City as Our Campus
“[WT’s City as Our Campus] ties into much of the recent brain-science research…[It] amplifies student engagement by creating authentic learning…It also acknowledges that schools are no longer the sole source of learning."
Donna Orem, National Association of Independent schools President
City as Our Campus: An Innovative program that keeps innovating.
First graders are learning about building and community design from seasoned architects. Post-AP high school seniors are using research science to prototype solutions to community problems. And inspired middle schoolers are writing about society and recording their songs with an award-winning studio artist.
Winchester Thurston School’s City as Our Campus program amplifies student learning by providing unique educational opportunities with leaders from the academic, cultural, scientific, nonprofit, and business community in Pittsburgh.
How City as Our Campus creates authentic learning with impact.
City as Our Campus is an extension of WT’s core academic curriculum and augments it by providing meaningful, real-world experiences. By working with diverse members of the community—and with a range of resources, tools, and materials—students don’t just gain understanding of the community’s most pressing issues, they work to solve them.

Student centered. Faculty driven. Community based.
WT’s innovative faculty is at the heart of the City as Our Campus program. Teachers design and implement projects, units, and courses that enhance their curricula. They forge partnerships that transform organizations, institutions, and businesses into co-educators, creating powerful learning opportunities for students. In fact, faculty passion fuels the success of City as Our Campus.
City as Our Campus as the new learning ecosystem.
In today’s interconnected world, schools aren’t the only center for learning. Libraries, museums, workshops, labs, and even the digital space have a place in the learning ecosystem. City as Our Campus is driving Pittsburgh’s learning ecosystem and putting students and teachers at the center of it.
Programmatic Goals.
The following programmatic goals outline what makes City as Our Campus a transformative experience at WT.
- Gain exposure to our city to become familiar with its culture and history.
- Interact with community members to understand diverse viewpoints and stories.
- Equip students with new skills and knowledge through authentic learning experiences.
- Provide teachers with a co-educator model that opens possibilities and expands our thinking.
- Partner with the community to become informed, engaged, and active citizens.
See WT's City as Our Campus for yourself.
Discover the power of City as Our Campus in each of our divisions: