At UCoop students are organized into two multi-aged classrooms called pods (think Orcas).  The primary grades consist of kindergarten through second (K-2 pod).  The intermediate grades consist of the third through fifth (3-5 pod).  Each grade has an average of 12 students with a pod totaling between 32 to 40 students.  Each pod is taught by two full-time teachers (and an assistant teacher in the K-2 pod) with support from parents and numerous specialists that share their talents with us throughout the week.

Cooperative learning environments create students that are more intrinsically motivated, intellectually curious and caring of others. At UCoop, our hands-on, integrated, curriculum provides a strong academic foundation while fostering a true love of learning in our children. In our multi- age classrooms children become adept at leadership, teamwork, and collaboration- skills in high demand in today’s world. Experienced teacher teams work with the children over three years, and thus develop warm relationships and a deep understanding of each child’s needs. This enables them to calibrate instruction to enable each child to grow at his or her own pace. Students are not expected to fit into a "cookie-cutter" set of standards. As each child grows, age-appropriate challenges are added, while retaining the core approach. 

Social development is a critical component of the UCoop curriculum. Being an active member in their community and practicing skills in conflict resolution and problem solving are some of our basic tenets. Children have the opportunity to practice these skills in multi-age groupings and within their own class. Multi-age groups provide an opportunity for a plethora of social experiences. Older children mentor younger children to reduce social, physical, and intellectual comparisons by exposing kids to a range of abilities. UCoop also supports and honors the different learning styles that children bring to the school by providing multiple avenues for attaining and processing information. It is assumed that every child can master skills appropriate to her/his developmental level within an intellectually rich and spiritually nurturing environment.

We believe that the presence of parents in the classroom builds a sense of community and security for the children while enhancing a supportive network for parents. Children are supported by a warm school community that fosters strong interpersonal skills. Conflict resolution and the practice of community-building are as intrinsic to the program as math, history, writing skills, and other subjects.  We empower students by providing opportunities for making choices and taking responsibility for their learning. Accordingly teachers provide guidance to students in taking on a more intentional role in their educational experience, and encourage them to become more aware of themselves and each other as members of a learning community.