laurel school admissions viewbook

When I grow up…

In recent years Laurel graduates have been accepted to the following schools:

Growing up. Moving on.The University of AkronAlbion CollegeAlfred UniversityAllegheny CollegeAmerican UniversityAmherst CollegeAppalachian State UniversityArizona State UniversityThe University of ArizonaThe Art Institute of BostonThe Art Institute of ChicagoAve Maria CollegeBaldwin-Wallace CollegeBard CollegeBarnard CollegeBates CollegeBelmont Abbey CollegeBeloit CollegeBentley CollegeBethune-Cookman CollegeBoston CollegeBoston ConservatoryBoston UniversityBowling Green State UniversityBrandeis UniversityUniversity of British ColumbiaBritish UniversityBrown UniversityBucknell UniversityButler UniversityUniversity of CaliforniaCalvin CollegeCambridge UniversityCarleton CollegeCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarson-Newman CollegeCase Western Reserve UniversityThe Catholic University of AmericaCentre CollegeUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of CincinnatiClark Atlanta UniversityClark UniversityCleveland Institute of ArtCleveland Institute of MusicCleveland State UniversityColby CollegeColby-Sawyer CollegeColgate UniversityCollege of CharlestonCollege of the Holy CrossCollege of William and MaryThe College of WoosterUniversity of Colorado at BoulderColorado CollegeColumbia UniversityConnecticut CollegeCornell UniversityThe Culinary Institute of AmericaUniversity of DallasDartmouth CollegeDavidson CollegeUniversity of DaytonUniversity of DelawareDenison UniversityUniversity of Denver

DePaul UniversityDePauw UniversityDickinson CollegeDrew UniversityDuke UniversityDuquesne UniversityEarlham CollegeEckerd CollegeUniversity of EdinburghElmira CollegeElon UniversityEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityEmerson CollegeEmory UniversityEugene Lang College — New School UniversityFairfield UniversityFairleigh Dickinson UniversityFisk UniversityUniversity of FloridaFlorida Southern CollegeFordham UniversityFort Lewis CollegeFranklin and Marshall CollegeFranklin W. Olin College of EngineeringFurman UniversityGannon UniversityGeorge Mason UniversityGeorgetown UniversityThe George Washington UniversityGettysburg CollegeGrinnell CollegeGrove City CollegeUniversity of GuelphHamilton CollegeHampton UniversityUniversity of HartfordHartwick CollegeHarvard UniversityHarvey Mudd CollegeHaverford CollegeHeidelberg CollegeHiram CollegeHobart and William Smith CollegesHofstra UniversityHollins UniversityHood CollegeHope CollegeUniversity of IllinoisIndiana UniversityIona CollegeIthaca CollegeJames Madison UniversityJohn Carroll UniversityJohns Hopkins UniversityThe Juilliard SchoolKalamazoo CollegeUniversity of KansasKent State UniversityKenyon CollegeLafayette CollegeLake Forest CollegeLasell CollegeLehigh UniversityLewis & Clark CollegeLoyola College in Maryland

Loyola Marymount UniversityLoyola University ChicagoLoyola University New OrleansLynchburg CollegeLynn UniversityMacalester CollegeUniversity of MaineManhattan School of MusicManhattanville CollegeMannes College of MusicMarquette UniversityUniversity of MarylandUniversity of Mary WashingtonUniversity of MassachusettsMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMcGill UniversityMiami UniversityUniversity of MiamiUniversity of MichiganMichigan State UniversityMiddlebury CollegeUniversity of MississippiMount Holyoke CollegeMount Union CollegeMuskingum CollegeNew England Conservatory of MusicUniversity of New HampshireNew York UniversityThe University of North Carolina Northeastern Ohio Universities College of MedicineNortheastern UniversityNorthern Arizona UniversityNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Notre DameOberlin CollegeOhio Northern UniversityThe Ohio State UniversityOhio UniversityOhio Wesleyan UniversityUniversity of OxfordPace UniversityUniversity of the PacificUniversity of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity of PittsburghPitzer CollegePomona CollegePrinceton UniversityPurdue UniversityQuinnipiac UniversityUniversity of RedlandsReed CollegeRegis UniversityRhode Island School of DesignRhodes CollegeRice UniversityUniversity of RichmondRider UniversityRoanoke CollegeUniversity of RochesterRochester Institute of TechnologyRollins CollegeSaint Louis UniversityUniversity of San DiegoSanta Clara University

Sarah Lawrence CollegeSavannah College of Art and Design Scripps CollegeSewanee: The University of the SouthSkidmore CollegeSmith CollegeUniversity of South CarolinaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaSouthern Methodist UniversitySpelman CollegeSpringfield CollegeUniversity of St. AndrewsSt. Andrews Presbyterian CollegeSt. John’s CollegeSt. Lawrence UniversitySt. Mary’s College of MarylandSt. Olaf’s CollegeStanford UniversityState University of New York Stetson UniversitySusquehanna UniversitySwarthmore UniversitySyracuse UniversityThe University of TampaUniversity of TennesseeUniversity of TexasThiel CollegeUniversity of ToledoUniversity of TorontoTrinity CollegeTufts UniversityTulane UniversityUnion CollegeUnited States Naval AcademyUrsuline CollegeValparaiso UniversityVanderbilt UniversityVassar CollegeUniversity of VermontUniversity of VictoriaVillanova UniversityUniversity of VirginiaWake Forest UniversityUniversity of Washington Washington and Jefferson CollegeWashington and Lee UniversityWashington CollegeWashington State UniversityWashington University — St. LouisWellesley CollegeWesleyan UniversityWestern Carolina UniversityUniversity of Western OntarioWheaton CollegeWhittier CollegeWilliams CollegeUniversity of WisconsinWittenberg UniversityWright State UniversityXavier UniversityYale UniversityYork University

Who will your child be when she grows up? At Laurel, we value independent thinking and respect for self, allowing girls to discover who they are and who they want to be.

…I want to be unique.

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Dream. Dare. Do.

Laurel SchoolOne Lyman CircleShaker Heights, Ohio [email protected]

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I want to be me. I want to change the world.

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Dream. Dare. Do.Who will your daughter be if she comes to Laurel School? She will be an individual who has honed her intellect, developed her confidence and discovered her passion. Our mission—“To inspire each girl to fulfill her promise and to better the world”—fuels all we do. Laurel girls are courageous, ethical and compassionate, ready for the com-plicated world they will inherit. We celebrate each child’s strengths, nourishing her mind and character. The Center for Research on Girls at Laurel School puts the world’s best research to work for girls— here and everywhere. At Laurel, our expectations are high; our enthusiasm for girls is boundless.

Beyond the Ordinary Our work centers on edu-cating girls to claim their voices, and our legacy as experts in educating girls has its roots in the vision of dynamic 19th-century female teachers who were determined to give girls an incomparable education. Noted educator Carol Gilligan pioneered ground-breaking work at Laurel in the 1980s. The Center for Research on Girls (CRG) at Laurel School continues that proud legacy. Now, as then, we are at the forefront of best practices in girls’ educa-tion, collaborating across the country with researchers and other outstand-ing girls’ schools. We continue to demonstrate that we value academic research and implement the finest proven thinking about what works best for girls. A founding member of the Online School for Girls, Laurel takes pride in being a leader in innovation for girls.

Of course, our superb faculty is at the center of what makes Laurel great. Drawn to teaching by their passion for their discipline coupled with a com-mitment to the social and emotional lives of girls and young women, they are smart, demanding and inspiring. Laurel graduates emerge as confident leaders, equipped to meet challenges and ready for their 21st-century lives.

Every Girl No one is invisible at Laurel School. Whether a Mid-dle Schooler is investigating archaeology at our unrivaled 140-acre Butler Campus or a Senior is completing a Protégé research project at the Cleveland Clinic, learning at Laurel is always active, always focused on each girl. A dynamic community in which academic excellence is as essential as oxygen, we know girls: how they learn, think and feel. All Laurel girls are smart, but they are smart in lots of ways and, just as we cherish our racial, religious and ethnic diversity, we respect that learning is different for every student. We meet a girl where she begins and, in partnership with her and her parents, invite her to chart her course through the school. With tradition as a cor-nerstone, we continue to innovate and build curricula specifically designed for girls. Laurel is the real world—for each girl, every day.

Places to Grow Learning is transformational at Laurel; we expand the walls of traditional learning by taking our students into the natural world at our Butler Campus—girls in Advanced Placement (AP) environmental science test the water quality of Griswold Creek and Sixth Graders spend a full week tinkering and solving engineering challenges. Meanwhile, at our Lyman Campus, the Seventh Grade builds a scale model of Cleveland based on its explorations in the city while Upper School drama students assist with writing and directing the annual Primary Spring Celebration.

Ann V. Klotz, Head of School

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Growing up with Laurel

Pre-PrimaryWonder. Play. Exploration. These are the seeds we plant and nur-ture for a lifetime of joyful learn-ing. In an environment that buzzes with laughter and creativ-ity, our Preschool and Prekinder-garten girls and boys start on their journey toward indepen-dence. Parents and teachers hold hands every step of the way.

Primary SchoolCompetence, confidence and resilience are skills we focus on through the Primary years. Girls learn to ask questions and discover information independently, to take initia-tive in their learning and to set academic and social goals. By the end of their Primary years, our girls are actively assessing their own work, solving problems and making connections to the wider world in which they live.

Middle SchoolA study conducted by CRG confirms that when girls feel happy and supported in school, they achieve more academi-cally. Our Middle School weaves the development of academic skills and technol-ogy throughout an intention-ally bold, interdisciplinary curriculum. Laurel’s emphasis on learning by doing engages girls as they develop more sophisticated approaches to critical thinking and creative problem solving. A deliberate focus on organization helps girls begin to manage time effectively. Laurel Middle Schoolers stretch intellectu-ally and find emotional support as they steer through early adolescence navigating a widening social and extracur-ricular landscape.

Upper SchoolA Laurel education devel-ops not only a girl’s mind and body but also nurtures her character and her spirit. The expectations to which we hold our girls are high—young women are capable of extraordinary feats when their voices are heard and valued! Inspiring teachers, a dynamic liberal arts cur-riculum and a highly indi-vidualized college process that begins in the Ninth Grade characterize the Upper School experience. Yes, she will become a superb critical thinker, a confident communicator and a creative problem solver. Perhaps more impor-tantly, she will learn that with the privilege of belong-ing to this community comes the responsibility of shaping the world.

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Angel began her journey at Laurel when she was a curious two-and-a-half-year old, eager to soak up everything around her. She retains the same sense of wonder as she did as a Preschooler. She loves discovering new worlds, like in Third Grade, when she learned about immigration by

I want to be

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portraying a child making the long voyage, in steerage, to America. Today, she’s a big fan of Greek mythology and math. A competitive tennis player, Angel likes calling the shots—on the court and in life: “I want to own my own company when I grow up.”

extraordinary.

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Eco!Wonder Explorers Whether they are charting how many days until butterflies emerge from their chrysalises, making movies with digital technology or finding colors in the natural world on an expedition at the Butler Campus, Pre-Primary girls and boys are explorers—full of energy and eager to discover new worlds of arts, science, math, technology and literature. Our Eco!Wonder curriculum, written by our faculty, is an environmental education program for young children that encourages children to understand the important role they play in keeping our environment healthy. We emphasize sustainability, the cycles of nature and discovery and activities associated with healthy living (including our commitment to healthy snacks). Children plant, compost, recycle, collect rainwater and cook! Learning spills organically from classroom to home. For more information, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/Admissions

Bright Beginnings The joy of discov-ery and the confidence that comes with mastery through play—these are the qualities that an exceptional first curriculum for young children promotes as it lays the foundation for success, both in school and life. Children who explore and create meaning discover that learning is fun while developing social, emotional and intellectual competencies that will serve them well through-out school. Recent research in brain development inspires us to establish a strong foundation early for a lifetime of learning. Though the years between birth and five are critical for neurological development and cognitive func-tion, we know that academic skills develop best when embedded throughout the curriculum and daily routine. Our wide variety of educational materials encourages many kinds of learning. In addition to an engaging curriculum, gifted teachers and small classes, Pre-Primary students benefit from interac-tion with girls and adults in all divisions in the school.

Pre-Primary

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Learning, Love & LaughterLaurel’s Pre-Primary provides girls and boys ages 3-5 with an excep-tional foundation for the future.

Teacher/Parent CommunicationA trusting and candid relationship and frequent communication between teacher and parent are at the core of the Pre-Primary.

Learning by ExampleThrough service learning, even young children begin to understand the power of an individual to make a difference in the world.

Our Youngest Global CitizensInstruction in world languages—French, Spanish and Chinese— begins in Prekindergarten.

World of WonderPre-Primary students enjoy unique opportunities: creative movement, time in the library, drama, gymnastics, physical education and music appreciation.

A Foundation of Theme-Based LearningThe Pre-Primary is based on a series of intriguing themes that link to the natural world.

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I want to beMaddy loves color, design and painting. Especially watercolors. She’d call her style “expressionistic,” an artistic and personal style that developed over many years. “When I was younger I was shy, but Laurel has given me the confidence to express myself.” She credits much of that to the close relationships she’s

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made with Laurel teachers who have encouraged her to stretch herself and take risks in a comfortable environment, including her Protégé internship at an architecture firm. An avid traveler who enjoys exploring other cultures, Maddy knows she can take on the world. “I feel completely comfortable with who I am.”

creative.

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Primary School

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Inquisitive Scholars Learning is messy; girls must make mis-takes for real learning to occur. The cognitive growth of a Primary girl is exponential. Primary girls set goals, ask questions, seek answers and establish the foundation they need to become life-long learners. We encourage girls to find their voices and to use them! An interdisciplinary curriculum, rich in con-tent and skills, emphasizes critical thinking so that girls develop the capacity to take intellectual risks, building confidence and mastery along their way. Exceptional teachers create spaces where girls feel respected, heard and supported. Girls develop strong reading comprehension strategies as they make connections to texts, draw inferences and synthesize information. Mathematics emphasizes the build-ing of concepts, the development of competence in fundamental skills and the application of thinking strategies. Primary girls collaborate, learning to identify and build on their own strengths as they work together and develop the skills that will allow them to compete and succeed in a global world.

Committed Environmentalists Research confirms that girls feel better when they help others and make a positive difference in their commu-nities. Sustaining the health of our 140-acre Butler Campus challenges girls to tackle problems and create solutions, including designing trail guides that identify animal tracks and building bird feed-ers to help birds survive the winter. Learning at Butler (L.A.B.) days incorporate a fully interdisci-plinary approach, braiding environmental science, mathematics, social studies, language arts, the arts and engineering. Spending time in the natural splendor of the Butler Campus inspires the girls to preserve its beauty for themselves, their community and future generations of Laurel girls. For more information, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/Admissions

We Celebrate DiversityPrimary classrooms provide a safe place to explore, reflect and act on issues around social justice. We respect differ-ences and instill in our girls a sense of responsibility, integrity and compassion.

Community KeepersPrimary girls understand what it means to be part of a community. Students are recognized for acts of compassion, courage and fairness each week.

Tinkering StationsTinkering is a must for girls! We encourage girls to experiment, make mistakes, work together or alone, build upon ideas of others or start from scratch.

Global ThinkingThe study of Chinese, French and Spanish, K-4, reflects our commit-ment to educate global citizens.

Engineering is ElementaryWith a curriculum created by the National Center for Technological Liter-acy and Boston’s Museum of Science, Primary girls use the design process to solve real-world challenges.

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I want to beMaya and Stephanie prove that opposites do attract when it comes to friend-ship. Self-identified as “loud,” Maya is an adventure-seeking, field hockey-playing extrovert who loves to perform, experiencing the payoff when hard work and collaboration come together. Stephanie is a “quiet leader” who

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magnificent.loves to read and play volleyball and hopes to go to college in France. Or Australia. What these Middle Schoolers have in common, besides their love for Laurel, is a love of solving math problems. And no matter what each wants to be when she grows up, they will be friends.

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Spirited Collaborators While competition fuels some girls, research suggests more girls feel more inspired when they can work together. Our Middle School is constructed deliberately with teamwork as a guiding principle and is led by expert teachers mindful of the cognitive, physical, social and emotional develop-ment in a Middle Schooler’s life. Interdisciplinary learning allows multiple opportunities for collaboration and the ability to draw connections among disciplines encourages creativity and partnerships. Fields like engineering, environmental science and economics—all highlighted in the Middle School—require students to learn concepts together. Writ-ing, critical thinking, research and reading are emphasized across each discipline. With units in robotics and sociology and discussions around ethical dilemmas, girls confront real-life questions and search for solu-tions. This is the work a girl will need to be able to do in preparation for her 21st-century professional life.

Imaginative Innovators During the two-week “dig,” each Seventh Grader becomes an archaeologist. Sixth Graders design medieval catapults and measure their efficacy. Fifth Graders design and run a school store. Eighth and First Graders meet in the Magic Tree House to write stories, and the whole Middle School runs and laughs at Green and White Day. Imagination and innovation scaffold increased intellectual independence. Our girls earn accolades in their extraordinary success with Power of the Pen and Junior Model UN. Girls grow into leadership through participation in Student Government and in a wide variety of student-initiated, service-learning projects. Experiential and interdisciplinary pedagogy distinguish our Explorations. For more information, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/Admissions

Middle School

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ButlerAt the Butler Campus, Middle School-ers study concepts in creative ways. Our Project Adventure Course pro-motes collaborative problem solving and challenge by choice.

Risk-Taking Our commitment to growth mindset counters the idea that a girl has to be good at something right away. Brains and muscles develop with hard work. The arts promote self-discovery.

Smart Girls Come in Many PackagesOur learning enhancement faculty help each girl understand how she learns best. Advisors support every Laurel girl in her development.

Tech-SavvyWith our One-to-One program, girls keep pace in flipped classrooms and stay ahead of advances in technology.

ResilienceThrough advisory and Lifeskills, girls learn how to cultivate resiliency and how to re-center, focus and manage complex lives with grace and skill.

ExplorationsMiddle Schoolers have exciting oppor-tunities to learn outside the traditional classroom.

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I want to beMeghan has always loved buildings. “I was always thinking about how I’d redesign spaces. I loved art and I liked physics. But I never thought about studying architecture until Laurel. Without history courses that featured art and architecture, I’m positive I wouldn’t have majored in it in college.” Now, having

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unparalleled.attained her master’s degree in sustainable design, Meghan says that her career path isn’t all she credits to Laurel. “I’ll spend the rest of my life discover-ing things that Laurel taught me. Being at a girls’ school gave me the confi-dence that women can do anything. That’s something I always carry with me.”

Upper School

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Intrepid Leaders Who is a Laurel Upper Schooler? She is an award-winning artist, photographer, scientist, musician, mathematician, composer, athlete, actress or writer with an enormous capacity for learning and doing. She is an entrepreneur, a scholar, an activist and a leader. A Laurel girl sets goals and accomplishes them. She excels at adventure—in the classroom, on the field, in the world. She expresses herself freely and debates with conviction. She respects multiple points of view and she respects herself. Who will she be when she grows up? She will be a woman who is courageous, ethical, compassionate, curious, confident and equal to what her life presents. A Laurel girl fulfills her promise and betters the world. For more information, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/Admissions

Global Citizens … and scholars, students in the Upper School think critically and creatively, solve problems and test assumptions—in the classroom and beyond. Though all classes, taught by experts in their disciplines, prepare girls for college, our Honors, AP and Kenyon Academic Partnership (KAP) courses immerse students in col-lege-level work, a significant advantage our youngest alumnae report with pride. Courses in five world languages enhance a rich liberal arts tradition that embraces the humanities, the sciences and the arts. Through Protégé, our internship program, and Passport, Laurel’s global education program, girls discover what it means to be citizens of Cleveland and of the world. A comprehensive college guidance program assists girls and their families throughout the college process, seeking for each girl choices that best meet her individual talents, interests and needs. Many co-curricular activities, including athletics and numerous clubs and organizations, add dimension to the Upper School experience and offer opportunities for girls to lead.

Uniform but Not the SameAt Laurel, what you think is more important than what you wear. That is why every girl wears a uniform.

An Ethic of SelflessnessLaurel students devote over 8,000 hours a year to service projects in Cleveland and across the world.

Girls Rule!At Laurel, it’s not equal opportunity for girls—it’s every opportunity for girls. Every leadership position is held by a girl; every varsity team is for girls; every lab experiment is done by girls; every comment in a class discussion is made by a girl. Laurel Girls are Known

and LovedWe take special care in knowing and understanding each student’s strengths and challenges.

Proof PositiveOur graduating classes consistently achieve impressive National Merit and AP Scholar recognition and are accepted at a diverse and highly selective group of colleges and universities.

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Spread Out.

One School While we benefit from being a two-campus school that provides flexible indoor and outdoor learning spaces, we are one school when it comes to our philosophical approach to our stu-dents. Our girls and Pre-Primary boys profit from being members of a Preschool–Grade 12 community under one roof. Just as adults are role models for children, so older children serve as role models and mentors for younger students. There is joy, energy and a sense of being part of some-thing larger than oneself that comes from being in an environment where curious three-year-olds look up to their Primary reading buddies, where an Upper School “cyber-safety” team works with Middle School girls on appropriate Internet behavior, and where Kindergartners sit in the laps of Seniors at assemblies that punctuate the year. For more infor-mation, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/Admissions

Two-Campus Advantage Our suburban-rural advantage gives girls an edge. Laurel students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the natural world at our beautiful 140-acre Butler Campus in in Geauga County, seven miles from our Lyman Campus. The interdisciplinary possibilities at Butler are limitless. In this vast outdoor class-room, students discover scientific and mathematical concepts, create nature-inspired art, poems, dance and music and practice stewardship of the environment. They challenge themselves on our superb Project Adventure Course, growing confident in that process. Downtown Cleveland, four miles from the Lyman Campus, offers proximity to remarkable cultural, educational and medical institutions, whose resources enrich our curriculum in exceptional ways.

Art studios, digital lab and darkroom

Athletic fields and facilities

Butterfly gardens

Chapel Theater

Computer labs

Dance studio

Enchanted Playscape

Fitness Center

Gymnasiums and rock-climbing wall

Libraries

Lodges

Magic Tree House

Project Adventure Course

Science labs

Laurel School’s suburban 11-acre Lyman Campus Built in 1928, when longtime headmis-tress Sarah Lyman moved Laurel from downtown Cleveland to what was then an orchard in Shaker Heights, this complex, expanded over the years, is a vibrant part of the community. Gra-cious spaces and cozy nooks happily coexist with wireless technology and an innovative, creative academic program.

Laurel School’s rural 140-acre Butler CampusPurchased in 1999 and located in Geauga County, seven miles from Laurel’s Lyman Campus, the Butler Campus features 140 acres of unde-veloped woodland and waterways, world-class athletic facilities, including a 16,000-sq.-ft. Fitness Center, and a Magic Tree House, inspired by the popular children’s series.

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campus

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Be Inquisitive.Exploratory Minds Einstein believed that, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” That freedom to explore makes scientific discovery at Laurel exciting and inspires our girls to be risk-takers. Through hands-on investigations, students ask questions…and then more questions. Just as we prize articulate communication, so, too, we insist that girls apply creativity when problem solving in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, maneuvering con-fidently through each of these swiftly evolving areas. Our girls excel in quantitative areas because they become smart problem solvers, drawing intentionally on material learned in other courses. Creativity grows through opportunities in the arts and in engineering and science. The combination of critical thinking and creative problem solving offered in K-12 Design-Thinking challenges engenders in our girls a zeal for applying what they know and learning more! From the earliest years through the highest levels of AP courses, Laurel girls explore and experiment. Whether building bridges in engineering, pur-suing independent research through Protégé, tutoring through the North Star Collaborative or spend-ing time at the Tinkering Stations, our girls learn to answer real-life questions about the world!

It is Rocket Science Our emphasis on science and mathematics begins early as we expose our youngest girls to women who have succeeded as scientists, mathematicians, engineers and architects. The expectation that girls will excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) drives our Pre-Primary–Grade 12 curriculum. The work of CRG informs our STEM curriculum and we are one of the only girls’ schools in the country to offer a full progression of coursework in engineering. Opportunities to study with the Online School for Girls expand an already vibrant curriculum. For more information, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/Admissions

Proof Positive In terms of offerings, Laurel can’t be beat. Our Multivariable Calculus course goes beyond the AP level. That we have girls, each year, take and excel in it speaks to the power of Laurel’s quantitative offerings.

Anatomy and Physiology

Astronomy

Biology

Biotechnology

Chemistry

Computer Science

Engineering Technology

Environmental Science

Physics

Principles of Engineering

Science Research

Scientific ChoicesWe provide a full array of coursework from electives to AP courses in Biol-ogy, Physics, Chemistry, Psychology and Environmental Science.

Our Outdoor LabThe incomparable facilities at Butler present an extraordinary advantage in learning biology and environmental science.

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science

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Outside the Box At Laurel, we believe the arts are essential in a superb education, encouraging a balance between self-expression and an understanding of world cul-tures. That is why we offer an extensive array of visual and performing arts opportunities, which begin in our Pre-Primary School and culminate in an Upper School curriculum rich in creative expression. By their nature, the arts provide a lens through which children learn to view other cultures and other times. The interdisciplinary nature of dance, drama, music and visual art cultivates critical analysis, cre-ative response, collaboration, problem solving, and risk taking that enhance all other aspects of learn-ing. At Laurel, we balance process with product, encouraging mistakes, new drafts and bold choices. We deliberately eschew perfection, but aim for the highest standards in performance and exhibited work.

Speaking Up and Speaking Out For girls, arts allow exploration in voice and empathy. Through rehearsals, classes and performances, girls build competency and confidence, whether hitting a high note, choreographing a complicated sequence, designing publications, running the lighting board for the play or firing a sculpture in the kiln. Laurel’s long-standing commitment to the importance of public speaking culminates in the beloved tradition of Senior Speeches. The groundwork for that is laid from the earliest years when Primary girls conduct assemblies, Middle Schoolers perform Shakespeare and Upper Schoolers competing in Speech and Debate dazzle the judges at regional, state and national tournaments. For more information, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/Admissions

Be Creative.

2-D and 3-D Art

Acting

AP Art

Art and Design

Chamber Orchestra

Choir

Computer Art and Design

Dance

Fabrics and Fibers

Glee Club

Improv

Metals

MS Music Academy

Music Theory

Photography

Publications

Scene Study

Video Production

Vocal Technique

Voice and Movement

Laurel Galleries Take a walk through the School and you will see student artwork gracing the hallways. Photography, sculpture, watercolors, collages…we proudly frame the work of our artists to create a living, breathing art museum of evolving work, showcasing a remark-ably sophisticated visual arts curriculum.

Breaking a LegUpper School performing arts classes focus on teaching techniques from a college-level repertoire.

Working ProfessionalsOur arts faculty bring working profes-sional knowledge of technique to their classrooms and studios, elevating the level of instruction.

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arts

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Be Strong.On and Off the Field Girls need athletics and the self-con-fidence that grows from playing a sport. The commitment girls feel to their teammates and their sport has lasting effects on self-esteem and self-awareness. Successful women CEOs often point to partic-ipation in competitive high school athletics as a formative experience. In the same way that our aca-demic coursework emphasizes the acquisition and application of critical skills, belonging to a team at Laurel extends a student’s curriculum. Girls learn the responsibilities and benefits that come with teamwork and fair play. They also learn the value of how individual abilities can be enhanced by the effort expended by the whole team. Laurel athletes develop time-management and leadership skills, discipline and resilience that will serve them well in their academic work and throughout their lives.

Ready, Set, Go! Though nationally girls account for just 41% of all high school athletes, at Laurel, more than 70% of our Seventh–Twelfth Graders participate in athletics over the course of a year. Physical education, K–Grade 8, builds skills and encourages a fit-ness-for-life outlook. Our Middle School athletic program introduces interscholastic competition while our Upper School offerings provide both JV and Varsity-level competition. Laurel girls are proud to be part of our athletic program—just look at the sea of fans on game days—and many of them go on to play sports in college. Our commitment to a com-petitive athletic experience is mirrored by our ability to attract highly qual-ified and talented coaches. Post-season state tournament play in a number of sports confirms the quality of our program. For more information, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/Admissions

Basketball

Cross Country

Fencing

Field Hockey

Golf

Lacrosse

Modern Dance

Soccer

Softball

Swimming

Tae Kwon Do

Tennis

Track & Field

Volleyball

Yoga

Competitive EdgeThe extraordinary facilities at the Butler Campus are unparalleled in Northeast Ohio, affording our athletes an optimal setting in which to prac-tice and play. Year-round strength-training and conditioning in the Butler Center gives Laurel athletes a competitive edge.

Strong Bodies and MindsOur emphasis on well-being and self-care reinforces the importance of a healthy mind and a healthy body.

Winning GracefullyThe most important life lesson is in knowing that one has “left nothing on the field” and has walked away with dignity and grace.

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athletics

experience

Find Your Way.Home is Where the Heart is Students learn by doing, helping to construct the architecture of their own understanding. Guided by Laurel’s curric-ular philosophy of experiential, multidisciplinary and community-based learning, faculty collaborate on innovative subject matter. Through Explorations in the Middle School and May Term in the Upper School, students take deep dives into areas of interest. Our Ninth and Tenth Grade Perspectives Sem-inar uses Cleveland as a lens through which to study complicated issues of equity and inclusion. The North Star Collaborative, an innovative partnership between Laurel and Warner Girls Leadership Academy in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, braids together the two communities in authentic ways, working towards revitalizing Northeast Ohio through educational access.

No Borders We know that making connections and constructing knowledge within a global context is vitally important to girls and that Laurel girls will need the confidence and skills to adapt to changing careers in an evolving landscape. Our signature World Languages program, beginning in Prekindergarten and continuing through Grade 12, immerses students in the target lan-guage of Chinese, French or Spanish. The curriculum is made more robust by the many learning oppor-tunities beyond our walls. Our Passport program bridges classroom experience and global citizenship, cultivating a keen awareness of and appreciation for the many cultures of our world. Through incorpo-rating global themes in the classroom, international school exchanges and travel, service learning trips abroad and in-home hosting of exchange students, Laurel fosters cultural competence. Laurel girls are engaged global citizens, able to interact and communicate with their peers on the world stage. For more information, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/Admissions

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Chinese

Explorations

French

Spanish

Latin

Greek

May Term

Model UN

North Star Collaborative

Passport

Protégé

Service Learning

Speech and Debate

Teach2Serve

Define Your InterestProtégé gives Upper School girls a panoply of research and internship options. Learning by doing ignites in girls a sense of purpose and provides a roadmap for articulating their pas-sion. Mentors, both inside and beyond school, help girls to define their inter-ests as they live our mission.

Teach2ServeStudents acquire an understanding of organizational leadership and social entrepreneurship through innovative curricula and internships.

Online School for GirlsLaurel was a founding member of the world’s first all-girls online school offering cutting-edge teaching in an online setting.

experience

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Be Yourself Laurel girls are courageous, compassionate and ethical. They know that to garner respect, they must give it to others. Student participation in local and national conferences, along with year-round leadership in student organizations that promote equity and social justice, offer opportunities for girls to apply their knowledge and skills to better the world. Whether she is a Primary girl in a plaid jumper, a Middle Schooler on the cusp of adolescence or an Upper Schooler challenging herself in the classroom and on the playing field, a Laurel girl feels safe being herself and standing up for her beliefs.

Follow Your Heart Dream. Dare. Do. These three tenets make it possible for every Laurel girl to define herself… rather than to be defined by others. When she takes the initiative to explore new ideas or when she pursues a passion, a Laurel girl knows she will be sup-ported and encouraged by her teachers and her classmates. Laurel girls dance, debate, draw, act, write and compete. They also restore car engines, bicycle across the country, earn black belts, command the boxing ring and the ice rink and in doing so, defy others’ expectations while creating their own. For more information, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/Admissions character

Find Your Voice.

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Our Values Support Our Mission As an evolving community of learners, we strive to build bridges and make connections that embrace equity and justice not only within Laurel School, but in our local, national and global communities. Doing so allows us to embrace our mission. To this end, we work to honor individuals and to respect multiple customs, traditions, values and perspectives. We understand that social identifiers—such as gender, race, religion, socioeconomic status, family configuration, sexual orientation, ethnicity, ability and age—play a crucial role in our individual experiences and have shaped society as a whole. We expect members of our community to be guided by courage, empathy and compassion because we believe these values foster inclusions and that their practice teaches us to better understand a complex and dynamic world.

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character

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Visit. Thank You for Your Interest in Laurel School We hope you are as excited to learn about Laurel as we are to tell you about our school. At Laurel, we meet one-on-one with every applicant and family. This personalized approach allows you to obtain an in-depth look at the opportunities a Laurel education can provide your daughter or young son. Our Admissions Office is open daily from 7:30 a.m.—4:00 p.m. weekdays, except holidays. To schedule an individual visit or attend an upcoming admission event, please call the Admissions Of-fice at 216.464.0946 or visit our website at www.LaurelSchool.org

Directions and Map To reach Laurel from Inter-state 271, exit at Chagrin Boulevard and head west to Green Road. Turn right (north) on to Green and continue to Shaker Boulevard (a divided road). You will cross Shaker Boulevard eastbound and the rapid transit overpass. At the intersection of Green Road and Shaker Boulevard west-bound take an angled right turn onto Laureldale Road. Continue down Laureldale. The School will be directly in front of you. Parking is available on the street or in the front main circle. Follow the street signs for traffic pattern information.

Contact InformationAdmissions Office 216.464.0946

Admissions Office Fax 216.464.8996

School Receptionist 216.464.1441

Web Address www.LaurelSchool.org

Email Address [email protected]

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laurel school admissions viewbook

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