Portledge School offers a competitive college preparatory program in a warm, inclusive community. Students are inspired to realize their individual potential by developing the critical thinking skills and moral courage necessary for lifelong learning in an increasingly complex world.

Portledge School defines Moral Courage as: Acting with Kindness, Honor, Purpose, and Respect while recognizing such actions may not be easy.

Philosophy (Updated 2019)
The Portledge School educational philosophy addresses a child’s personal, emotional, social, physical, and intellectual development. This integrative approach empowers students to develop self-awareness through reflection and introspection while recognizing the vital role of guidance and instruction provided by the teacher. A careful balance of support and challenge encourages students to engage with rigorous academics while developing a love of learning and appreciation for knowledge. Students are expected to be self-motivated and collaborative in the learning process, inside and outside the classroom. We aspire for students to develop the ability to think critically about themselves, what they are learning, and the world around them.

In accordance with these principles, Portledge School aspires to:

• develop in students a strong foundation of academic skills across the humanities, social sciences, and quantitative and life sciences, encouraging them to continually seek out and engage with increasing challenges as they progress through the curriculum;
• support students’ social and emotional development by promoting moral courage and the Portledge pillars of kindness, honor, purpose, respect;
• provide a strong sense of community with trusting partnerships among students, families, teachers, and administrators;
• foster aesthetic appreciation and individual talent with robust programming, facilities, and academic courses in a wide range of visual and performing arts;
• promote physical fitness, athletic excellence, sportsmanship, teamwork, and leadership through programs in physical education and interscholastic athletics;
• demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity through purposeful curricular and extracurricular programming and intentional hiring practices;
• offer a wide range of extracurricular activities that promote character development, enhance leadership opportunities, and encourage and maximize student participation within every division.
• guide students to make appropriate and healthy decisions in all areas of their lives, and especially when confronted with difficult situations and ethical dilemmas, through well-crafted and age-appropriate health and wellness education;
• promote faculty excellence by continually evaluating and reflecting on current teaching practices and pursuing education and professional development in current pedagogy and methods

To these ends, Portledge encourages in each student the lifelong fascination for learning and the development of character, intellectual courage, and global awareness which are the hallmarks of a truly educated citizen.

We envision using state-of-the-art technology to further a learning community where:

• Students are engaged in a challenging curriculum that is focused on hands-on learning to prepare them for college and the professional world. Students are comfortable using technology and leverage it to take responsibility for their own educational success.
• Teachers embrace technology to support learning across the curriculum. Through on-going, comprehensive professional development, all teachers acquire the knowledge and skills to integrate technology into a challenging and interdisciplinary curriculum that addresses students' specific needs, developmental levels, and learning styles.
• Administrative functions are fully automated, allowing more of the school system's energy and resources to be focused on student education.
• The schools become an environment where all students and staff have ready access to a full range of state-of-the-art technology, software tools, and applications. The schools have knowledgeable staff and other constituents who support and further the curriculum goals.