The 4 US schools crafting unique opportunities with experiential learning

US education has been highly regarded around the world for guiding and raising the brightest minds of this current generation. Implementing various styles of teaching, US schools are constantly experimenting and perfecting their courses and programmes to create the best possible learning experience for their students. 

In comparison to standard education in the US, experiential learning carries a lot of benefits that most standard classrooms lack. With experiential learning, students are taught through practical means with real-life situations, being able to use its applications in the future. Students are taught how they can be efficient problem-solvers by using creativity to their advantage. 

Instead of going through a linear path, experiential learning creates unique opportunities that are not commonly seen in other styles of education. Most companies are always in-demand of those who are able to adapt and solve problems that would need the creativity and finesse that are taught through experiential learning.

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George Stevens Academy

For an all-American academic experience, look no further than George Stevens Academy (GSA). Located in the safe, picturesque, small town of Blue Hill on the beautiful seacoast of Maine (the safest state in the US), this wholesome and historic institution, founded in 1803, has a long history of caring for its students and educating them to be successful. Little wonder why every learner who arrives from near or far feels the love in this community. GSA students are part of a vibrant multinational student body and are proud to call GSA their second home. Here, they discover their voices and learn how to use them effectively. 

GSA nurtures every learner to become their own advocate and find the value in their unique ideas, preparing them for admissions into the finest colleges. Students take charge of their curriculum and the school gives them everything they need to do so. GSA offers a full college prep programme with AP and honours classes, ESL for those who need it, excellent academic support, and personalised college counselling to help students take their next academic step.

The signature GSA academic experience, in addition to traditional courses, is the opportunity to discover and pursue one’s own interests in the classroom and beyond. It is a place to “pursue the life you are happy for.” The school offers a plethora of programmes — from computer technology, social studies to visual and performing arts. Experiential learning is big here too. Across campus, students can be found mastering the kitchen, exploring marine life, or leading the pack in the great outdoors. Each offering was set in place to prepare pupils for both higher education and tomorrow’s workforce with all the resilience and grit they will need to stand out.

There’s plenty of room for fun too. GSA is your place. Laughter fills the air during the countless productions and art exhibitions held every year. To find out what else maintains the smiles of students at GSA, click here

Located in the quaint town of New Milford, Connecticut, Canterbury School is a college preparatory, coeducational boarding and day school for students in grades nine to 12. Source: Canterbury School / Facebook

Canterbury School

Located in the quaint town of New Milford, Connecticut, Canterbury School is a college preparatory, coeducational boarding and day school for students in grades nine to 12. An extraordinary community of faculty — who also serve as coaches, dorm parents, and advisors — work tirelessly to know students and know them well. 

From the moment they arrive on campus, students are invited to be an active part of the school community and the world around them. A Canterbury education is unlike any other in helping students grow in self-awareness, develop character, and recognise their ability to impact the world and the lives of others.

Throughout their academic journey, students become equipped with the skills they need to succeed in college and beyond. These start with critical thinking and problem-solving, strength in writing and communicating, and a solid foundation in digital literacy. The school’s signature Digital Communication, Design, and Innovation programme brings together computer programming, digital media, engineering, and visual arts in one unique academic department. 

Creative yet practical, visionary yet grounded — the Putney School is one of the most progressive schools in the US. Source: The Putney School / Facebook

The Putney School

Creative yet practical, visionary yet grounded — the Putney School is one of the most progressive schools in the US. That’s not all. This co-educational boarding and day school for grades nine to 12 is distinctive in many other ways.

One is its culture of vibrant intellectual curiosity within an informal environment. The feeling that students belong is tangible as soon as one steps foot on campus. Free from the race for grades — it does not teach the Advanced Placement curriculum or any other standardised tests — they learn in compelling ways. 

The Putney School’s academic arts programme encompasses a wide range of disciplines in the visual and performing arts, one of the central Putney experiences. They get to dive into their media in greater depth during Project Week, a period of nine to 10 days at the end of each term where students get to engage and explore a topic meaningful to them.

At The Cambridge School of Weston (CSW), it’s easy for students — between the grades of nine and 12 — to get a glimpse into their future, both on and off-campus. Source: The Cambridge School of Weston / Facebook

The Cambridge School of Weston

At The Cambridge School of Weston (CSW), it’s easy for students — between the grades of nine and 12 — to get a glimpse into their future, both on and off-campus. Set on 65 acres of lush woodlands, about 12 miles away from Boston’s finest universities, students enjoy the best that a world-class dynamic city and the tranquility and safety of a contained, suburban campus have to offer. 

CSW’s signature academic model, the Module System, is based on research about how adolescents learn best, and divides the year into six, six-week terms known as “mods,” in which students take no more than three academic courses at once. Rigorous courses in the expressive arts, English, language, history, math and science lay a solid foundation. 

Life outside the classroom is just as rich. With the confidence they gain in classes, students participate in competitive interscholastic athletics and assume leadership positions in alliance, affinity, and interest groups. The intellectual independence a CSW education inspires serves students well in university life and beyond.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International