The Orme School

Established in 1929, The Orme School is a unique, college-preparatory, co-educational boarding and day school for grades 8 through 12 & PG.
• An hour north of Phoenix, the Orme campus is set on a naturally socially distanced 26,000-acre cattle ranch in the high desert of Arizona set on 300 acres in rural Arizona.
• Our mission is to develop sound character, scholastic growth, and intellectual curiosity, as well as, to enable students to succeed at the college of their choice, and in life.
• From the academic program to residential and community life, the guiding principles of Excellence, Tradition, and Character are applied to every facet of an Orme education.
• Our community is structured, supportive, and diverse. We awaken untapped potential, encourage inner resourcefulness, freedom of expression, integrity, respect, and accountability for self and others.

STUDENT PROFILE Students are admitted into The Orme School as 8th graders through a Post Graduate year, forming a small, diverse, and global college-bound community. Approximately 100 students from all inhabited continents and religious and cultural backgrounds make up the student body. 16 countries, 4 Native American tribes, and 16 states were represented at Orme last year. The majority of students are United States citizens, and most of them come from the state of Arizona.ADVANCED PLACEMENT  Our challenging AP curriculum features a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on learning, and both environmental and aesthetic awareness.AP courses offered at The Orme School in recent years have included Art History, Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Chemistry, Computer Science, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Physics, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, Studio Art, United States Government, and United States History. Students took 108 AP Exams in 16 subject areas in 2019, and 104 AP Exams in 12 subject areas in 2020.SIGNATURE PROGRAMS  Many students come for specialty programs such as Horsemanship, Sustainability, and Outdoor Education, while others come seeking a small, interactive, experiential learning environment.

• Sustainability  Since the school`s founding, sustainability has always been at the core of life at Orme. Our beautiful 300-acre campus supports an incredibly biodiverse community of plants and wildlife, in addition to the vibrant community of people. From taking sustainability-focused courses to spending a chores period in the garden or kitchen for our Farm-to-Table program, or simply sorting food waste into the compost bins in Founders, students participate daily in a variety of opportunities that teach them how to contribute to and positively impact the environment and their community
• Horsemanship  Students can learn to ride, take care of horses, and trail ride throughout the Orme Ranch and Prescott National Forest. Students work as cowhands on the Orme Ranch during roundups. Our Horsemanship Team participates in English and Western competitions, including Gymkhanas, Hunter/Jumper, Barrel Racing, Roping, and Team Sorting.
• Caravan  Outdoor adventures, or Caravans, are a core tradition, building confidence, character, and leadership skills. Experiential and outdoor educational goals are achieved throughout the year with the after-school, weekend, and weeklong outdoor adventures including mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, hiking, fishing, skiing, backpacking, camping, surfing, archeological digs, and horseback riding. 
ATHLETICS  All students are welcome to participate in the Canyon Athletic Association (CAA) in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball. Students also enjoy Coffee Houses, recitals, and debate, and Mathletes Teams.ARTS Orme is a fantastic environment for teaching (and learning) art. For decades, international artists have been drawn to the beautiful Southwest to draw and paint, and Orme is nestled right in the middle of their geographic and aesthetic inspiration. Your Fine Art curriculum credits may also be earned in Music with individualized and small group instruction provided in piano and guitar, whether you are a beginner or accomplished in either instrument.
• The Orme School accreditations: AdvancED Accreditation, National Association of Independent Schools, The Association of Boarding Schools, Western Association of Boarding Schools, Cum Laude Society, National Honors Society