About Us

About Discovery

About Discovery School

Discovery School was founded in Mansfield, Ohio in 1975 out of a desire to offer a place where students could step away from their desks, ask questions, explore their world, and learn academic skills in creative ways. This little independent school was situated right in the middle of the woods.

Fast forward almost 50 years to the present day, and you’ll still find us thriving, inquiring, exploring, and continuing to approach academics creatively. Though much more development has occurred around us, our campus remains on the 40-acre oasis of old growth forest situated between the Mansfield Art Center and Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center. We are now proudly designated as an International Baccalaureate World School, offering the Primary Years Programme, and serving more than 150 students in Preschool through Grade 6.

Discovery School in Numbers

List of 9 items.

  • 12

    Our average class size!
  • 90

    The minimum number of minutes our students spend outside each day!
  • 5

    Number of stars our Early Learning Program receives from Step Up to Quality.
  • 95

    The percentage of students achieving at or above grade level on the Ohio State Tests.
  • 40

    The acres of woods our students have access to exploring
  • 1:1

    Chromebook ratio for students in Grade 3 and above
  • 134

    The cumulative amount of years teaching experience in our building.
  • 15

    The average number of professional development hours our teachers engage in each year!
  • 46

    The number of years the “little school in the woods” has been thriving

Second Language Learning

At Discovery School, all students begin learning a second language at the age of 3. While our primary language of instruction here is English,our students are also learning Spanish. In our Early Learning Center, students receive a minimum of 30 minutes per week of Spanish instruction while our students in grades K-6 receive a minimum of 60 minutes per week. Research shows that learning a second language boosts problem-solving, critical-thinking, and listening skills, in addition to improving memory, concentration, and the ability to multitask. Children proficient in other languages also show signs of enhanced creativity and mental flexibility. They are also more open-minded to other cultures and have an appreciation for our differences.

Nature-Based Learning

At Discovery School, we recognize that not all classrooms have walls! Our students spend a lot of time in nature. Nature provides countless opportunities for discovery, creativity, problem-solving, and STEM education. Interacting with natural environments allows children to learn by doing and to experiment with their ideas. In nature, children think, question, and make hypotheses — thereby developing inquisitive minds. Children who spend time in nature will understand the interconnectedness of our world and will be more inclined to protect it.