What is Progressive Education?

7th grade science teacher and two students wearing red helmets and safety glasses are preparing a model rocket on a grassy field with trees in the background.
A woman and four young children are engaged in play with wooden blocks and colorful fabric in a brightly lit classroom with shelves of toys in the background.
Three students in a outback robotics lab are working on a complex robotic device in the foreground, with shelves of supplies and other students visible in the background.
scene from an upper school play where two upper school students stand on a stage in the foreground, while three students in period dress are seated on rocks in the background, with a projection of roses behind them.
two middle school students and music teacher play guitars in a room decorated with jerseys and a guitar chord chart.
Four upper school students are seated around a table with a large sheet of paper, while in the background, a door and window are visible.
Two 1st graders, one in an orange shirt with a large number 3, point at a whiteboard filled with math problems, while other whiteboards with similar content are visible in the background.
3rd grade teacher and students are engaged in a lesson at a round wooden table in a classroom with bookshelves in the background.
Three middle school students are working on a wooden box in woodshop, with tools and machinery visible in the background.
Four middle school track athletes in blue athletic tops raise their hands in a celebratory gesture against a bright sky with distant trees and stadium lights.
In the foreground, two upper school students in goggles conduct a science experiment, while in the background, other students and molecular models are visible in a classroom.
A preschool student runs through a blue hoop obstacle in a brightly lit mini-gym with other children and adults participating in activities in the background.

Progressive education is a student-centered approach to learning that has shaped Catlin Gabel learners since our founding in the 1850s. It emphasizes hands-on, experiential activities, collaborative problem-solving, and the development of the whole child. Catlin Gabel School continues to practice the four principles of progressive education, which remain the foundation for teaching and learning across all divisions and grades.

Inquiry Based

Questions Drive Learning. Inquiry-based learning fosters curiosity through the belief that asking good questions leads to deeper understanding than having all the answers.

  • Promotes creativity; encourages multiple perspectives and original thinking
  • Generative (students generate questions and paths to pursue them)
  • Students learn through iteration and problem solving, reflecting on outcomes
 

Educating for Democracy

Education Builds Confidence and Purpose. Educating for democracy equips students with the skills and mindset to understand complex issues and take responsible action in their communities.

  • Learning fosters empathy and awareness of others
  • Students develop a sense of agency and voice
  • Students build the knowledge and skills needed to be informed and engaged community members
  • Classrooms discuss power and privilege
 

Teaching the Whole Child

Learning Extends Beyond the Classroom. Teaching the whole child means knowing and nurturing each student. We design learning opportunities that support students’ full development so they can thrive as children and grow into happy, fulfilled adults.

  • Teachers are interested instudents’ whole selves
  • Children and families are known and valued
  • Children are represented in the curriculum, in the classroom, and on campus
  • We support students’ physical, emotional, academic, ethical, and interpersonal growth
  • Students learn in a variety of settings and modalities
 

Experiential Learning

Students Learn by Doing. Experiential learning is a cycle of experience, reflection, analysis, and application that deepens understanding and supports growth.

  • Students apply knowledge and skills to real-world challenges
  • Trial, error, and failure are part of the learning process
  • Student progress is evaluated using rubrics, competency models, and demonstration-based assessments
  • Students have opportunities to reflect and make sense of their experiences