On January 7, Lab seniors gathered for a panel with alumni who shared their college experiences and advice, helping the Class of 2025 prepare for their next chapter.
Our History
In January, 1896, a new elementary school opened its doors in a small house on the South Side of Chicago and embarked on one of the most important educational experiments of the new century to come.
In three rooms with a large backyard, 16 students gathered under the guidance of John Dewey, a professor of philosophy, psychology, and pedagogy at the University of Chicago.
The school gardening movement of the late 1800s–early 1900s was a regular part of the curriculum at the Laboratory Schools.
From the days each letter of type needed to be set, student publications have always been led by the children themselves.
Exploration of cultures has always been a part of a Lab education whether it's 1924 or 2024.
Dewey’s intention was to challenge conventional attitudes about childhood education and to discover “how a school could become a cooperative community.” In such a community, each member had roles, performed tasks, and learned what it meant to be productive citizens. Learning, in other words, was not too different from life.
Our Founder
When founder John Dewey created a new kind of school in 1896, he embarked on one of the most important educational experiments of the new century to come.
As a philosopher, he believed that learning was an intensely social process. The most effective schools, in his thinking, were those that constituted small communities. Students learned best while engaged in activities that involved creative problem-solving and responsibilities to fellow students. In such a community, each member had roles, performed tasks, and learned what it meant to be a productive citizen. In his writings, Dewey explained that education by memorization and drill, in contrast, left children seriously underdeveloped. With the founding of Lab, Dewey revolutionized the educational system and cemented his legacy (and our school) as pioneers in the progressive education movement in the United States.
Explore Lab's Timeline
The Lab Experience for Researchers and Visiting Educators
As the nation’s first laboratory school, Lab is delighted to share our history, approach, and evolving pedagogy to our colleagues. To meet the needs of this demand, we invite you to apply to attend one of our regularly scheduled tours for partners, peers, and educators.
Visit Dates and Deadlines
We have set aside two dates for school visits for the 2024-2025 academic year.
February 25 | Application Deadline: January 25
April 29 | Application Deadline: March 29
Please note that we have limited capacity for each visit date.
Requests submitted after the deadline will be considered only if space is available.
If you have any questions about the visit program, please contact us at school-visits@ucls.uchicago.edu.