On a five-acre farm in north Bentonville, Clover Community School offers an environment tailored to students who learn best outside a traditional classroom setting.

Opened in 2018, the independent nonprofit school was created to offer students a hands-on, project-based approach to education. With a one-to-five teacher-to-student ratio, small classrooms emphasize social-emotional learning designed to meet the unique needs of each individual student. 

“We think differently about education,” said Ashley Nichols, executive director of Clover Community School. “The best part about our school is that we can meet students where they are.”

In the mornings, students start their day with yoga before moving on to feeding and taking care of the animals that live on the school grounds. A donkey, several goats and chickens live on the farm, along with a cat. Inside one of the learning areas, there is a trough of baby chicks.

All of the students take part in caring for the animals each day, building responsibility, emotional regulation, and an understanding of how their actions directly impact the animals’ well-being, Nichols said.

“We’re nature-inspired and outdoor-focused, so the animals are a huge part of our instructions,” she added.

The school has multiple learning areas, with an emphasis on outdoor integration. There are chairs and tables set up in various places outside, where instruction commonly takes place. Lunch is typically eaten outside except during adverse weather, and the more traditional classroom area can be fully opened on one side, creating a seamless flow between indoor space and fresh air. 

There is a garden where students grow vegetables, which are used during cooking instruction in the facility’s kitchen.

“The kids who come here thrive on full-body, hands-on learning,” Nichols said. “They need to be moving and learning with their hands.”

If a student becomes dysregulated in class, teachers encourage a break in the treehouse or hammock, or students can choose to do a physical activity such as watering the garden or cleaning a stall, helping to release energy and reset.

“We are teaching them the skills of how to stay in the classroom, how to advocate for yourself, how to regulate your emotions, and how to take breaks,” Nichols said.

Another component of learning is community integration, and educators take students on field trips around the community. If students have a specific goal for their future, the school works to help them actualize that goal. For example, for older teens who want to learn to drive, the teachers take them to the Fayetteville public library to use the driving simulator.

“Our vision is that every child lives a purpose-driven, independent life, whatever that looks like for that kid,” Nichols said.

The school currently has 18 of 20 spots filled, but Nichols said they hope to grow in the future, with a goal to eventually be able to accommodate up to 50 students. Although Clover is recognized as a K–12 private school, it does not currently offer a K–2 program. Students can enroll starting in third grade, and must enroll by eighth grade to continue their education through high school.

Some students attend Clover for a year or two before transitioning back to a more traditional school, while others stay through graduation. In either case, the staff works closely with families to support each student’s individual goals and path forward.

Clover Community School charges a yearly tuition, which covers about 60 percent of its operating costs. The other 40 percent is made up through fundraisers and donations. Tuition can be partially covered through public funding provided by the LEARNS Act, and some scholarships are available.

Community members can experience the school firsthand at Evening on the Farm, the school's spring celebration on May 8. The event will feature campus tours, live music, farm animals, food and a silent auction.

Volunteers can also help in the classrooms and on the farm with duties like landscaping, mowing, maintenance and more.