A purposefully small school typically with the following characteristics:
- led by a trained/licensed professional or group of professionals
- offers flexible programming
- consists of mixed age class or classes with 15 students or less, guided by the same teacher
- focused on meaningful, sustainable, whole student learning
Some other words used to describe a microschool might include cottage school, one-room schoolhouse, hybrid school, blended learning center, learning center, parenting program, alternative school.