If you're reading this guide on how to start a microschool, you've probably already experienced the frustration with conventional education. Maybe you're a parent who pulled your kids from traditional school during the pandemic and realized you don't want to go back. Or you're a teacher who's spent years watching class sizes grow and individual attention shrink, finally ready to build something better.
You're not alone. According to the National Microschooling Center's 2025 Sector Analysis, there are now approximately 95,000 microschools serving around 1.5 million students across the United States. The average microschool serves just 16 students—small enough for genuine relationships, large enough to create a real learning community.
This guide will walk you through every step of starting a microschool in 2026, from defining your educational philosophy to managing enrollment on day one. Unlike other guides that push you toward franchise fees or network memberships, this is about building YOUR microschool, YOUR way.
What Is a Microschool? (And How It Differs from Homeschool Co-Ops)¶
A microschool is a small, intentional learning community—typically 5-15 students—that operates as a private school with a paid teacher or small teaching team. Students attend on a regular schedule (usually 3-5 days per week), follow a defined curriculum, and work with professional or semi-professional educators.
The model appeals to families seeking something between homeschooling and traditional private schools: personalized attention, flexible philosophy, and community learning without the $20,000+ annual tuition or 25-student classrooms.
Microschool vs Co-op vs Traditional Private School¶
Understanding these distinctions matters for legal registration and operational planning:
| Feature | Microschool | Homeschool Co-op | Traditional Private School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 5-15 students | 10-100 families | 50-500+ students |
| Structure | Private school | Parent-led classes | Institutional |
| Teacher | Paid professional | Volunteer parents | Credentialed staff |
| Schedule | 3-5 full days/week | 1-2 days/week | 5 days/week |
| Cost | $4,000-$15,000/year | $500-$3,000/year | $15,000-$40,000/year |
| Legal Status | Private school (usually) | Homeschool extension | Accredited institution |
| Typical Philosophy | Progressive/alternative | Varied | Traditional or religious |
If you're running a single-day enrichment program where parents remain primary educators, you're operating a co-op. If students attend multiple days per week with a hired teacher and you're responsible for their full educational program, you're running a microschool.
For a deeper dive into managing either model, see our guide: The Complete Guide to Running a Micro School or Educational Co-Op.
Is Starting a Microschool Right for You? 5 Questions to Ask¶
Before you start researching state registration requirements or scouting locations, honestly assess whether microschool founding aligns with your life right now.
1. Do you have a clear educational philosophy you're passionate about?¶
"Better than public school" isn't enough. What specifically do you believe about how children learn? Montessori's prepared environment? Classical education's Great Books approach? Project-based STEAM learning? Nature immersion?
Your philosophy will guide every decision from curriculum selection to conflict resolution. If you don't have strong convictions here, you'll struggle to differentiate yourself or maintain consistency.
2. Can you afford 12-18 months of financial uncertainty?¶
Most microschools take 6-12 months to reach stable enrollment. You'll need personal savings or a working partner to cover living expenses while you build. The romantic vision of immediately replacing your teaching salary rarely happens in year one.
3. Do you have access to appropriate physical space?¶
You need 150-300 square feet per student (varies by state fire code), outdoor access, restroom facilities, and proper zoning. A home basement might work for 5 students but won't scale to 12. Church partnerships are common solutions, but they require relationship-building months in advance.
4. Are you ready to be a business owner, not just an educator?¶
You'll spend 30-40% of your time on administration: managing enrollment, communicating with parents, tracking finances, maintaining records, marketing, and handling the inevitable "my child has lice" texts at 9 PM. If you became a teacher because you hate paperwork, starting a microschool will challenge you.
5. Is there genuine demand in your community?¶
Facebook interest doesn't equal enrollment. Talk to 20+ families about your vision. How many say "I'd definitely enroll if you open in September" versus "That sounds nice"? You need 8-12 committed families before launch, not vague enthusiasm.
If you answered yes to all five, let's build your microschool.
Step 1: Define Your Educational Philosophy & Model¶
Your educational philosophy isn't marketing copy—it's the decision-making framework you'll return to when a parent asks why you're not teaching algebra in 4th grade or requests more homework.
Common Microschool Philosophies¶
Montessori: Student-directed learning with carefully prepared materials. Multi-age classrooms (3-year spans). Emphasis on practical life skills and self-correction. Requires investment in specialized materials but deeply appealing to certain families.
Classical: Grammar, logic, rhetoric stages following developmental readiness. Great Books curriculum. Latin instruction. Strong for academically oriented families planning traditional college paths.
Project-Based Learning (PBL): Students explore real-world questions through extended projects. Interdisciplinary. Emphasizes critical thinking and collaboration over content coverage. Works well for STEM-focused microschools.
Nature-Based: Significant outdoor time (forest schools, farm schools). Environmental education integrated throughout. Appeals to families prioritizing physical health and environmental stewardship.
Multi-Age or Single-Age?
Most small microschools default to multi-age classrooms (6-9 year-olds together, 10-13 year-olds together) because enrollment doesn't support grade-specific classes. This isn't a limitation—it's a feature that enables peer teaching and differentiated pacing.
If you're planning multi-age groupings, your record-keeping system needs to handle it gracefully. See our guide on Multi-Age Gradebooks for approaches that work when not every student is completing the same assignments.
Document Your Model Now¶
Write a one-page philosophy statement covering:
- How children learn best (your core beliefs)
- What success looks like (beyond test scores)
- How you'll handle students at different levels
- Your approach to assessment and grading
- Role of technology and screen time
You'll refine this over time, but having it written forces clarity before parents start asking questions.
Step 2: Understand Legal Requirements in Your State¶
This is where many enthusiastic founders stall out. Educational regulation varies wildly by state, and "microschool" isn't a legal category in most places—you're registering as a private school, operating under homeschool statutes, or (rarely) creating a formal tutoring program.
Three Common Legal Pathways¶
1. Private School Registration
States like California allow you to file a Private School Affidavit (PSA) with minimal requirements—no teacher certification, no curriculum approval, just annual reporting of enrollment and subjects taught. In California specifically, file your PSA online by October 15th; it takes about 30 minutes and costs nothing. This gives you legal standing as a school while maintaining maximum flexibility.
2. Homeschool Umbrella/Cover School
In states with strict private school regulations (like North Carolina requiring teacher certification), some microschools operate as homeschool "umbrella schools." Families technically homeschool, but you provide instruction and record-keeping. Less regulatory burden but potentially awkward legal positioning.
3. Certified Private School
Full state approval with teacher certification requirements, facility inspections, and curriculum review. This path makes sense if you plan to grow beyond 25 students or want to offer state-recognized diplomas, but it's overkill for most microschools.
What You Almost Certainly DON'T Need¶
Accreditation: Only 16% of surveyed microschools are accredited according to recent data. Accreditation costs $5,000-$15,000 annually and requires extensive documentation. Unless your families specifically need it for college admissions or military transfers, skip it for your first 2-3 years.
Teacher Certification: Most states don't require private school teachers to hold state teaching licenses. Check your specific state, but certification is rarely a microschool barrier.
Standardized Testing: Required in some states (Florida, Pennsylvania), optional in others (California, Texas). Know your state's requirements before promising "test-free education."
Essential Compliance Records¶
Regardless of legal pathway, maintain these records from day one:
- Attendance logs (daily)
- Immunization records or exemption forms
- Emergency contact information
- Annual academic progress reports (grades, portfolio, or narrative)
- Curriculum plan (can be simple—subject areas and materials used)
Want a quick compliance health check? Our Microschool Compliance 5-Minute Report identifies exactly what your state requires.
Action Step: Spend 2 hours this week researching your state's specific requirements. The Coalition for Responsible Home Education maintains state-by-state homeschool regulations (which often apply to microschools), and the National Microschooling Center has legal pathway guides.
Step 3: Develop Your Budget & Funding Strategy¶
Let's talk money honestly. Microschools can be financially sustainable, but rarely in year one, and never by accident.
Startup Costs: $2,000-$25,000¶
Your actual number depends on whether you're launching in your home or leasing space, hiring staff immediately, and how much you're buying versus borrowing.
Minimal Launch ($2,000-$5,000):
- Curriculum and materials: $800-$1,500
- Basic furniture (used): $500-$1,000
- Technology (used iPads/laptops): $500-$1,000
- Liability insurance: $500-$1,200/year
- Website and basic marketing: $200-$500
- Record-keeping software: $0-$300 (see free tier options below)
Moderate Launch ($8,000-$15,000):
- Everything above, plus:
- Facility deposit and first month rent: $2,000-$5,000
- Montessori/specialized materials: $2,000-$4,000
- Background checks and legal setup: $500-$1,000
- Professional website and branding: $1,000-$2,000
Well-Resourced Launch ($20,000-$25,000):
- Everything above, plus:
- Six months operating reserve
- Part-time administrative assistant
- Renovations for dedicated space
- Comprehensive marketing campaign
Annual Operating Costs¶
Plan for $50,000-$100,000 in year one for a 10-12 student microschool:
- Teacher salary/stipend: $30,000-$50,000 (often founder-teacher initially)
- Rent/facility: $6,000-$18,000 ($500-$1,500/month)
- Curriculum and supplies: $2,000-$4,000 ($200-$300/student)
- Insurance: $1,500-$3,000
- Technology and software: $1,000-$2,000
- Marketing: $1,000-$3,000
- Miscellaneous: $2,000-$5,000
Tuition Models: Finding Your Number¶
Most microschools charge $4,000-$15,000 per student annually. Your tuition depends on:
- Local market: What can families afford? What are competitors charging?
- Your expenses: Rent in rural Tennessee versus urban California drives very different costs
- Value proposition: Full-time Montessori microschools command higher tuition than part-time enrichment models
Tuition Math Example:
- Target: 10 students
- Annual expenses: $70,000
- Required tuition: $7,000/student/year ($583/month)
Be realistic about collection rates—budget for 85-90% collection, not 100%. Families struggle financially, payment plans fail, and enrollment fluctuates mid-year.
Funding Sources Beyond Tuition¶
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs): Available in 13 states (Arizona, Florida, West Virginia, etc.). Families receive $5,000-$7,000 in state funds usable for private school tuition. If you're in an ESA state, design your tuition around these amounts.
Private Grants: VELA Education Fund, Bellwether Education Partners, and state-level microschool associations offer $5,000-$25,000 grants for launching microschools. Competitive but worth applying.
Community Fundraising: Host a launch event, create a GoFundMe, approach local businesses. Set a modest goal ($3,000-$5,000) for materials and furniture.
Sliding Scale Tuition: Offer 1-2 reduced tuition spots funded by families paying full price. This builds socioeconomic diversity and community goodwill.
Keep Software Costs at Zero (Initially)¶
When you're bootstrapping, every recurring cost matters. Your student information system doesn't need to be a line item in year one.
NavEd's Standard tier starts at just $2.50/student/month, but more importantly: your first 5 students are always free. That means if you launch with 8 students in September, you're paying $7.50/month total ($2.50 × 3 students) for a full student management system with gradebook, basic reports, and subject tracking.
Compare that to managing everything in Google Sheets—which seems free until you calculate the 5+ hours monthly you'll spend on manual data entry, formula debugging, and parent report generation. For the real cost analysis, see The Hidden Cost of Managing Your School with Spreadsheets.
Step 4: Secure Your Physical Space¶
Space shapes everything: enrollment capacity, educational philosophy (hard to run a nature school in a basement), and parent perception. You need a physical location locked down 2-3 months before launch.
Four Common Space Models¶
Home-Based (1-8 students)
Pros: Zero rent, flexible start date, intimate environment, easy for parent pickup/dropoff
Cons: Zoning restrictions (many residential areas prohibit businesses), liability concerns, difficult to scale, work-life boundaries disappear
Best for: Solo-teacher microschools under 6 students, nature-based programs using home as basecamp
Example: Converted garage with bathroom access, fenced backyard, separate entrance. Budget $2,000-$5,000 for setup.
Church Partnerships (5-20 students)
Pros: Affordable ($300-$800/month), built-in community, facilities designed for groups (bathrooms, kitchen, parking)
Cons: Shared space (can't leave materials set up), weekend conflicts, religious alignment questions
Best for: Most first-year microschools in suburban/rural areas
Approach: Contact churches with declining weekday use. Offer to maintain classrooms, help with setup for weekend services. Pitch it as community outreach and facility utilization.
Commercial Rental (10-25 students)
Pros: Professional appearance, exclusive use, scalable, fewer zoning issues
Cons: Expensive ($1,200-$3,000/month), lease commitment, build-out costs
Best for: Microschools planning to grow past 15 students or in urban markets where home-based isn't viable
Look for: Former daycare spaces (already zoned and equipped), ground-floor retail, co-working spaces offering dedicated rooms
Co-Working/Shared Spaces (5-15 students)
Pros: Month-to-month flexibility, built-in amenities, networking with other education entrepreneurs
Cons: Noise from adjacent spaces, limited outdoor access, may lack child-appropriate facilities
Emerging option: Education-specific co-working (Prenda hubs, KaiPod Learning spaces) offering turnkey microschool infrastructure
Non-Negotiable Space Requirements¶
Regardless of model, verify:
- Square footage: 150-300 sq ft per student (check local fire code)
- Bathroom access: Ideally 1 toilet per 15 students, handwashing stations
- Fire safety: Smoke detectors, fire extinguisher, clearly marked exits
- Outdoor access: Even urban microschools need 30-60 minutes daily outside
- Parking: Dropoff/pickup for 10-15 cars during 15-minute windows
- Zoning compliance: Verify your use is permitted (get it in writing)
Action Step: Tour 3-5 potential spaces in person before signing anything. Bring a current parent and ask: "Would you feel comfortable leaving your child here five days a week?"
Step 5: Set Up Your Technology & Record-Keeping Systems¶
Here's where most microschool startup guides spend 150 words saying "use a gradebook" and move on. That's where we're different—because this is where most microschools waste dozens of hours or create compliance problems that come back to haunt them.
What Records You Actually Need (and Why)¶
Attendance Tracking
Not just for compliance (though 35 states require it)—attendance patterns reveal student engagement and family commitment. You'll need daily logs, and for high school students, you may need period-by-period tracking for transcript credit hours.
When a parent says "Emma's been sick," you need to know whether that's 2 absences or 12. When a state auditor asks for attendance verification, you need records organized by student and date, not scattered across paper calendars.
Grades and Academic Progress
Standards-based rubrics, letter grades, narrative assessments—whatever your philosophy uses, you need it documented systematically. Parents want progress updates quarterly at minimum. High schoolers need transcripts showing courses completed and grades earned.
Multi-age classrooms complicate this: your 7-year-old and 9-year-old might be working on completely different math units simultaneously. Your system needs to handle individualized progression, not just "what did 3rd grade learn this week?"
Health and Emergency Records
Immunization records (or exemptions), allergies, emergency contacts, medical release forms. These need to be instantly accessible—you can't spend 10 minutes digging through a file cabinet when a child has an allergic reaction.
Parent Communication Logs
Document concerns, agreements, and conversations. When a parent says "you never told me about the field trip," your timestamped message thread proves otherwise. When everyone agrees Johnny needs extra reading support, having it in writing prevents misunderstandings about who's responsible.
High School Transcripts
If you're teaching grades 9-12, colleges need official transcripts with courses, credits, grades, and GPA calculations. Creating these retroactively is painful—build them semester by semester.
Why Spreadsheets Fail at Scale¶
Google Sheets seems perfect when you have 5 students. It's free, flexible, and you already know how to use it. But by month three, you're:
- Manually updating attendance across 3 different sheets
- Copy-pasting student names (and introducing typos)
- Rebuilding formulas because someone accidentally sorted column C
- Spending Sunday evenings generating parent reports by hand
- Emailing grade updates individually because there's no parent portal
One teacher we talked to calculated she spent 6.5 hours monthly on spreadsheet maintenance for 12 students. That's $200+ in lost time (at $30/hour) before you count the frustration.
Spreadsheets work for a single homeschool family. They break for institutions—even tiny ones.
Student Information System Selection for Small Schools¶
You need software that's:
-
Sized for microschools: Enterprise SIS platforms (PowerSchool, Skyward) are built for districts with hundreds of students. They're expensive ($2,000-$5,000 annually), complex, and overkill.
-
Affordable: You can't spend $3,000/year on software when your total revenue is $60,000.
-
Multi-age capable: If your 8-year-old and 11-year-old are in the same class but different math levels, your gradebook needs to handle it.
-
Parent-friendly: Parents should access grades and attendance without you manually sending reports.
-
Compliant: Needs FERPA-compliant data privacy, especially if you have high school students whose records follow them to college.
Let's compare realistic options:
NavEd (Our platform, full transparency)
- Best for: Microschools 5-50 students, co-ops, hybrid programs
- Pricing: First 5 students free forever; $2.50/student/month (Standard) or $5/student/month (Premium)
- Strengths: Built specifically for small schools, multi-age cohort support, parent portal, gradebook, attendance tracking, report cards, and free transcript builder
- Limitations: Not an LMS (no lesson delivery), relatively new platform (launched 2024)
- Tiers: Standard ($2.50/student) includes student management, basic gradebook, subject tracking, basic reports, attendance tracking, and parent portal. Premium ($5/student) adds advanced gradebook, clubs, electives, and GPA configuration.
Prenda/KaiPod (Network platforms)
- Best for: Teachers who want turnkey curriculum and pod management
- Pricing: Typically bundled with network membership/franchise fees ($5,000-$15,000 annually)
- Strengths: Full curriculum provided, teacher training, microschool community
- Limitations: Less flexibility, must teach their curriculum, network fees eat into revenue
Transparent Classroom
- Best for: Montessori microschools exclusively
- Pricing: ~$40/student/year
- Strengths: Montessori-specific features (work tracking, observation tools)
- Limitations: Only works for Montessori, no traditional gradebook
SchoolCues
- Best for: Small private schools (25-100 students)
- Pricing: $150-$300/month minimum
- Strengths: Mature platform, comprehensive features
- Limitations: Expensive for microschools under 15 students, built for traditional school model
Spreadsheets + Google Classroom
- Best for: Year one if you're extremely budget-constrained and tech-savvy
- Pricing: Free
- Strengths: Maximum flexibility
- Limitations: Manual everything, no compliance reporting, no parent portal, huge time sink
Honest Recommendation: Start with NavEd's free tier (up to 5 students) or a low-cost SIS purpose-built for small schools. Revisit annually. When you reach 20+ students or need learning management features (assignment distribution, online lessons), consider adding an LMS like Canvas or Google Classroom alongside your SIS.
For a deeper breakdown of LMS vs SIS and feature comparisons, see How to Choose an LMS for Your Micro School.
Set Up Your Free Gradebook in 15 Minutes¶
Before you commit to any paid platform, test your grading approach with NavEd's free gradebook tool (no login required): nav.education/free-gradebook
Enter a few students, add assignments, experiment with grading scales. See if it matches your philosophy before enrolling real kids.
FERPA Basics for Microschools¶
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) applies to any school receiving federal funds. Most microschools don't receive federal money directly, but if your families use ESAs or federal special education dollars, you're subject to FERPA.
Core requirements:
- Parents can access their child's records
- You can't share student information without written consent (exceptions: teachers with legitimate need, emergencies)
- Secure student records (password-protected digital files or locked physical files)
Even if FERPA doesn't legally apply to you, following its practices builds parent trust and protects student privacy.
Action Step: This week, set up your record-keeping system—even if you have zero students enrolled yet. Having systems ready makes enrollment conversations easier: "Yes, you'll have online access to grades within 24 hours of enrollment."
Step 6: Hire & Train Your Team¶
Most microschool founders start as solo teachers, adding assistants or co-teachers once enrollment reaches 12-15 students. But even if you're teaching alone year one, think through your staffing philosophy now.
The Solo Teacher Model (5-10 students)¶
Structure: You teach all subjects, manage all operations, communicate with all parents.
Compensation: $30,000-$50,000 (often founder pays themselves last, covering personal expenses from spouse income or savings initially)
Sustainability: Works for 1-2 years if you have high energy and low need for work-life balance. Most founders burn out without help by year three.
When it works: Charismatic founder with educational expertise, small space, families who understand they're buying access to YOU specifically
Teacher + Assistant Model (10-15 students)¶
Structure: Lead teacher handles instruction; assistant manages logistics, supervises lunch/recess, leads small groups
Compensation: Teacher $35,000-$55,000; Assistant $15,000-$25,000 (often part-time)
Sustainability: Much better. Assistant handles operational tasks that drain teacher energy.
When it works: You can afford $50,000+ in salary, have space for two adults, value specialized roles
Co-Teaching Model (12-20 students)¶
Structure: Two credentialed teachers split subject areas (one teaches humanities, one teaches math/science) or age groups
Compensation: $30,000-$45,000 each
Sustainability: Best for founder retention—teaching is less isolating, workload is shared, vacation coverage exists
When it works: You find a partner who shares your philosophy, enrollment supports two salaries, your model benefits from specialist teachers
Background Checks and Insurance¶
Required in most states:
- FBI fingerprinting and background checks ($50-$100 per staff member) — allow 2-4 weeks for processing
- Sex offender registry check
- Child abuse registry check
Start this process 6+ weeks before your launch date. Background check delays have caught more than one founder off guard.
Liability insurance: Expect $1,200-$3,000 annually for general liability covering your teachers and facility. Some church partnerships require you to be listed on their insurance policy.
Workers comp: Required in most states once you have employees (not required for independent contractors, but misclassifying workers creates legal risk)
Teacher Certification: Required or Not?¶
Most states don't require private school teachers to hold teaching licenses. California, Texas, Florida—no requirement. A few states (North Carolina, Pennsylvania in some cases) do require certification.
More important than credentials: Does your teacher have content knowledge, classroom management ability, and philosophical alignment? A certified teacher who doesn't believe in your Montessori model will struggle more than a passionate uncertified Montessori guide.
Professional Development¶
Even experienced teachers need training in your specific model. Budget 20-40 hours pre-launch for:
- Your curriculum and materials
- Your educational philosophy applied to real scenarios
- Your record-keeping systems (how to enter grades, take attendance, communicate with parents)
- Emergency procedures and safety protocols
- Conflict resolution with parents
Don't assume teachers will "figure it out"—that's how inconsistency and confusion enter your microschool culture.
Step 7: Enroll Your First Students & Build Community¶
You've got your philosophy, your space, your systems. Now you need students. This is where romantic visions meet marketing reality.
Your Enrollment Goal: 8-12 Students Year One¶
Smaller than 8 students, financials rarely work unless you're home-based and paying yourself minimally. Larger than 12 students in year one, quality suffers as you're still figuring out systems.
The sweet spot: 10 students in year one, 15 in year two, 20 in year three (if you want to grow).
Marketing Without a Budget¶
Local Partnerships and Events
- Homeschool conferences and curriculum fairs: Rent a table ($50-$150), talk to hundreds of families
- Library story times: Introduce yourself to families, offer free nature walks or maker sessions
- Park meetups: Host open play sessions in your model (Montessori work time, forest school exploration) so families experience your approach
- Farmers markets and community events: Set up with activities for kids, talk to parents
Social Media (The Long Game)
Create a Facebook page and Instagram account. Post 3x/week showing:
- Your space coming together
- Your educational philosophy in action (examples of projects, student work with faces blurred)
- Parent testimonials (once you have them)
- Behind-the-scenes founder journey
Don't expect viral growth—microschool marketing is relational, not algorithmic. But consistent presence builds legitimacy.
Word of Mouth (Your Best Tool)
Ask your first 3-5 committed families to each refer two more. Offer a $200 tuition credit for successful referrals. Personal recommendations from trusted friends convert better than any Facebook ad.
Info Sessions and Trial Days
Host monthly open houses where prospective families visit for 1-2 hours. Let kids try your materials and meet your teacher. Let parents ask hard questions.
Offer 1-week trial enrollments: families pay $100-$200 for their child to attend a full week before committing to the year. This de-risks their decision and gives you a chance to demonstrate value.
The Enrollment Conversation¶
When parents express interest, ask:
- "What prompted you to look for alternatives to traditional school?" (Understand their pain points)
- "What does your ideal learning environment look like?" (Does it match your model?)
- "What concerns do you have about enrolling?" (Address objections directly)
Be honest about what you offer and don't offer. If a parent wants a rigorous classical curriculum and you're running a project-based STEAM microschool, say so clearly. Wrong-fit families create conflict later.
Using Your Parent Portal from Day One¶
Once families enroll, set them up in your parent portal immediately—even before the school year starts. This demonstrates professionalism and sets expectations for communication.
In NavEd's Standard tier ($2.50/student/month), parents can log in to see:
- Their child's schedule and subjects
- Upcoming events and announcements
- Attendance records (once school starts)
- Grade updates and assignment feedback
This transparency builds trust. For setup guidance, see Parent Portal for Small Schools: Getting Started.
Action Step: Schedule 3 info sessions before your target launch date. Even if only 2 families attend each, that's 6 prospective families who've now experienced your vision in person.
Step 8: Launch & Manage Your First Year¶
You've reached the starting line. The first 90 days determine whether year two happens.
First 90 Days Priorities¶
Weeks 1-2: Relationship Building
Focus on attachment, not academics. Students (especially those leaving traditional schools) need time to trust you, understand your culture, and bond with peers.
Activities: Name games, collaborative projects, establish routines, create classroom norms together
Weeks 3-6: Establish Rhythms
Consistent daily schedule, predictable expectations, academic work ramping up gradually. Students should know what happens when without constant teacher direction.
Weeks 7-12: Academic Acceleration
Now that routines are solid and relationships are established, increase academic rigor. Introduce assessments, longer projects, independent work time.
Parent Communication Cadence¶
Weekly: General update email (what we learned, upcoming events, supply needs)
Monthly: Individual student updates (brief narrative of growth, areas of focus, celebration of wins)
Quarterly: Formal progress reports or parent conferences (grades, assessments, goal-setting)
As-needed: Immediate communication for concerns (behavioral issues, academic struggles, safety incidents)
Use your SIS to send announcements and updates efficiently. Hand-typing 12 individual emails weekly is unsustainable.
When to Upgrade from Standard to Premium Features¶
NavEd's Standard tier ($2.50/student/month) already includes student management, basic gradebook, subject tracking, attendance tracking, parent portal, and basic reports — everything most microschools need for the first year or two.
Consider upgrading to Premium ($5/student/month) when:
- You want the advanced gradebook with standards-based grading or weighted grade categories
- You're running extracurricular clubs and want to manage them in one place
- Students need elective course selection managed through the system
- You need sophisticated GPA configuration with course-type weighting for college prep
Many microschools run comfortably on Standard for years. Premium makes sense when your academic program grows more complex.
Managing Difficult Conversations¶
You will encounter:
- Parents who disagree with your educational philosophy (after enrolling)
- Students who aren't thriving in your environment
- Families who can't pay tuition on time
- Personality conflicts between families
Scripts for common situations:
"I don't think my child is learning enough":
"Let's schedule a time to go through Emma's portfolio and discuss her progress across all areas. I'd also love to understand what specific academic growth you're hoping to see so I can adjust our approach if needed."
"We can't afford tuition this semester":
"I appreciate you telling me directly. Let's explore a few options: a temporary payment plan, scholarship application for next year, or a reduced schedule where Johnny attends 3 days instead of 5 at a prorated cost. What feels most workable for your family?"
"My child says another student is being mean":
"Thank you for letting me know. I take peer relationships seriously. I'll observe their interactions more closely this week and connect with the other family if needed. Can you tell me more about what Sarah shared with you?"
Document these conversations in your SIS notes. Future you will appreciate the paper trail.
Re-Enrollment Planning (Starts in February)¶
Most families make their schooling decision by mid-April. Starting conversations in February gives you 6-8 weeks to fill any gaps before families commit elsewhere for fall.
- Will they return? (You need to know by March to plan staffing and space)
- Are they referring new families?
- What would make their experience better next year?
Offer early enrollment incentives: $200 discount for families who commit by March 1st. This gives you financial predictability and time to fill remaining spots.
For a detailed month-by-month re-enrollment timeline, see The Re-Enrollment Playbook for Small Schools.
High School Transcripts (If Applicable)¶
If you're teaching 9th-12th graders, start building transcripts from day one of freshman year—not retroactively in 11th grade when college applications loom.
You'll need:
- Official course names and descriptions
- Credit hours (Carnegie units: 120 hours of instruction = 1 credit)
- Grading scale clearly defined
- Cumulative GPA calculation method
- School profile explaining your educational approach
NavEd generates professional report cards with GPA calculations, and our free transcript builder can help create high school transcripts. See our guide: High School Transcript Checklist for Microschools.
Action Step: At the end of your first month, survey parents. One question: "On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that enrolling at [Your Microschool] was the right decision?" Anything below 8 requires a follow-up conversation to address concerns before they fester.
Frequently Asked Questions¶
How much does it cost to start a microschool?¶
Startup costs typically range from $2,000 to $25,000 depending on your space model and whether you're purchasing curriculum and materials new versus used. A home-based microschool using borrowed furniture and open-source curriculum can launch for under $3,000. A leased commercial space with new Montessori materials might cost $20,000+. Annual operating costs for a 10-12 student microschool typically run $50,000-$100,000, primarily teacher salary and rent.
Do you need a teaching license to start a microschool?¶
In most states, no. Private school teachers generally don't need state teaching certification. California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and many other states have no certification requirement for private school staff. A few states (North Carolina, Pennsylvania in some cases) do require teachers to be certified. Check your specific state regulations, but lack of certification is rarely a barrier to starting a microschool.
What is the difference between a microschool and a homeschool co-op?¶
A microschool operates as a private school with paid teacher(s) where students attend 3-5 full days per week for their complete educational program. A homeschool co-op is a parent-led organization where families remain the primary educators but gather 1-2 days weekly for enrichment classes taught by volunteer parents. Microschools typically cost $4,000-$15,000 annually; co-ops cost $500-$3,000. Microschools provide comprehensive education; co-ops supplement home instruction.
Do microschools need to be accredited?¶
No. Only 16% of microschools are accredited, and it's not required in any state. Accreditation costs $5,000-$15,000 annually and requires extensive documentation, administrative overhead, and often curriculum standardization. Most families choose microschools specifically for their flexibility and alternative approaches—accreditation can undermine those benefits. Consider accreditation only if your families specifically request it for college admissions or military transfers, typically after 2-3 years of operation.
How many students do you need to start a microschool?¶
Most microschools launch with 8-12 students. Fewer than 6 students makes finances difficult unless you're home-based and paying yourself minimally. More than 15 students in year one often overwhelms new founders still developing systems. The sweet spot for a sustainable first year: 10 students generating $50,000-$100,000 in tuition to cover teacher salary, rent, materials, and basic operating costs. Plan to grow to 15-20 students by year three if you want a full-time teaching salary.
Can you make money running a microschool?¶
Yes, but rarely in year one. Most founders pay themselves $30,000-$50,000 by year two once enrollment stabilizes at 12-15 students. A microschool with 15 students charging $7,000 tuition generates $105,000 in revenue. After rent ($12,000), insurance ($2,000), curriculum ($3,000), and miscellaneous costs ($8,000), that leaves $80,000 for teacher salary—livable in most areas. Microschools become financially comfortable at 20-25 students with $120,000-$180,000 in annual revenue. However, most founders aren't motivated primarily by income—they're building the educational environment they wish existed.
What software do microschools use?¶
Most microschools use a combination of student information system (SIS) for record-keeping and learning management system (LMS) for lesson delivery. Popular SIS options include NavEd ($2.50-$5/student/month, first 5 students free), SchoolCues ($150-$300/month), or Google Sheets (free but time-intensive). For LMS, many use Google Classroom (free), Canvas (free for small schools), or curriculum-specific platforms. The key is choosing software sized for small schools—enterprise platforms like PowerSchool are overkill and expensive for microschools under 50 students. See our LMS for Micro Schools guide for detailed comparisons.
You Don't Need Permission to Build Something Better¶
The fastest-growing segment of American education isn't happening in school board meetings or state legislatures. It's happening in converted garages, church basements, and small commercial spaces where parents and teachers are simply building the schools they wish existed.
You don't need a $200,000 building fund, a board of directors, or a PhD in education. You need a clear philosophy, commitment to your students, and the operational systems to sustain your vision beyond the honeymoon phase.
Starting a microschool is hard work. You'll have months where enrollment is uncertain, evenings spent troubleshooting parent concerns, and moments where you question whether you're qualified to do this. But you'll also have the profound privilege of knowing every student deeply, adapting your teaching to their actual needs (not district mandates), and creating the learning community you believe children deserve.
The microschool movement needs more educators like you—people who care enough to build, not just critique.
Ready to Set Up Your Operational Backbone?¶
Try NavEd free for up to 5 students—no credit card required. Get your gradebook, student records, and basic reports working before your first day of school.
When you grow beyond 5 students, it's just $2.50/student/month for Standard — which includes attendance tracking, parent portal, gradebook, and basic reports.
Or test our grading philosophy with our free gradebook tool (no login required): nav.education/free-gradebook
More Resources for Microschool Founders:
- Free Homeschool Record Keeping Software Guide
- How to Choose an LMS for Your Micro School
- Attendance Tracking for Flexible Schedules
- Free Homeschool Transcript Generator
Have questions about starting your microschool? Email us at hello@nav.education—we're here to help.