Profile

The Mandala School (TMS) is a private school (Grades K - 8th) located in Columbia (Howard), Maryland and was founded by three African Americans in order to provide students with an immersive, engaged, individualized, and project-based education… The Mandala School (TMS) is a private school (Grades K - 8th) located in Columbia (Howard), Maryland and was founded by three African Americans in order to provide students with an immersive, engaged, individualized, and project-based education through teaching core academics (STEAM focused), enrichment (art, music, entrepreneurship, cultural studies), field trips/studies (forest therapy, farming, museums, local businesses), creative problem-solving, effective communication, and resiliency.
Our vision goes beyond our school and academics. The Mandala School is a community of independent learners and engaged, mindful teachers and mentors navigating learning and life together. TMS is in partnership with our students and their families — integrating into our education philosophy a holistic approach to learning and serving. The mission is to fully support the students (families) and fill any gaps seen and unseen so that they may achieve and succeed academically and socially — building the foundation for strong character, community, and cultivating belonging and a life-long love for learning and an understanding of engaged world citizenry. It is vital to not only advance the education of the student, but to advance the mission of the family so that it can accomplish its goals and contribute to the local and world communities in a meaningful and sustainable way, too.
Additionally, it is important that we meet students where they are on their education journey. We are committed to education, teaching the power of teamwork, character building, and teaching a life ethic skillset (social emotional learning, responsibility, resiliency, and respect, etc.). We teach students that there are a multitude of non-traditional careers, entrepreneurial paths, and traditional jobs as viable options from which to choose to make a living that they will pursue with passion.