This school used to live up to it's claims of meeting the child where they are, educating the whole child, fostering their individuality, etc. In the past few years I have experienced a tremendous decline in their ability to hold true to this, sadly. I give it an average star rating because these days is just a costly version of any typical, yet capable public school with the addition of arrogance in their approach. read more

All three of our children attended The Orchard School. We are very pleased with the education they received and so are they. I've often tried to sift through all our years and determine what they most learned/received at Orchard and if I had to pick one attribute (and there are many), I'd pick confidence. They are all confident public speakers. For example, when my daughter was a junior in high school, she won an award that required her to speak at a dinner with over 400 people present. I tried several times to get her to practice and review her speech in advance, knowing that the previous recipient had a professional speech writer. In frustration, one evening she said, "Mom, I went to Orchard. Don't worry." She delivered a flawless speech without notes. They are all confident about their ability to learn. Orchard likes to say they help create lifelong learners and they do. Each of our children knows how to learn and they like to learn. They are all confident expressing themselves to anyone. In high school, their teachers observed that unlike many shy teens they were not afraid to ask questions and advocate for themselves or for others. And, this has continued throughout their college and post-graduate years. Orchard invites and teaches children how to respectfully approach adults. At Orchard, education is not just about science, English, history, etc. While these are important, it's also about helping develop good people and preparing them for the future. read more

For thirteen years, I've watched my two children and their friends develop with the assistance of the outstanding faculty and staff at The Orchard School. Orchard goes beyond teaching; its mission is to develop the whole child, and they live that mission. I also love that kids who are growing up in a metropolitan area have a huge wooded area to explore. My older daughter is now in high school, and she was well-prepared academically, socially, and emotionally. read more

The Orchard School is a very special place led by an extraordinary group of teachers, faculty, staff and parent community who all understand and embody the importance of child-centered academic excellence in everything they do. We feel grateful to be a part of such a warm and loving place for our children to learn and thrive and become confident, kind, global-minded citizens. We love it and encourage anyone who has high expectations for their children's education to take a tour. read more

I teach and work in a high school, so when my wife and I were first expecting our daughter, I spent a lot of time thinking of who she might become when she became a high school student. I thought of all the students I was teaching, or had taught in the past, and tried to envision which of them I would want her to be like. Who were the most intellectually confident? The most comfortable? The most curious and kind? Many of the students I thought of most were Orchard graduates. From then on, Orchard would be our school. Now, what makes Orchard 'worth it' to me is joy of learning it brings to my daughter. It is the moment when she asks a question about something she's learned in school because she's seen something in the real world that relates to it. So when we walk by budding plants in the spring and she is able to compare those sprouts to the observations she's making about a mystery plant in the greenhouse, that's when I know she's developing the skills of a life-long learner and steward of the world that will serve her well in the future. read more

I attended Orchard from 1st grade until 8th grade and graduated in '01. My years there were the most memorable and most exciting. To this day there are things that remind me of the tools Orchard equipped me with. I'm grateful that my grandmother worked there because that prompted the opportunity for me to attend. I've visited a few times, it's always great to see familiar faces and how much the building as changed or hasn't. I'd recommend this school because it was the perfect foundation for the rest of my life! read more

I have taken several weeks to not write this review because of my obvious bias: 1) I'm sending my kid here, and 2) I'm also [censored by my baby mama.] That being said, however, after several weeks of critical thought and analysis, I am now ready to give my full report on why The Orchard School is the finest school in Indianapolis. The primary reason is their core values dictate what they do. Their values reflect a forward thinking learning environment that fosters and celebrates individual achievement and experimental learning in a unique and culturally diverse environment. Uniformity and conformity are not found here. A strict disciplinary approach with rigid structure is not here either. Every student is taught with individual needs addressed, not a curriculum of pass/fail or right/wrong. Instead of telling a student the answer, the teachers teach them HOW to solve the problem, HOW to think through to the answer. Usually, these types of pedagogical approaches are not found until well after post secondary education, yet Orchard is applying these principals early education. The results are impressive. The students show maturity well beyond their years. Their ambitions (along with their achievements) would be impressive for most high school students, much less elementary. For example, I had a third grader telling me about how he just updated his resume, and explained his plans for after he completes his college degree, in addition to what he wants to accomplish along the way. The kid had more in the works in his advanced mind than most adults! But consider this: He is not the only one and far from it. All of these kids LOVE their school, love learning, and are disappointed when school breaks come around. Another reason why I love Orchard is it's approach to the community as a whole. One of Orchard's core values is diversity. Purposely, the school wants, and works, towards an multi-ethnic, multi-income, multi-viewed world in their classroom. Inclusivity and celebration of diversity is real at Orchard, not faked or seen as some chore. It is palpable and a true vision of how a multicultural America could be. How does a private, non faith based school make their tuition affordable? Their large network of donors, of course! Even the teacher's give to the Annual Giving Fund. Corporation donations, grants and a large endowment fueled by gifts from interested parties, parents and alumni defray the actual cost of tuition to affordable rates. Yes, Orchard actually charges less in tuition than it actually costs, and offers need based financial assistance, in order to insure that they capture a diverse range of ethnicities, incomes, and backgrounds. And yet, the students there seem very similar: Eager to learn, a deep drive to succeed, and very well mannered in social and professional graces. The last, but certainly not least, reason I love Orchard School are the dedicated to the point of fanatical parents, teachers and alumni. The teachers are incredible in that they are fantastic and patient with each one of their students, but that once they get to Orchard, they do not want to leave. I cannot recall the exact number but the average teacher has been there ten to fifteen years!?!? That is unheard of in private education, much less public school. My child's teacher has been there for over twenty years and that was her first full-time teaching position. Everyone loves her and she could go anywhere she wanted to (especially with her accomplishments) but she loves the school. The school is in her and much as she is in the school, and she is far from the exception! Also, the parents are the main recruitment tool for Orchard. Almost every single Orchard parent was referred by and Orchard parent. Those that were not recruited directly, were recruited indirectly by parents eagerness to put "Open House" signs in their yard. It's hard to find this much fond dedication from alumni of colleges, but parents seem to be even more motivated to spread the fame. Also, alumni also are involved and give back to their school out of their time, talents and treasure. Several parents offer products of theirs as raffle donations, and we are not talking about small freebies, but big ticket items like AUTOMOBILES! That's dedication! In summary, Orchard is the best school I have ever encountered, and I am somewhat jealous that I can afford to send my kid here. I just wish I could be a kid again in her shoes for a little while! read more

As a parent of a recent Orchard graduate, I can't imagine having chosen a better path for my child. In this world of worksheets, teach to the test and "turn to page 37 in your text book," Orchard is a breath of fresh air. It is a much harder path to approach and motivate each child individually. My child thought deeply, applied knowledge in new ways, learned to work with others (as they do in the "real world") and found her voice. There seems to be a lifelong learning approach to this school community. I have learned from the school forums and speakers they have brought in for parents. Faculty are committed to professional development and the school encourages (and funds) their continuing practice. I am thankful that they not only attend national conferences, they are respected speakers about best practices in schools. In short, my child loved school and found a confidence that I am sure she would not have found elsewhere. She was both challenged academically and supported socially and emotionally every step of the way. Now in high school, she is doing great! She was well-prepared and is enjoying the new experience. Thank you Orchard! read more

While my children do not *yet* attend the Orchard School, I would absolutely love for them to in the future. I have been completely wowed by the faculty I have met at the open houses - kind, educated, and knowledgeable. The facility itself is also a dream come true - large windows, big and creative classrooms, and extensive wooded grounds for play. I have no doubt that my children would receive a top notch education, academically and socially, while learning about nature. What more could a parent ask for? read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about the experience our daughter has had at The Orchard School. My husband and I cannot imagine her in any other environment. On a daily basis she is challenged while working on projects independently and with groups of peers. We feel so lucky for her to have this experience and know that because of The Orchard School she will have the necessary tools to become a leader in her community. They teach children at a young age to advocate for themselves and be leaders in a way that does not just happen. The teachers are very deliberate in their approach in order to bring out the best in each child. read more

Our child has been at Orchard for several years. We feel extremely fortunate to have found a school that offers her so much. The child centered learning means she will actually learn to think and solve problems on her own. The child to teacher ratio of 8-1 is amazing and much better than you will find in a public school. there isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't want to go to school. As parents, we are we welcomed into her room on a regular basis and always feel like we are part of the school. Definitely check out all the wonderful things the school has to offer. Perhaps it's the right fit for you and your family. read more