PK–12 alternative school Norwalk, Iowa

A school day with room to move, make, and be known

Main Street may fit your child if they need smaller groups, more movement, or room to slow down, ask questions, and move ahead when they are ready. Hands-on projects, outdoor learning, and local field trips make that approach visible.

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Two children in superhero capes walking through the Main Street School playground

Students and adults building raised garden beds outside Main Street School — Building raised garden beds together.

Our approach

Built around attention, not anonymity

At Main Street, adults stay close to the work, students learn in relationship, and the day can respond to what is actually happening.

We keep groups small

That gives teachers room to notice when a student is curious, frustrated, ready for more, or needs a different approach.

We connect learning to daily life

Projects, movement, time outdoors, and local experiences give students ways to use what they are learning.

We adjust pace by subject

Students can go deeper in one area and receive more support in another, depending on the subject.

Main Street School students listening to a Norwalk firefighter beside a fire truck — Learning often reaches beyond the classroom and into the Norwalk community.

Hands-on learning

A question can start with taking things apart

In a school activity documented in 2024, students dismantled technology and machines, looked inside, and asked how the pieces fit together.

The activity connected hands-on curiosity with fine motor practice, problem solving, and cause and effect.

Student wearing safety glasses using a screwdriver to take apart a plastic machine at a worktable — From a 2024 Main Street School post: “How does it work? What’s inside? Can I put it back together?”

Programs

One small-school community, four stages of learning

Each program changes with students' needs while keeping the relationships and flexibility that define Main Street.

Main Street School is ISACS-accredited. See how accreditation is verified

Ages 3–5

Early childhood

Play-based exploration where children build language, social skills, self-regulation, and confidence.

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Ages 6–10

Elementary

Reading, writing, math, and science taught in small groups with room for projects and deep questions.

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Ages 11–13

Middle school

Deeper inquiry, growing independence, and steady mentorship through the changes of early adolescence.

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Ages 14–18

High school

Mixed-grade coursework, flexible pacing, and close teacher guidance through the years leading to graduation.

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Tuition support for K–12 families

For 2026–27, Iowa's Students First ESA provides $8,148 per eligible K–12 student. Main Street is an Iowa-accredited nonpublic school, so ESA funds can be used toward K–12 tuition here.

ESA and tuition details

Come see what learning looks like here

The best way to understand Main Street School is to visit. Meet our teachers, see our classrooms, and ask all the questions you have.

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