The aim of this study was to make visible, and understand, possible opportunities for school improvement based on schoolchildren's lived experience and visionary ideas of school. Schoolchildren aged 10-12 from the northern part of Sweden participated in the study. The phenomenological analysis resulted in three themes, with no particular order of preference: the school of "Friendship and involvement", the school of "Work and play" and the school of "Places and spaces". The comprehensive understanding of the children's dream school is the school of "Friendship, freedom and fun", which is discussed with school improvement in mind. (Contains 5 figures.)