LAUREL SCHOOL

Laurel’s suburban-rural advantage gives girls the edge. Its traditional Lyman Campus is in suburban Shaker Heights, while its beautiful 150-acre Butler Campus, located just seven miles away in Russell Township, enables Laurel students to immerse themselves in the natural world. Both campuses are used by all students from 18 months through 12th grade. However, when the need to spread out — due to the COVID-19 pandemic — arose, Laurel moved third through fifth grades to its Butler Campus so all students could experience an in-person learning environment year-round.

The move built upon Laurel’s existing, innovative experiential learning curriculum and set the girls up for success — so much so that third through fifth grades will continue to learn at Butler for the 2021-22 school year.

The Lyman Campus covers 11 acres and features two libraries, two gymnasiums, a rock climbing wall, a bouldering wall, a maker space, a dance studio, dedicated science labs in all divisions, 2D and 3D art spaces, extensive outdoor play areas and a restored Chapel Theater.

The Butler Campus, meanwhile, features 150 acres of woodland

and waterways; world-class athletic facilities, including a 16,000-square-foot fitness center; a Magic Tree House; two all-season lodges; a 16-element Project Adventure Course; and five classroom yurts.

At Laurel, three kinds of learning distinguish its Preschool-Grade 12 curriculum: experiential, interdisciplinary and communitybased.

An option for its youngest learners is Laurel’s Outdoor Pre-Primary School. Nestled in the forest, and away from a highly structured indoor curriculum, children make their own choices about how to spend their time and how to manage their own body signals. They become engaged and highly motivated learners. The Outdoor Pre-Primary provides a curriculum that ensures children are developing the skills that are necessary to be successful in kindergarten, while also gaining the resilience and creativity that comes from learning in the forest.

In Laurel’s Upper School, girls can apply to participate in the Capstone Experience. Capstone cultivates purpose, relationships and leadership, using one of four lenses — civic engagement, entrepreneurship, global studies or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics). Capstone candidates explore issues through guided research, intellectual discussion, relevant internships and purposeful travel. Using expert guidance from mentors, each candidate creates a research focus that’s based on her individual interests. This innovative program provides students opportunities to approach real-world issues, while also building mentor and peer relationships.

Kindergarten-Grade 12: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 6 Register at www.laurelschool. org/openhouse.

1 Lyman Circle, Shaker Heights

7420 Fairmount Road, Russell Township

18 months-Pre-Kindergarten (co-ed); Kindergarten-Grade 12 (all girls) Total Enrollment: 540

Pre-Primary School: $6,760-$18,460 Primary School: $21,460-$29,710 Middle School: $30,870-$33,470 Upper School: $33,930-$35,920 Average Class Size: 10-12 Year Established: 1896

• Ann V. Klotz, head of school • Megan Weiskopf, director of teaching and learning • Andrea Ausperk, chief financial officer • Abigail Steinberg, director of enrollment management

• Megan Mehalko, chair • Bethany Bryant, treasurer • Susan Luria, secretary