The laughter of young children is not something visitors expect to hear on a college campus, yet the sound greets UW students daily.
The UW Lab School, which was established in 1887 as the University Preparatory School, is located on the second and third floor of the School of Education building. Principal Margaret Hudson said that, as a prep school, it prepares high school age students to continue their education at the college level.
Today, the school is an Albany County School District One public school of choice. Approximately 225 students are selected to attend each year based on a lottery system.
“The lottery process for the 2013-2014 school year will begin on April 12,” Hudson said.
At that time they will begin selecting for Kindergarten and any openings in the first through ninth grade.
To be considered for a spot in the school, the student’s parent must fill out and submit an application. They can pick up applications at the school or fill them out online.
Hudson said being the child of a student or faculty member at the university does not guarantee that child a spot at the Lab School. He or she must go through the lottery process along with the other applicants where everyone has the same chance at being selected.
The lab school is a unique learning environment for children. The classrooms are multi-age, meaning more than one grade level is taught in each classroom.
“I have 20 years of experience with multi-age classrooms as a teacher, an administrator and a parent,” Hudson said. “I’m a fan of using a multi-age configuration because it supports a more flexible, developmental approach to education and helps build relationships and a sense of community in the school.”
For teachers in a multi-age classroom, “the multi-age configuration encourages teacher collaboration and grouping students in multiple ways: needs, abilities, interests and learning style,” Hudson said.
All students at the Lab School, including kindergarteners, are required to do research on a topic and give a presentation over what they have learned.
Over time, students are able to develop and improve presentation skills such as content, organization and visual components.
“The process provides students with the opportunity to be an expert and teach others about what they have learned,” Hudson said.
Students have several opportunities throughout the year to go on field trips, attend camps and take part in various outdoor education activities and community service projects.
“Learning activities that include field trips, fieldwork, outdoor education, community service and service learning are an authentic, engaging way to provide rich learning experiences which address a multitude of standards in a way that provides real-world connections for the students,” Hudson said.
In district and state testing, the UW Lab School has performed at or above average with the most recent state test results showing students performing above district and state averages at every grade level in every content area except sixth grade reading, according to Hudson.
