Orme School Overview

                                                                       
Academics

• Three types of courses are available: traditional college prep, honors, and AP.
• The average graduating class is 30-40 students, and the average classroom size is 14.
• More than half the faculty hold advanced degrees, and all have a passion for teaching and a genuine concern for the success of their students.
• 100% College Acceptance.

                                                               
Residential Life

• The Orme School is located an hour north of Phoenix in central Arizona’s ranch country. The lush green 300 acre campus is surrounded by 26,000 acres of the Quarter Circle V Bar Orme Ranch.
• Students live in dormitories with a roommate and share a bathroom with two other students in an adjoining room.
• With over 90% of the faculty living on campus, there is consistent interaction with students during meals, sports, activities and the advisor program.
• The Orme School student body is very metropolitan, with students from several different countries.
  

                                                               
Athletics/Activities

• The Orme School offers a wide variety of interscholastic athletics: baseball, basketball, football, cross country, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball.
• Orme is one of the few boarding schools in the nation that competes against public schools AND private schools.
• Orme is proud of its diverse horsemanship program with both Western and English riding as well as competitive rodeo instruction.
• Students in Orme’s Outdoor Leadership Program utilize our near-perfect surroundings for hiking, rock climbing, and rappelling, while learning essential outdoor survival skills.

                                                          
Experiential Learning Programs

• Fine Arts Festival: Orme invites professional artists from all over the country to guide students as they work on a week long project in either the visual or performing arts. Family is invited to view the students' performances and exhibitions at the end of the week.
• Caravan: As an Orme School tradition, students embark on a week long adventure learning experience in the Southwest. Popular Caravans include: San Juan River Kayaking, Escalante Canyons Backpacking, Navajo-Hopi Lands, Verde River Backpacking, Mountain Biking, Southern Utah Parks, and Arizona Community Service.

Q: What kind of school is Orme?

A: Orme is a coeducational, college preparatory boarding and day school for grades K-12 and PG. Boarding starts in Grade 8. Students at Orme are independent, well-rounded, motivated, and engaged learners with goals in higher education.

Q: What is a typical day at Orme like?

A: Students are required to check in at breakfast by 7:30 a.m. for announcements. The academic day begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m. Afternoon activities begin around 3:45 p.m. Dinner is served at 6:00 p.m., with a formal, sit down dinner on Monday night. Study Hall runs from 7:30-9:00 p.m. Students have free time from 9:00 p.m. until curfew. Various meetings, and other events are scattered throughout the week’s schedule.

Q: Do you have a drug and alcohol policy?

A: The Orme School is committed to a drug-free campus. Any incidents of drug or alcohol use are dealt with in a swift and decisive fashion. Students who plan to use drugs or alcohol should not apply to The Orme School.

Q: Can I bring a computer?

A: Students may bring a computer to have in their rooms, but there is no internet access in the dorms. Students may go to the Julia O’Brien Wilcox Computer Learning Center for internet access or bring a laptop into the library, Commons or Mimi’s Café for wireless internet.

Q: What happens at Orme during the weekends?

A: Our weekend activities vary throughout the month to include a balance of athletic, outdoor activities, community service and social opportunities. These activities occur both on and off campus. Our residential life staff, including dorm parents, orchestrates these activities.

Q: How safe is campus?

A: In addition to our naturally safe, remote location, we have staff members who ensure the safety of campus at all times. During the day, teams (consisting of teachers and staff) are on duty to be available for student concerns and to monitor activity on campus. At night, there are at least two nightwatch personnel on campus. Nightwatch checks on students throughout the night and reports to the Dean of Students. Emergencies are handled through the duty team assigned for that evening. All visitors must sign in at the front desk, and students must also sign in and out (once given permission). A full-time registered nurse is on duty during the academic day and all staff and faculty are first aid and CPR certified. Each dorm is assigned a dorm parent, and each student a faculty advisor. These faculty members live on campus and help maintain a safe atmosphere for the students.