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				This progressive, experimental school has the feel of a small-town school, with kids from kindergarten through 12th grade under the same roof. Housed in a former department store, an unusual architectural design gives the building a homey feel and encourages children of different ages to mix. Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms on the ground floor open on a central indoor playroom equipped with playground equipment. It serves as a gathering place for parents at the end of the day, and for teachers to meet informally between classes. Upstairs, classrooms open on a central lounge with sofas and carpeted areas-places for students to chat with teachers or one another. Founded in 1993 by a group of teachers who wanted a school that was run jointly by staff and parents, the Renaissance School has attracted super-involved parents and hard-working, talented teachers. Half a dozen parents work at the school; others volunteer on a regular basis. Children call grown-ups by their first names. Children with disabilities are integrated into regular classes. It's sometimes noisy and a bit disorganized, and the teachers spend a fair amount of time cajoling children to settle down and behave. But it has a joyous, liberating atmosphere, tests scores are respectable, and parents are enthusiastic. Classrooms have sofas and tables-not desks. Tables are moved around according to whether children are working in small groups or meeting together as a class. The cafeteria has round tables, which encourages children to talk to one another-rather than scream across the long institutional tables so common in other schools. The noise is actually low enough to carry on a regular conversation. "Once I got to this school everything changed" This progressive, experimental school has the feel of a small-town school, with kids from kindergarten through 12th grade under the same roof. Housed in a former department store, an unusual architectural design gives the building a homey feel and encourages children of different ages to mix. Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms on the ground floor open on a central indoor playroom equipped with playground equipment. It serves as a gathering place for parents at the end of the day, and for teachers to meet informally between classes. Upstairs, classrooms open on a central lounge with sofas and carpeted areas-places for students to chat with teachers or one another.