The Free School was influenced by Summerhill School.At meetings, parents, students, teachers were all equal, each having one vote.Tuition was based on a sliding scale percentage of parents income.The school did not pursue educational accreditation.
Location
The first year, the school rented space in the in basement of the Evanston Unitarian Church, and for the latter four years in theWheadon Methodist Church, both on Ridge Ave. in Evanston.
Student body
There were more than 100 students, aged 5–16,divided into lower, middle, and upper age groups,Most were from the Chicago suburbs, but there were also several students from Chicago's inner city neighborhoods.