About

What Is Progressive Education?

I love to walk the halls at Orchard - kids talk to you, they smile, they share their problem or their joy, then even ask you if you need something when you look a little lost. Orchard shows them the importance of acknowledging one another and communicating, even with adults!
- Orchard Parent

  • Video: Experience The Best In Progressive Education



    See what more than a century of successful outcomes looks like. We are a private school in Indianapolis, Indiana with a commitment to advance each student’s academic success, self-confidence, open mindedness, ethical character, leadership, and love of learning. Orchard provides a progressive education with a focus on experiential hands-on learning. Our 43-acre wooded campus provides many outdoor learning spaces letting us stay true to one of our 9 Promises, Nature as Teacher.

  • Video: Elementary School Math



    Hear from Orchard's Director of Early Childhood & Elementary School, one of our fourth grade teachers, and a current parent who is a professor of STEM education research. Math at Orchard is a special thing and we hope you enjoy seeing the progressive process played out in the classroom.

    "Something that sets us apart as an institution as far as math is concerned, is our ability to balance to procedural fluency with conceptual understanding." Hal Schwartz | Director of Early Childhood & Elementary School

  • Video: Orchard Teachers Gear Up for Derby Through Makerspace Immersion



    Seventh-grade teachers took over the     #OrchardMakerspace to drive derby learning by getting a true pit crew experience! The Orchard Derby is a middle school math project where teachers leverage a plethora of academic skills for students to construct a massive pinewood derby track. The culminating event is a competition where teachers and students compete against each other with their custom made derby cars. Artistic creativity, mathematics, and teamwork are the driving forces behind this project.

    The hands-on nature of this project mixed with real-world concepts keeps students busy throughout the entire process When the Orchard Derby was a sixth-grade project, Emma Laborsky '20 directed and edited a video highlighting the experience from start to finish. "I remember students would gather around and solve the questions together," Emma recalls. "It was more engaging when the equations had actual meaning that would contribute to the track being built." However, before students dive into any major project, teachers will take a day of preparation in order to learn how to use several tools, understand the logistics of the workshop, etc. Having a dedicated time to collaborate for brainstorming, prototyping, and troubleshooting helps to make for a smooth project with students. It's also a great way for faculty to work collaboratively and model what it means to be joyful lifelong learners.

  • Video: See Inside An 8th Grade Math Classroom



    In this progressive education moment, Ryan Mossakowski empowers his 8th grade math students in the form of a Test Analysis. Students practiced skills such as collaboration, creativity, flexibility and critical thinking. Progressive education prepares students for a lifetime of learning and leadership.

  • Video: Identity Discovery Starts In Preschool



    Orchard's four preschool classrooms collaborated on a project centered around identity, which is a big part of their curriculum. This work of art encouraged young learners to discover multiple perspectives and a connection to our nature-based approach. A main tenet of progressive education is to produce courageous, compassionate citizens. It starts with work like this.

  • Video: Hands-On Learning



    Progressive education is constructed through play, social interaction and direct experience. When learning about kinetic versus potential energy in fourth grade, our teachers take advantage of our ropes/challenge course. One student at a time is hoisted 20-25 feet into the air. While tethered in place, the group shouts, "Potential! Potential! Potential!" Then, the students shout, "Kinetic!" as they release the rope and swing freely in the air. The goal is for the students to physically feel the difference between the two types of energy they're studying, while gaining confidence and trust in their team.

List of 3 items.

  • Joyful Partners in Learning

    • Joyful learning occurs when a connection is made between the developmental readiness of the learner and the complexity of the material guided by a teacher who knows each learner well
    • Responsive teaching is only possible when each student is known for their passions, interests, strengths and challenges
    • It is essential that the school ensures the emotional and physical safety of all members of the community in order to foster experimenting, risk taking and ownership of learning. Students gain confidence in their ability to advocate for themselves and others and in the power of their ideas when teachers honor their individual voices, solutions and thinking. In this climate it’s ok to make mistakes.
    • Parents are partners. Students flourish when parents understand and uphold the school’s mission, communicate closely with their children’s teachers and support the school philanthropically

  • Courageous, Compassionate Citizens

    • We foster active citizenship and stewardship rooted in justice, integrity, character, ethics and courageous compassion 
    • Different voices and perspectives enrich us all, and we proactively embrace the rich diversity of the world
    • Practicing skills such as collaboration, industry, creativity, flexibility, perseverance and critical thinking prepare our students for a lifetime of learning and leadership

  • Curious Minds, Confident Scholars

    • The best pathway to deep understanding, skills and knowledge is through active, rigorous, hands-on learning that taps into students’ instinctive curiosity
    • Beyond traditional educational practices, knowledge is constructed through play, social interaction and direct experience, and this approach leads to academic achievement and success
    • Comfort with complex questions that have multiple possible solutions leads to open-minded exploration and sophisticated comprehension
    • Teachers lead by example, and model a willingness to grow, a deep knowledge of best practices reflecting current research and a passion for learning
    • Nature is a profound teacher; therefore, lessons intentionally designed to invite students to interact with the natural world have tremendous potential
This is the 100th year of successful outcomes at The Orchard School. We are a private school in Indianapolis, Indiana with a commitment to advancing each student’s academic success, self-confidence, open-mindedness, ethical character, leadership, and love of learning. Orchard provides a progressive education with a focus on experiential hands-on learning. Our 43-acre wooded campus provides many outdoor learning spaces letting us stay true to our commitment that nature is the best teacher.
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students: The Orchard School values diversity and seeks talented students. Orchard admits students of any race, color, national origin and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Orchard does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or age in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and athletic and other school-administered programs.