City as Our Campus

City as Our Campus℠ amplifies student learning by providing unique educational opportunities with leaders from the academic, cultural, scientific, non-profit, and business communities in Pittsburgh. City as Our Campus is part of Winchester Thurston’s core Upper School curriculum, augmenting it with meaningful, real-world experiences.

Students at our private high school in Pittsburgh have the opportunity to engage in various City as Our Campus projects and courses throughout the year. Winchester Thurston students not only gain access to a wealth of community resources, but they are also actively working to make a difference.

See how WT’s City as Our Campus amplifies Upper School student learning

Self-Directed Learning

As part of WT’s City as Our Campus, students are challenged to take control of their learning. In Research Science and Computer Science Innovations, two-year-long courses, students design and build original products such as robotic hands or drones that test for air quality. These experiences prepare our students to be self-reliant innovators.

Advocating for Change

By partnering with community members and organizations, our juniors and seniors partner with the Pittsburgh City Council to draft and propose policy proposals for legislative consideration.

Computer science and math courses analyze city data to improve systems and reduce crime. Urban Research and Design, a year-long capstone course, investigates urban redevelopment and the social issues that surround it, then actively works to improve the situations for those impacted by it.

Entrepreneurship and Product Design

In this year-long Upper School course, students are asked to develop a product design and feature set intended to make other people's lives easier.