About Us

Who We Are

Founded in 1972, The Marylhurst School is a progressive, independent school for students in Preschool through 8th grade. Since its establishment as a lab school at Marylhurst University over 50 years ago, the school has grown into a thriving learning community with integrated art, music, Spanish, and Physical Education.

We are a diverse and inclusive community where students have the opportunity to get to know themselves and each other as empowered and authentic human beings. We know that rich learning happens when a variety of ideas, opinions, strengths, and challenges come together. We’re proud to be a school where students and families feel comfortable, supported, and included for who they are.

Our core principle is to guide children into becoming confident lifelong learners, courageous explorers, imaginative creators, and ethical and engaged citizens.

Mission: What We Do

At The Marylhurst School, we practice progressive education through experiential learning and respect for the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of the student. Here, children develop a foundation for lifelong learning, problem-solving, and working within a diverse community.

Vision: Why We Do It

  • Building an inclusive community of creators, citizens, and explorers.

Values: Our Core Principles

At Marylhurst, we cultivate a welcoming community and live our values. To that end, we guide children to become:

  • innovative, resourceful, and imaginative as creators;

  • empathetic, inclusive, and ethical citizens;

  • curious, confident, and courageous explorers.

Our History

From its earliest design as a lab school at Marylhurst University, the school has honored the developmental time of childhood. In 1972 Delores Quinn, of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, established a school that put forth consideration for the individual—their intellectual wonderings, quality of character, and creative expression. In 1986 the school was established as an independent, progressive learning community. After 40 years of excellence in early childhood education, our expansion welcomed the inaugural primary-grade cohort in 2012 and graduated our first 8th grade class of alumni in the spring of 2018.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Proudly progressive, The Marylhurst School was founded upon principles of diversity and inclusion. For 50 years, The Marylhurst School has brought together students, families, and educators with different backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. The Marylhurst School is an inclusive and welcoming school. Your family will be accepted and valued here regardless of you or your child’s race, religion, gender, ability, orientation, class, country of origin, immigration status, language, or education level. We respect all family structures; whether you are connected by blood, or law, or love alone.

The Marylhurst School celebrates the care and mutual respect we have for one another as a diverse community of learners. We commit to the active practices of anti-racism, facilitating inclusion and belonging, and working toward social and environmental justice, both at school and in our own lives. We embrace critical conversations and opportunities for action and we will continue to support and uplift each other as we work together to build solidarity and create a more just and equitable world. 

Marylhurst’s commitment to honor diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging empower students, staff, families, and community members to become active agents of change during their time at TMS and beyond. We envision a more equitable, democratic, and empathetic world with TMS students as co-creators of what is right and just. We honor the inherent worth of each member of the TMS community; community members are supported, uplifted, and encouraged to express their authentic and multidimensional identities.

Acknowledgment of the Original People of the Land*

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional village sites of the Clackamas bands of the Upper Chinook. Many indigenous tribes and bands traveled through this area including the Multnomah, Clowwewalla, Tualatin-Kalapuya, and the Molalla.

We thank the descendants of these tribes and bands for being the original stewards and protectors of these lands and water since time immemorial. We acknowledge that the Portland, Oregon area has the 9th largest urban Native American population in the U.S. with over 380 tribes represented in the region. We also acknowledge the systemic genocide, relocation, and assimilation that impacts many indigenous and Native American families today.

We are honored to be guests upon these lands and waters. We pay our respects to elders, both past and present, who have stewarded this land throughout generations, through today. 

*This land acknowledgment is the result of a collaborative process with Marylhurst’s middle school students, during the spring of 2021, that involved much research, contemplation, and reflection. The Marylhurst School is committed to honoring the indigenous people who visited, passed through, or lived on this land since time immemorial; and who continue to reside in this area. We understand that colonialism is present and ongoing. These understandings underpin conversations, current studies, and curricular development. This land acknowledgment is a living document. We expect to revisit it often, as our understanding and knowledge evolve.

Our Affiliations

Marylhurst is proud to be a partner school with the Progressive Education Network; is accredited as a subscriber school member of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools; is licensed by the Oregon Department of Education Child-care division and is recognized as a federal nonprofit 501(c)3.