Who We Are

The Coalition of Essential Schools is:

• Our staff
• Our Executive Board
• Our founder, Theodore R. Sizer
• The CES Network, which includes hundreds of schools and more than two dozen CES Affiliate Centers. Diverse in size, population, and programmatic emphasis, Essential schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through high school in urban, suburban, and rural communities. They are characterized by personalization, democracy and equity, and intellectual vitality and excellence. CES practice is exemplified by small, personalized learning communities where teachers and students know each other well in a climate of trust, decency and high expectations for all. Modeling democratic practices with a strong commitment to equity, Essential schools work to create academic success for every student by sharing decision-making with all those affected by the schools and deliberately and explicitly confronting all forms of inequity. Essential schools focus on helping all students use their minds well through standards-aligned interdisciplinary studies, community-based "real-world" learning and performance-based assessment.  
• And you! We invite you to learn more about our Essential schools and CES Affiliate Centers and our affiliation benefits and ways to join the CES network for individuals, schools, and organizations. Another way to join us is through employment at an Essential schools. Visit our Jobs Board for open positions in schools within the CES Network, and post your resume.