Student-Driven Schools

Highlights: Our schools offer a wide variety of student-led learning experiences. In our elementary schools, young learners practice setting realistic goals and reflecting on their progress. At Black Rock Middle School, 6th grade students organized a Dodgeball Tournament to benefit the American Heart Association, handling event communication, fundraising, and problem-solving. Seventh graders coordinated fundraising for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, while 8th graders collaborated to provide free access to feminine products in school. Harriton High School IB students write academic research papers on topics of personal interest, designing and conducting investigations with professional mentorship. High school seniors complete a 70-hour experiential project, culminating in presentations, demonstrations, and performances. Lower Merion High School seniors and eligible juniors learned about the importance of voting and received assistance registering in Pennsylvania, resulting in over 85% of LM seniors registering for the first time. Their efforts earned the PA Governor's Gold Level award, showcasing student-driven goal-setting and civic engagement.

Pathway Connection: This description highlights a student-driven approach where learners across all grade levels take ownership of their education through goal-setting, leadership in real-world projects, independent research, and experiential learning, fostering autonomy, critical thinking, and personal growth.

Highlights: Student-led peer support is an integral part of our school community, fostering academic growth, leadership, and meaningful connections across grade levels. Welsh Valley Middle School student mentors tutor younger peers in areas of academic strength, carefully paired to ensure mutual benefit while building cross-grade relationships and social-emotional skills such as empathy and communication. Similarly, Bala Cynwyd's Middle School Peer Tutoring Math Lab provides a structured space where students voluntarily seek math assistance from trained peer tutors, setting learning goals and engaging in collaborative problem-solving under professional guidance. Additionally, School Families bring together students from Kindergarten through 4th grade in multi-age groups led by staff members, encouraging mentorship, teamwork, and a strong sense of belonging. These initiatives cultivate a culture of student-driven learning, inclusivity, and personal development, reinforcing the value of peer-to-peer support in both academic and social-emotional growth.

Highlights: Student leadership opportunities empower students to take initiative, collaborate with peers, and shape their school experiences. At Black Rock Middle School, students with strong executive functioning skills participated in focus groups to design a student planner, ensuring it was both functional and appealing. A student art contest determined the cover, reinforcing student ownership of the final product. At our high schools, the Principal’s Advisory Board fosters two-way communication between students and school leadership, strengthening school culture and enhancing students’ sense of belonging. At the elementary level, programs like RARE (Raising Advocacy by Realizing Excellence) and Wolf Ambassadors encourage advocacy, leadership, and mentorship, while CHAT: Celebrating Heritage All Together provides students with opportunities to explore and share cultural traditions with their peers. Additionally, Student Council engages students in meaningful outreach projects that impact their school and community.

Pathway Connection: These initiatives reflect a shift toward a more student-driven system that values leadership, self-direction, and meaningful participation. By empowering students to take an active role, we cultivate a learning environment that fosters confidence, independence, and a strong sense of belonging.