Our Philosophy

Delphian School began as the dream of a small group of educators in the early 1970s to build a new kind of learning environment. Dr. Alan Larson, the Founding Headmaster of the school and several of his colleagues dedicated themselves to the goal of reversing the downward trending standards in education.

Within a close-knit community and lively campus environment, Delphian students are given highly personal attention from instructors, an individual academic program and a focus on demonstrated competence rather than memorization of facts or time spent in class. Students learn to not only understand what they study, but also to become competent in the use of logic and reason.

Delphian School’s mission is to empower young people with effective study skills, a solid academic foundation, a strong sense of personal integrity and a wide range of abilities. 

More broadly, its mission is to send forth responsible, capable individuals who can help build a better world.

What does this mission mean in practice?

Effective Study Skills

All Delphian students learn a method of study that emphasizes application of knowledge.  In the process, they learn to:

• Recognize and overcome barriers to full understanding; 
• Evaluate information for relevance and usefulness;
• Successfully tackle any subject.

At Delphian, students continually develop their ability to study independently.  They routinely dive into dictionaries, reference books and online sites to fully clarify concepts.  They constantly test information against the real world.  Though subjects range from the more theoretical to the very practical, students study to acquire information they can use.  Delphian students don’t just learn facts; they gain abilities that prepare them for the realities and challenges of life.