Imagine studying and volunteering in a classroom halfway around the world in Kenya, discussing education policy with a U.S. Senator in Washington, D.C., or experiencing Canadian history firsthand through the reenactment of a historic battle in Québec.
For students at The Grauer School in Encinitas, these are just some examples of the school’s Learn by Discovery® philosophy.
The independent college preparatory school serving grades 7 through 12 conducts over 100 field trips throughout its school year, bringing academic subjects to life and connecting classroom learning to the wider world.
“The Grauer School is among the best in the world at balancing expeditionary learning with college preparation. Teenagers need to do more than master academic standards, they need to engage with the world with curiosity, develop independence, find adventure and opportunities to lead,” said Dana Abplanalp-Diggs, M.Ed., Head of School for The Grauer School. “Great education should prepare our teens not just for college, but to become thoughtful, kind, resilient and well-rounded adults who not only understand the world as it is, but creatively imagine what it could be.”
The world as a classroom
During the school’s recent fall Expeditions, students traveled to eight destinations in the U.S. and abroad, including Kenya, Québec, Washington, D.C., Kentucky, Joshua Tree National Park, Lake Powell and Pali Institute. Other students explored San Diego’s diverse cultures and cuisines.
In Kenya, students attended classes with girls at Daraja Academy, a boarding school the Grauer community has supported for years. Through attending classes together, sharing meals and participating in daily activities, they discovered how much they have in common despite living halfway around the world.
In Washington, D.C., eighth graders met with Sen. Adam Schiff and volunteered at D.C. Central Kitchen.
During the Kentucky Expedition, Grauer students explored the great outdoors and visited Rogers Elementary School, where they donated physical education equipment. They also donated art supplies to help sustain a program that had been restarted with support from a previous Grauer expedition and spent time mentoring younger students.
In Québec, students immersed themselves in French-speaking culture while challenging themselves on hikes and zip-lines.
Learning that lasts
Closer to home, their textbook physics lessons have come alive while experiencing the forces of motion during an indoor skydiving field trip.
They have studied biology and sustainability by growing organic produce to help feed community members in need. They also develop teamwork skills through a variety of competitive team sports, where they learn to collaborate, push past fears and develop confidence and perseverance.
These experiences combine college preparatory academics with experiential learning and personal development.
The Grauer School’s 7-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio allows for personalized attention, with an emphasis on students mastering subject matter before they advance. Students are encouraged to explore their interests, ask questions, make mistakes and become strong, critical thinkers.
An invitation to experience The Grauer School
Families interested in learning more about The Grauer School’s Learn by Discovery® philosophy and whether a smaller, relationship-driven school might be right for their child are invited to the school’s Open House on Saturday, Nov. 7, any time between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the campus, meet students and teachers, ask questions and learn how Grauer combines college preparatory academics with experiential learning and personal growth, embracing the Learn by Discovery® philosophy at the secondary school level.
The Grauer School Open House
Saturday, Nov. 7
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
1500 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024
Open to the public, RSVP: grauerschool.com
