A school in Vermont, United States, is offering students an unusual high-school experience that combines traditional academics with farmwork, communal chores and limited technology. Families pay around $40,000 for a semester at The Mountain School.

The programme is designed for students in Grades 10, 11 and 12. During their time on the farm, students help harvest crops, care for animals, chop wood, prepare food and maintain shared spaces.

Students are also assigned “commons work”, which can include cleaning classrooms, washing dishes, preparing vegetables and checking irrigation systems. The school says these responsibilities are intended to build independence while encouraging students to work as part of a community.

The Mountain School also promotes a low-tech environment, giving students an opportunity to spend less time on screens and more time on in-person activities. Its academic programme includes courses focused on critical thinking, along with forestry and natural history.

The unusual model has attracted families looking for an alternative to conventional schooling and students seeking greater independence. Some alumni and families also view the experience as a way to gain a different perspective before college.

The programme reflects a broader interest among some students and parents in education that combines classroom learning with practical skills, responsibility and community life.