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Discovery School

United States, Mansfield

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 12 years
Pupil numbers 150
Type Co-educational
Opened 1975
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP)
Taught languages Spanish
Typical class size 22
Strengths Outdoor Education, STEM, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Preschool, Kindergarten, Primary School
Introduction

Discovery School is an International Baccalaureate World School in Mansfield, Ohio, offering the Primary Years Programme for Preschool through Grade 6. The Early Learning Center serves ages 3 and follows IB Early Years Programme in alignment with Ohio's Early Learning Standards for motor skills, literacy, numeracy, and related development. Across Kindergarten to Grade 2, students study English Language Arts and Unit of Inquiry, with classes in Spanish, Physical Education, and rotation including Woods/Outdoor Environmental Education, STEM, Health/Social-Emotional Learning, Music, Visual Arts, Library/Media Studies, and Genius Hour. In Grades 3–5, learners deepen inquiry through IB Programme of Inquiry and advance in mathematics toward complex operations. The campus spans 40 acres of old-growth forest, with the Early Learning Center in a separate building to the east. Enrichment, Friday offerings as clubs and activities, complements core study and supports student agency. Founded in 1975, school serves more than 150 students today and growing.

855 Millsboro Road, Mansfield, OH 44903-1997

The Essentials

Discovery School has 150 pupils, typical class sizes of 22, instruction in English.

Location
855 Millsboro Road, Mansfield, Ohio 44903, United States.

Stages
Early Learning Center; Primary Grades K - 2; Intermediate / Middle Years (IB PYP).
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Day; no residential/boarding facilities.

Food Options
Discovery does not provide daily lunches. Parents must send a packed lunch each day. Juice or milk is provided on request. Students may use a microwave to warm food. Pizza is served on the first Friday of the month and the cost is included in enrollment.

Governance and Ownership
Discovery School is an independent, non-profit school incorporated in 1975 and chartered by the Ohio State Department of Education. It is governed by the Board of Governors, which advises the Head of School and sets policies; the board meets eight times per year.
Fees
Application and enrollment fees

- Application fee: USD 50 charged to access the online enrollment form and begin the admissions process.
- Enrollment fee: An enrollment fee is required to place a child on the class list and covers items such as occasional pizza lunches; the school requires payment of an enrollment fee as part of the enrollment process (amount not published in the school's handbook).

Tuition fees by year group (per term and per year group)

- The school's publicly available family handbook and admissions pages include billing rules, payment options and several specific service fees, but they do not publish a per-grade or per-term tuition schedule in the handbook. No per-term or per-year tuition amounts by grade are shown in the 2026–2027 handbook materials available.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Payment options available: full pre-start payment; 50/50 (two payments); ten monthly payments; or twelve monthly payments.
- Full-payment due date and discounts: Full payment is due June 1. A 4% discount applies to payments received by April 1; a 2% discount applies to payments received by May 1.
- 50/50 payment schedule: First payment due June 1; second payment due January 1.
- Ten-month plan: Pre-authorized draft; first payment due in August, final payment due in May.
- Twelve-month plan: Pre-authorized draft; first payment due in June, final payment due in May.
- Finance charge and late fees: A 10% finance charge is applied to the 50/50, ten-month and twelve-month payment options. A USD 40 late fee is applied for each payment received after 10 days past the due date (a $40 late fee is applied for each payment not received in the month in which tuition or fees are due). Accounts more than 30 days past due receive immediate contact; accounts more than 60 days past due are turned over to the Board of Governors.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not offered. Discovery School serves preschool through sixth grade and does not provide boarding accommodations.

Other costs and fees

- IEP and intervention-related fees and hourly rates (billed according to Individualized Education Program requirements):
- IEP creation and writing: USD 250 (paid with the enrollment fee or when family receives a copy of the final IEP).
- Intervention Services: USD 68.20 per hour.
- Intervention Assistant Services: USD 37.80 per hour.
- Speech and Language Services: USD 75.00 per hour.
- Occupational Therapy Services: USD 75.00 per hour.
- Physical Therapy Services: USD 75.00 per hour.
- Vision Support Services: USD 100.00 per hour.
- Nursing Support Services: USD 40.00 per hour.
- The cost of occasional pizza lunches is incorporated into the enrollment fee.
- The handbook specifies that tuition and fees do not fully cover the cost of education and describes fundraising and scholarship programs to address the difference.

Refund information and withdrawal policy

- No tuition refund will be made for any trimester in which a student is withdrawn, or for trimesters following withdrawal; the financial obligation for the full trimester and the remaining school year in which the student is enrolled is unconditional. No portion of such fees and charges will be refunded or cancelled. Final grades and transcripts may be withheld until all payments have been made.
- Families who withdraw a child after August 15 and prior to the last day of school remain responsible for the full year's tuition; no tuition will be refunded after August 15.
- Exception for military relocation: If a parent/guardian is involuntarily relocated for active-duty military assignment or training, tuition for the relevant trimester will be prorated to charged only for days the student attended.
- Six-week probationary period: During an initial six-week probationary period the school may award a partial refund of tuition if the student is withdrawn by parents or deemed not a good fit by school leadership.

Fee payment methods and transactional charges

- Accepted payment methods: cash, check, ACH (electronic bank draft), money order, or credit card. Pre-authorized drafting is used for monthly payment plans.
- Credit card processing: Credit card payments incur a processing fee of 3.05% of the charged amount.
- Failed ACH payment fee: USD 30 per failed ACH.

Important note about published tuition amounts

- The school's 2026–2027 Family Handbook and the public admissions pages provide detailed billing rules, payment plans, specific service fees and schedules, but do not publish a full per-grade, per-term or per-year tuition table within the handbook PDF or the visible tuition-and-fees page. For the 2026–2027 academic year the school's handbook supplies the application fee, payment schedule, penalties, intervention rates and refund rules listed above, but does not list tuition amounts by year group in the publicly available handbook material.
Academics

Discovery School teaches IB (PYP) for students aged 3 to 12.

Curriculum
Discovery School delivers an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) across Preschool through Grade 6. The Early Learning Center follows the IB Early Years Programme and meets Ohio's Early Learning Standards for motor skills, early literacy, early numeracy, and more. In Kindergarten through Grade 2, students engage in English Language Arts and a Unit of Inquiry within the IB framework and participate in three specialist classes: Spanish, Physical Education, and a broad rotation including Woods/Outdoor Environmental Education, STEM, Health/Social Emotional Learning, Music, Visual Arts, Library/Media Studies, and Genius Hour. In Grades 3–5, students deepen inquiry through the IB Programme of Inquiry and progress in mathematics toward more complex operations such as multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals. Discovery School emphasizes constructivist learning, outdoor education on a 40-acre campus, and enrichment through Friday afternoon offerings.

Student Teacher Ratio
The Early Learning Center has lower teacher ratios than licensing requirements demand.

Gifted and Talented
Genius Hour is offered as a specialist class for enrichment.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Health/Social Emotional Learning is a specialist class in the Primary Grades. Primary Grades K-2 list Health/Social Emotional Learning among the specialist classes, alongside Spanish, Physical Education, Woods/Outdoor Environmental Education, STEM, Music, Visual Arts, Library/Media Studies, and Genius Hour. The school begins each day with Responsive Classroom's morning meeting model to support social-emotional development. Fall conferences discuss social, emotional, and academic strengths or areas for improvement, with goals and Individual Learning Plans. The IB Primary Years Programme framework and a holistic growth approach support social-emotional development as part of a constructivist learning environment.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Students with IEPs, 504 plans, and other individualized plans are given the attention and direction necessary to meet the goals and objectives established on these plans.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Spanish is taught as Language B to Preschool through Grade 6. Preschool and prekindergarten have weekly 30-minute Spanish classes, while Kindergarten and above have lessons of at least 45 minutes per week. Home Language Support is provided, and an annual Language Portrait survey identifies languages spoken at home. Some faculty hold ESL certifications and provide ESL support.

Mental Wellbeing
Health/Social Emotional Learning is a specialist class. Fall conferences discuss social, emotional and academic strengths or areas for improvement, with goals and Individual Learning Plans. The IB PYP framework and a holistic growth approach support mental wellbeing as part of the constructivist learning environment.

Safeguarding
The school has a Complaints Procedure to address concerns and complaints with confidentiality and timely resolution. The procedure involves the Head of School and PYP Coordinator and aims for resolution within 15 business days; it aligns with IB procedures and is accessible in the Family Handbook and policy documents.
Parent Experience

History
Discovery School was founded in Mansfield, Ohio in 1975. Co-founders were Margaret Black and Dr. Shirley Heck. It began as a small, one‑room school with students of multiple ages, located in a wooded setting. It was incorporated in 1975 and chartered by the Ohio State Department of Education. Today, Discovery School sits on a 40‑acre campus in Mansfield and is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Programme.

Community
Discovery School emphasizes outdoor, project‑based learning on a forested 40‑acre campus. It aligns with the International Baccalaureate framework and centers inquiry‑based learning. Enrichment classes on Friday afternoons invite teachers and community members to share interests with students; past offerings include board games, art, salsa dancing, urban farming, and meditation. Communication with families is encouraged through involvement opportunities and partnerships, including a designated parent group, Parents for Discovery (P4D).

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Parents for Discovery (P4D) is the school's parent group. Parents partner in the learning community and are invited to share their expertise during Units of Inquiry. The group welcomes mystery readers in the Early Learning Center and supports the school through activities such as clothing bins for wet or muddy students and donations to an Amazon Wishlist. Information about P4D is shared via Mr. Simon's Sunday emails, and the group maintains a Facebook presence for engagement.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Nestled on 40 acres of old-growth forest, Discovery School provides a learning environment that blends indoor classrooms with expansive outdoor spaces. The campus sits between the Mansfield Art Center and the Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center. Discovery School is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Programme for Preschool through Grade 6. The day begins with core subjects in the morning and continues with related specialist subjects in the afternoon, including woods/outdoor environmental education, genius hour, STEM, visual art, library, Spanish, physical education, and health. Enrichment classes on Friday afternoons offer activities such as board games club, art club, salsa dancing, urban farming, meditation, and more.

Academic Facilities
Early Learning Center is housed in a separate building to the east of the K-6 campus and includes three classrooms with their own bathrooms. Preschool begins at age 3 by September 30, with 2-, 3-, and 5-day morning options, and prekindergarten offers morning or full-day options. The program follows the Ohio Early Learning Standards and the International Baccalaureate Early Years framework. Discovery School is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Programme for Preschool through Grade 6, and specialist classes support academics across Spanish, Physical Education, Woods/Outdoor Environmental Education, STEM, Health/Social-Emotional Learning, Music, Visual Arts, Library/Media Studies, and Genius Hour. The IB Program of Inquiry guides learning across the Primary Years Programme.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Enrichment classes on Friday afternoons provide opportunities beyond the core curriculum. Teachers and community members share their passions with students through these offerings. Examples have included board games club, art club, salsa dancing, urban farming, and meditation. The program supports student agency by allowing learners to choose activities that interest them.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school is an International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Programme for Preschool through Grade 6. The student body is more than 150 students. The day begins with a full academic morning centered on core subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics, followed by three related specialist subjects in the afternoon, including woods, genius hour, STEM, visual art, music, library, Spanish, physical education, and health. Friday enrichment classes let students explore a range of passions, including board games club, comic book clubs, art club, salsa dancing, urban farming, and meditation.

Arts & Creative
Visual art and music are offered as afternoon specialist subjects. The enrichment program on Friday afternoons includes creative clubs such as art club. Project-based learning supports creative exploration across disciplines.

Cultural & Language
Salsa dancing is among the cultural enrichment offerings. Spanish is taught as part of the program. The IB framework fosters global awareness and connections with the wider community.

Social & Hobbies
Past offerings have included board games club, comic book clubs, art club, salsa dancing, urban farming, and meditation.

Community & Service
Discovery School emphasizes learning in partnership with the wider community. Learning is built through projects and partnerships with the school and the community.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Outdoor learning is prioritized on a 40-acre campus of old growth forest. The campus sits between the Mansfield Art Center and Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center. Physical education and health are part of the afternoon specialist subjects, and enrichment activities include meditation.
Languages

Language Provision
Spanish is taught as language B to Preschool through Grade 6; Preschool and prekindergarten have 30 minutes of Spanish class per week, while Kindergarten and above have at least 45 minutes per week. Spanish is reinforced throughout the school environment by labeling objects, using greetings, hallway displays, and culturally connected experiences in subjects such as art, music, and dance. Home language support includes an annual language portrait survey to identify languages spoken at home; families are encouraged to share their languages at school; the library supports the mother tongue while exposing students to books in other languages.

Bilingual Teaching
Spanish is taught as language B to Preschool through Grade 6. All teachers are responsible for teaching language and language is integrated across curricular areas. The school encourages families to maintain their home languages and celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity.
Admissions

Admissions
1) Tour and enrollment discussion: The enrollment process begins with a request for a tour where a member of the administrative team talks about the curriculum and shows the school in action; you will also meet with the business manager, who explains the enrollment process, tuition and fees, as well as scholarship options. 2) PS Kindergarten: The next step is to pay the enrollment fee in order to be placed on the class list. 3) Grades 1 and above: A records request is sent to previous schools (for grades 1 and up) and records are sent to Discovery School; a trial day can be arranged so the child experiences a full day as a student; after the trial day, the admissions committee meets with the family to debrief and makes a final admissions decision. 4) Final decision: The admissions committee determines whether to admit the student based on the trial day, records review, and meeting with teachers.

Scholarships
The Discovery School Ohio Scholarship Fund provides tuition assistance to families at Discovery School. The school uses FACTS enrollment management as a first step to determine financial needs and rank availability for in-house scholarships from the Discovery School Scholarship Fund; you can fill out information as part of the enrollment process to apply for these in-house scholarships. Ohio EdChoice and EdChoice Expansion scholarships are accepted for accepted students on IEPs when they are admitted from the Intervention Waitlist. The Scholarship Fund offers donors two gifting scenarios to support tuition assistance and tax credits; donors contribute to Discovery School and receive documentation to claim Ohio tax credits upon filing.
School Events
The school has not added events
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