Commitment to Learning

At Blair, learning begins in the classroom and extends off campus as students and faculty travel abroad or within the U.S. to further explore the material presented in class. The mission of the faculty and the school itself is to develop in each Blair student a sense of personal commitment to education. Only when that commitment exists can real learning take place. Our viewbook as well as the brochure, “Experience Academics,” detail the fine points of our mission and how it is accomplished.

In the last few years alone, students have been recipients of the following prestigious academic scholarships: Morehead Scholarship, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Jefferson Scholarship, University of Virginia; Belk Scholarship, Davidson College; National Merit Scholarship, University of Chicago.

In many ways, our classrooms are like those in every demanding, high quality school: small classes, a wide range of honors and advanced placement course offerings, individually tailored independent study programs, teachers with advanced subject area degrees, and special facilities dedicated to learning – from language labs and computer rooms to art studios.

What makes Blair different is that because of our size and the dedication of our faculty, we encourage, value and demand a good deal of work, and that work in turn receives a good deal of response. When students write a paper, they don’t simply get a grade. They also receive comments for improvement and the opportunity to rewrite. Teachers regularly encourage students to meet with them outside of class for extra help in preparing for a test or for continuing a discussion. Before long, even the quietest students learn that their voices and ideas matter.

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