Academics
Passion is a word you hear a lot at Pingree. It defines the way our teachers and students approach their work, the way we interact, and our daily engagement with each element of our academic program. A Pingree education offers students an outstanding preparation for further study at the world’s finest colleges and universities. Equally important, our graduates take with them the habits of heart, mind, and spirit that will help them to become successful and responsible members of their local, national, and world communities.
Pingree’s academic program is designed to challenge each student at an appropriate level, with regular, honors, and Advanced Placement offerings in each of the six major disciplines: Art, English, History, Language, Math, and Science. Through a rigorous course of studies, students develop the ability to think critically, creatively, and compassionately, to take intellectual risks, and to examine their assumptions and underlying values. Our program fosters self-discipline and responsibility while instilling pride in academic achievement. Students learn through independent and group study, gaining both self-confidence and the ability to solve problems collaboratively. We prepare life-long learners who are excited about their future, their capabilities, and their potential.
If we want students to think, analyze, use judgment, and take responsibility, then what we teach, inside and outside the classroom, must value and encourage these abilities. Daily assignments — whether sythesizing biodiesel fuel or conducting a history simulation of the outbreak of WWI — are designed to engage students fully in the process of discovery. At Pingree, students take ownership of their thoughts, words, and actions. They understand that they are defined by the choices they make, so they must choose wisely. By confronting challenging issues, considering options, and making decisions, students discover their own values and begin to find their places in an increasingly complex and interdependent world.
We are committed to helping students develop the desire and skills to make a difference in that world. Pingree’s Service Learning Program is intended to cultivate international understanding, responsible citizenship, and the ability to navigate successfully in multicultural environments. Through partnerships with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Doctors Without Borders, we offer students the opportunity to travel and participate in important, hands-on work that builds communities and emphasizes our shared humanity.
“The intellectual and moral will remain separate in our schools… as long as there is a divorce between learning and doing.”
John Dewey, 1897
