This publication describes schools of choice that are nontraditional in structure, including continuous-progress, open, and Montessori-type schools. It describes the philosophy, curriculum, teaching methods, school organizations, and grading methods of several different kinds of nontraditional schools: two continuous-progress schools, a Montessori school, a developmental school, and a microsociety school. The examples are drawn from elementary, junior high, or K-8 schools. The continuous-progress schools include Rafael Hernandez Two-Way Bilingual Magnet School (Boston, Massachusetts, Public Schools) and Mill Swan Communications Skills Center (Worcester, Massachusetts, Public Schools). Examples of Montessori, developmental, or microsociety schools include Bennett Park Montessori Center (Buffalo, New York, Public Schools), Graham and Parks Alternative Public School (Cambridge, Massachusetts, Public Schools), and City Magnet School (Lowell, Massachusetts, Public Schools). An example of a nontraditional school with curricular specialization is the Arts Magnet School (Lowell, Massachusetts, Public Schools). The final chapter examines new methods of shared governance practiced by some of the schools. Practitioners' checklists for identifying nontraditional school characteristics are included. (LMI)