Mission Statement

The Laboratory Schools are home to the youngest members of the University of Chicago's academic community. We ignite and nurture an enduring spirit of scholarship, curiosity, creativity, and confidence. We value learning experientially, exhibiting kindness, and honoring diversity.

Strategic Framework

As the Laboratory Schools head toward our 125th anniversary in 2021, we are focused on delivering the most outstanding education to our students, and doing it in a manner that instantiates the core values of the University of Chicago. 

Lab empowers and educates all children to ask questions, develop paths of inquiry, and challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. As is true across the University, inquiry is at the heart of what we do. Our children, in partnership with one another and their teachers, ask not just Why? but What if? and How come? and pursue those lines of inquiry—and resulting answers—down any number of paths. 

This strategic framework outlines our priorities and provides the direction to best support an outstanding educational program and sustain a thriving collaborative school community. 

The work engaged thousands of alumni and parents as well as Lab faculty, staff, students, board members, and University of Chicago leaders. We thank everyone who contributed to this important work and for all they do to support our school and students.