Mission and Philosophy

Mission

Nine women, seeking an innovative education for children, founded The Orchard School in 1922 as a progressive school.

The Orchard School

As an independent, non-sectarian school for students in preschool through grade eight, The Orchard School is committed to the following: The Orchard School guides each student to develop the knowledge, confidence and character essential for a life of learning, leadership and positive contribution to society.

Cornerstones

Academic Excellence

  • Achieving high standards that extend beyond grade-level benchmarks
  • Encouraging independent thought, inquiry, critical thinking, creative expression, construction and application of knowledge, and problem solving

Behavioral Excellence

  • Developing character, service, and personal and civic responsibility
  • Respecting self, others and environment
  • Living Orchard’s Core Values of friendship, fairness, honesty, responsibility, self-discipline, respect, trustworthiness, compassion, integrity (moral courage)

Progressive Teaching

  • Engaging the natural curiosity of learners through their construction of knowledge and understanding and through adult modeling
  • Creating an active, child-centered, experiential learning environment to develop ownership for learning and responsibility for behavior

Diversity and Multicultural Education

  • Inspiring a diverse student body and faculty to support equity and justice
  • Developing the capacity to celebrate differences through open inquiry and learning from multiple perspectives

Operational Excellence

  • Assuring a safe, secure school
  • Assuring financial stability and sustainability
  • Inspiring all members of the Orchard community to act as stewards of the school