The Pine School is dedicated to preparing our students for the 21st century world of dynamic change, diversity, globalization, and innovation. This commitment can be seen in the architecture of the Hobe Sound campus and in the curriculum and co-curricular activities on both campuses.

Our students are taught from the earliest years to learn how to learn. They develop strategies that reflect the best thinking in brain research so that they are effective and efficient learners, no matter what the subject matter or context.

The core of our program is a strong traditional platform of reading instruction, writing, and mathematics.  Our goal is excellence without compromise in these areas; our commitment is to build the best writing and mathematics programs found anywhere.  We want our students to not only be excellent writers, but to be published.  In math, we want our students to compete with students around the world. In addition, the curriculum features a powerful focus that speaks directly to the 21st century, where successful individuals are technologically savvy, globally oriented, solid in their core values, and eager to seize on new ideas.

Global Education

Students in the 21st century live in a world of interconnectedness and globalization. Competition is not only with those who live in Boston or Biloxi, but also with those in Bangladesh and Beijing. At The Pine School, students begin their familiarity with other languages and cultures from Early Learning. During their school life, they are exposed to Spanish and Chinese language and culture in particular, and they eventually choose one of these languages for concentration in the Upper School. There is a global emphasis in all we do - literature, social studies, and even physical education!

The Pine School has forged relationships with The Chengdu Foreign Languages School in China, The Island School in the Bahamas, and The College Villa De Grinon in Spain. Through exchanges of teachers and of students, our program will be of great advantage to our students as they take their place in a world that is complex and interconnected.

The Inventive Mind - Innovation & Problem Solving

A dynamic environment requires that successful individuals are creative and entrepreneurial. The curriculum at The Pine School encourages these qualities. Throughout their studies, students are challenged to look for solutions, to pose questions as well as to find answers, and to use their imagination as their most effective tool. The Robotics Teams of both young men and young women, calling themselves respectively The Men in Black and The Women in Black, have already earned statewide recognition for their work. Students in the Lower School participate in the Invention Dimension Challenge, an enrichment platform supporting their creative and entrepreneurial spirit.  Middle School students can take Gonzo Engineering as an elective course, challenging themselves to understand how to solve problems in new and creative ways.

Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway and the holder of numerous patents, has assigned one of his leading executives to serve on an Advisory Committee for The Pine School so that the entrepreneurial spirit can become an integral part of student life. The inventor of a polymer widely used for insulation, a naturalist who has explored the wilds of Alaska, and experts in the evolution of sharks and ocean life have all contributed to our students' education.

Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship

The Pine School is blessed with a campus for the Middle and the Upper Schools that is itself an outdoor classroom. It is an ecological treasure and houses an Indian midden as well as a lake and native flora and fauna.

The Lower Campus in Stuart boasts a nationally recognized butterfly garden and a newly installed hydroponic vegetable garden, allowing students to get their hands dirty while learning more about nature and where food comes from.  There is also a working garden on the Hobe Sound campus producing vegetables for our lunch program. Each student is required to study the Florida environment in a formal setting and then to produce a project before graduation that in some way contributes to the preservation or enhancement of the environment.

Our students learn to be good stewards of the land, sensitive to environmental issues, and knowledgeable about the science of the environment so that they can be leaders and contributors in preserving and improving our world.

Creativity and Communication

The Pine School seeks to place our students in the company of the finest minds in the arts to enhance their knowledge and to expand their imaginations.  All students participate in both visual and performing arts challenging them outside of the comfort zones while fostering their natural creative talents.  The arts program has already drawn some of the top performing artists to the Stuart campus through collaboration with the Treasure Coast Concert Association and a grant from Women Supporting the Arts. Our stage has been graced by The 5 Browns, Salvatore Licitra, Joshua Bell, Regina Carter, The Palm Beach Opera Company, Nestor Torres, and the Academy of Ballet Florida.

Writing and public speaking are cornerstones of 21st century communication.  The Pine School prides itself on its excellent writing curriculum, teaching students across grade levels and disciplines.  Grammar is a building block for our writing program and students are challenged to enhance their vocabulary through direct study.  Teaching research skills is central to the curriculum including elective courses in the Middle and Upper Schools. Future plans for this signature program include opportunities for artists and scholars to spend several days to several weeks working with our students inspiring them to think deeply and broadly.

Leadership and Public Purpose

A full 120 hours of community service are required of students before their graduation. The children start young in caring about others. Everyone gets involved with food drives at holiday time, fund raisers for organizations like March of Dimes, and community events like the Heart Walk. The Beta Club provides more formalized opportunities for students to become involved in service learning. By Upper School, students are expected to share their gifts and resources with other students who are struggling to succeed.

The Pine School is forging relationships with organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of Martin County, United Way, American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity so that our young people learn early the importance of participating fully in their community and in taking responsibility for building a better world.