HMLC’s Purpose

The Hearts and Minds Learning Community is a community microschool designed to give children a safe, nurturing, and empowering space to learn, explore and grow. Our outdoors-first, screen-free approach centers curiosity, cooperation and connection to the world. HMLC is supported by experienced educators and aligned with Minnesota state learning standards.

Families choose the Hearts and Minds Learning Community because we offer both strong academic foundations and a personalized, deeply human learning experience that values relationships, equity and belonging.

What Learning Looks Like at HMLC

Learning Guided by Wonder

Children are natural learners. We honor that by designing learning experiences that spark curiosity, invite questions and encourage exploration so learning feels meaningful, joyful and lasting.

Strong Foundations, Built Together

Our mixed-age kindergarten and early elementary programs lay a strong foundation in literacy, numeracy and social-emotional development, while allowing children to grow at their own pace within a supportive community.

Supporting the Transformation to Independence

Our upper elementary and early middle programs support kids by building confidence, independence, executive function and social maturity through real-world, mixed-age, hands-on learning experiences. Outdoors-first learning boosts attention, emotional regulation, physical and mental health and intrinsic motivation. We’ve found this leads to strong academic outcomes alongside deep well-being and love of learning.

Mixed-Age Learning Across Ages

Learning alongside peers of different ages fosters leadership, empathy, confidence and collaboration. We believe that these skills matter just as much as academics.

Academically Grounded and Standards-Aligned

All learning meets Minnesota state educational standards and is thoughtfully scaffolded to support both academic progress and whole-child development.

A SCHOOL BUILT ON COMMUNITY CARE

We believe learning flourishes when it is rooted in:

• Cooperation rather than competition

• Connection to nature

• Care for ourselves and one another

HMLC is built on a model of community care. We require masks indoors to support working families and those with high-risk medical conditions. HMLC is also gender-inclusive and intentionally designed to center equity, safety and belonging, so every child feels seen, respected and supported.

This commitment to community care is not an add-on, it’s the foundation of everything we do.

A CLEAR PATH FROM AGES 3–12

The Hearts and Minds Learning Community offers a consistent, connected learning journey from early childhood through late elementary and early middle years. Families don’t need to worry about what comes next, our programs are designed to grow with your child.

For the 2026/2027 school year, we are thoughtfully launching founding upper-grade classes (ages 8–12), intentionally small and supported, for families seeking a strong, values-aligned alternative to traditional schooling.

WHO IS HMLC FOR?

The Hearts and Minds Learning Community serves families who are looking for:

• An outdoors-first, screen-free learning environment

• Strong academic foundations grounded in Minnesota state standards

• Mixed-age classrooms and personalized learning

• A gender-inclusive, equity-centered community

• Full-time enrollment (5 days/week) or an in-person homeschool supplement (2 days/week)

Whether you’re local or considering a move, we welcome families who value learning with heart.

YOUR NEXT STEP

Choosing a school is a meaningful decision. We’re here to help you explore whether the Hearts and Minds Learning Community is the right fit.

Explore Our Programs to see how learning unfolds across ages 3–12 or schedule a conversation to ask questions and share your child’s needs.

Meet HMLC’s Educators

STAY CONNECTED

Not quite ready to decide? Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates, enrollment timelines and news from the Hearts and Minds Learning Community.