

We accept students on a rolling space-available basis.  We are currently accepting applications for this fall and encourage you to contact us and complete our online application form.  Course descriptions and the weekly schedule for this school year and next school year are available.  Some classes are full, so please inquire before applying.

COVID-19 response Fall 2021

We are extremely proud both of our small Pacem community, and the greater community of Vermont for their support and courage during this unprecedented time.  We are excited to welcome all of our students back to in-person indoor classes in September.  We expect to have a more open community and greater freedom of movement in our space than we did last year.  We will, however, still need to take many precautions against this disease.  Our open letter to the community describing the details of our practices and expectations is here.

Pacem Stands with People of Color

Across America, people are rising up to demand justice for people of color. Pacem School stands with the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community. We mourn the lives lost and damaged by the scourge of racism, and we believe that change is necessary to right the injustice of our society.  Read our full statement of support and action here.

 

 Upcoming Events

Thursday Sep 2 - Friday Sep 3:  Outdoor Days

Tuesday Sep 7, 5:30 pm:  Parent/Guardian, Student, and Faculty meeting and picnic

Wedesday Sep 8: First day of classes!  Required student orientation 8:30 to 10:00; regular classes follow.

Monday Oct 11:  School is open for Indigenous People's Day

Monday Nov 22 - Friday Nov 26:  School is closed for Thanksgiving break

A complete calendar for the year is available here.

Learning in a Multi-Age Community

Goddard College student and Pacem alum, Kiana LaDeau has been contemplating the value learning in a multi-age community, such as we have at Pacem.  She says that, among other things, she learned "to view people younger and older than me as my peers, and to see across age divides and appreciate what everyone has to offer."  Read her complete piece here.

 Praise for Pacem

"Pacem has helped my naturally inquisitive son rediscover his love of learning! He is continually stimulated and urged to make connections and think critically.  His relationships with faculty and students inspire and excite him making his experience at Pacem truly transformative!"

Read Our Testimonials