The School at a Glance

Beyond the classroom — a community of learners.

2017
Inaugurated
$22.5M
Project Cost
PK-5
Elementary
Emerald Elementary School — Primary / Elementary in Boulder Valley, Colorado, USA designed by Education Design International.
The Project

A Learning Community model.

Emerald Elementary School, inaugurated in August 2017, represents a transformative approach to learning environments through its Learning Community model. Moving beyond the conventional classroom setup, the school is structured around interconnected learning communities, each comprising 7–10 educators and over 150 students. This design fosters dynamic collaboration, shared resources, and a sense of collective responsibility for student growth.

At the heart of this model is the belief that education thrives in a collaborative ecosystem where teachers do not work in isolation but instead engage in continuous dialogue, cross-pollination of ideas, and shared instructional strategies. A key feature of this approach is the shared teacher collaboration space, which allows educators to work together seamlessly, enhancing professional camaraderie, deepening their understanding of each student’s needs, and ensuring personalized, flexible learning experiences.

The Learning Community model also enables flexible student groupings, allowing educators to tailor instruction and resources to different learning styles and needs. This ensures that every child receives individualized support while benefiting from a diverse, interconnected learning environment. By integrating modern educational philosophies with thoughtful architectural design, Emerald Elementary School stands as a beacon of innovation, fostering engagement, creativity, and a deep sense of belonging for both students and teachers.

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