The Sycamore School Embraces Urban Model With Move To Arlington's Rosslyn Neighborhood

ARLINGTON, VA — After spending the past two years searching for a larger space, The Sycamore School held a ribbon-cutting for its new location in an office building in Rosslyn.

The six-year-old school moved from Arlington's Ballston neighborhood to its new space on the third floor of 1550 Wilson Boulevard, just a block east of Arlington Public Schools' H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program. The school, which teaches grades 5 through 12, has grown from 14 students at the start of 2017 to nearly 70 today.

Conventional education is focused on standardized tests, rigid standards and forced acceleration that diminishes curiosity and the desire to learn, according to The Sycamore School. The school says it fosters a love of learning for its middle and high school students and follows a learning approach that minimizes stress and focuses on character.

Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey and County Board member Matt de Ferranti joined Kate Bates, president and CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and Mary-Claire Burick, president of the Rosslyn BID, at the Sept. 14 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“We are excited to continue to grow and expand our unique program offerings and advance our internship opportunities for high school students with local businesses in Rosslyn,” Karyn Ewart, founder and head of school at The Sycamore School, said in a statement.

The Sycamore School worked with Arlington County’s Economic Development office, the Rosslyn BID, and other county officials to find a new space.

“We are thrilled to retain The Sycamore School in Arlington. As our business districts evolve, schools and education spaces are valuable additions to our commercial spaces, and serve as great assets for the community,” Bates said in a statement. “We thank AED and the Rosslyn BID for their work with The Sycamore School to find them this new home in Rosslyn.”

Commercial real estate owners are often reluctant to lease to schools, and finding an appropriate space for the growing school was a two-year-long process, the school said. The requirements for a new space for the school included access to green space and the Metro.

"The Sycamore School embraces an urban campus model, where students learn to utilize community resources to augment and enhance their learning experience," the school says on its website. "Located in the heart of Rosslyn, we are accessible to metro/public transportation and walking distance to ten parks."