Welcome To Lausanne

For over 90 years, Lausanne Collegiate School has been tailoring education to individuals’ learning styles, skills and interests while widening students’ perspectives to prepare them for college and life in a global environment.

Today, Lausanne’s east Memphis PK2 through 12th-grade campus is one of only 24 schools in the United States to be accredited in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes.

A natural fit with Lausanne’s core values and inclusive community, the International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

Through small class sizes, a social and emotional balance to advanced academics, and supportive relationships with faculty and peers, students are prepared and confident to approach new encounters and environments at every age and stage.

After years of exploring different subjects and co-curricular experiences, Lausanne graduates find themselves pursued by colleges and universities across the country and around the world. This outpouring of acceptances and scholarships exemplifies Lausanne’s effort to help each student find his or her own unique path.

We encourage and welcome you to begin your family’s exploration of education: The Lausanne Way!

CORE VALUES AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROFILE

Lausanne Collegiate School is a coed, nonsectarian school whose mission is to prepare each of its students for college and for life in a global environment.

The core values of Lausanne’s community provide a balanced learning experience for each student: academically, emotionally and socially.

THE LAUSANNE WAY

• We create a joyful and challenging learning process.
• We encourage continual self-reflection.
• We provide opportunities to succeed.
• We embrace global mindedness.
• We forge meaningful relationships.
• We build character through service to others.
• We empower individuals to seek their own journeys.

Building on the mastery of traditional college preparatory skills and high academic and ethical standards, Lausanne develops the individual talents, intellects, creativity and character of boys and girls through innovative teaching strategies and passionate and engaged learning within our diverse PK2 through 12th grade International Baccalaureate setting. As a global school in East Memphis, Lausanne students understand the positive impact they can make in their communities on both a local and global scale. Service learning is incorporated into every grade level experience, as students put subjects and skills into context and action. Lower School Units of Inquiry projects and Middle Years Programme projects directly impact local non-profit groups. In addition, our 10th-grade students participate in a week-long non-profit internship each year, while our 11th and 12th graders design personal Creativity Action-Service (CAS) projects that can have a local, national or international impact.

• PK2–12th Grade at Lausanne
• 850 TOTAL STUDENT BODY
• 250 (PK2–Grade 4)
• 230 (Grades 5–8)
• 370 (Grades 9–12)
• 7:1 STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO
• 14:1 AVERAGE CLASS SIZE GRADES 1–12
• (5:1 PK2, 7:1 PK3, 10:1 JK, 12:1 SK)
• 97% Retention Rate
• 64 Different Countries Represented by 31% of the Student Body
• 48% Students of Color
• 51% Siblings
• 1:1 Laptops/Students Grades 5-12
• 30 Lakeside Acres In East Memphis
• Indoor/Outdoor Sports Complex 6 Tennis Courts Sprint Track Synthetic-Turf Field and Natural Grass Field Press Box and Field House 2 Gymnasiums Women’s and Men’s Conditioning, Cardio, Weightlifting, Training Rooms
• 500-Seat Theater
• 5 Art Studios Dance Studio Instrumental Ensemble Room Music Tech & Chorus Room
• 2,112 Sq Ft. Middle and Upper School STEAM Lab

Prepared for Life and a Global Environment

With girls and boys from 64 different countries and 48% students of color, Lausanne truly is a microcosm of the world. Students benefit from the school’s diversity, developing better cognitive abilities in addition to improved social aptitudes.

As we welcome new students each year, a shared sense of hospitality is continually re-enforced by students’ respect of one another’s cultures, family traditions and backgrounds.

At Lausanne, we believe the best educational environment makes learning challenging, engaging and meaningful for students. Attention to a child’s social and emotional competencies, executive functioning, and cognitive control fosters self-fulfillment and success in school and life.

Throughout a student’s time at Lausanne, specific characteristics and aptitudes are continually honed and re-enforced through our International Baccalaureate coursework and actions.

As IB learners, Lausanne students and graduates are:

• INQUIRERS
• KNOWLEDGEABLE
• THINKERS
• COMMUNICATORS
• PRINCIPLED
• OPEN-MINDED
• CARING
• RISK-TAKERS
• BALANCED
• REFLECTIVE

In addition to the support students receive day-to-day from faculty and peers, Lausanne has a dedicated Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) platform, counselors and learning specialists, who offer resources to students, parents and teachers to encourage healthy academic, career and social/emotional development in all students.

Lausanne’s SEL practices ultimately enhance students’ sense of identity, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.

Middle School Grades 5–8

Knowing the physical, emotional and cognitive changes children face during their preteen years, Lausanne’s Middle School is dedicated to fostering students’ confidence, love of learning, and self-advocacy, social and communication skills.

Small class sizes, a Daily Focus on mindfulness and empathy, collaborative learning environments, and supportive and encouraging faculty nurture students’ individual life skills while encouraging compassion and understanding of others. The friendships built across grade levels in the Middle School’s House System strengthen student leadership, peer mentoring and school spirit.

Motivated by the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme’s cross-curricular objectives, students are asked to evaluate information critically. They use what they learn to take principled action rather than simply memorizing facts to prepare for exams, with a focus on learning how to learn, stay organized and manage time. The development of the whole child prepares students for the Upper School and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme’s academic rigor.

• Interdisciplinary Teaching – Students learn best when their learning experiences have context and are connected to their lives and their world experiences. Each year of the Middle Years Programme (MYP) is designed to engage students in one or more collaboratively planned interdisciplinary units that connect two or more subject areas. Using the global contexts of the MYP, students develop an understanding of their common humanity and shared guardianship of our earth through explorations of:

• Identities and relationships
• Personal and cultural identity
• Orientations in space and time
• Scientific and technical innovation
• Fairness and development
• Globalization and sustainability

Out of these studies come students’ personal commitments to service and making a positive difference in the lives of others and to the environment.

• Zero Period – The academic day for Middle School students at Lausanne begins at 8:10 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Most students arrive on campus between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. to participate in the Zero Period, when all of the teachers are in their classrooms. Students can get extra support for lessons or work with teachers and peers on various projects. Some students also use this time to catch up on homework before classes begin or to eat breakfast with friends in Tully Dining Hall or the Blue Heron Café.

• Eight Academic Periods – Middle School students rotate through eight academic classes using a block schedule over two days. Four classes are held each day with snack breaks between classes, including lunch midday. Four core classes in English, Math, Science and Social Studies form the base for students. They also benefit from physical education classes and a genius hour that gives students a creative outlet and time to work with teachers one-on-one as needed. Students in grades 5 and 6 rotate through language study trimesters of French, Mandarin or Spanish, while students in grades 7 and 8 choose one course of study and gain a high school language credit after completing two years of study in the same language. The students’ eighth class is a rotation of fine and performing arts courses. The math program takes an integrated approach to mathematical concepts, including algebra and geometry, to make connections across the content domains leading to higher test scores and better retention. English classes also include Latin and Greek root word studies to strengthen vocabulary in preparation for later ACT/SAT testing. Science classes are lab-based and give students an early foundation for their biology, chemistry and physics classes to come in Upper School. STEAM and design studies can be taken as individual courses and incorporated into multiple experiences throughout the core subject areas.

• Grade Level Advisors – Students benefit from small classes, which usually average about 14 per class and never more than 20 students. Each student has a homeroom grade-level advisory group and an advisor who is the student’s advocate and program connection for parents. During the 30-minutes after lunch, students meet with their advisors or enjoy a common time outdoors. 5th and 6th graders are delighted to have use of the Outdoor Discovery Center during this time. On Wednesdays, the entire Middle School meets in the Elder Performing Arts Center for an assembly featuring a guest speaker, student performance or message from the Head of Middle School.

• Teaming – While students attend arts and physical education classes, grade-level teaching teams from the core subjects of English, Math, Science and Social Studies meet daily to coordinate plans and discuss each individual student’s progress. They also pay close attention to each child’s social, emotional and academic needs and create proactive plans of support and communication with parents.

• Technology – Technology is seamlessly integrated into all academic programs at Lausanne. Supported by our campus-wide wireless network, all Middle and Upper School students use personal laptops/tablets in all of their classes. Our classrooms and innovation labs employ tools like 3-D printers, 3-D projectors and laser cutters/engravers to provide a dynamic educational experience including higher-level STEAM and engineering courses for 5th through 12th grades. To provide professional development for our teachers and other educators, Lausanne Learning Institute brings leading experts on technology into the classroom from around the world to Memphis each summer.

• Community Compassion Project – As a means of preparation for our International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the Upper School, all 8th-grade students participate in a year-long, multidisciplinary service project. This endeavor allows students to explore their academic passions and interests, while strengthening their research skills, analytical thinking and writing abilities. Students are asked to collaborate and develop a service to the community from start to finish. As a culminating event, students give a final presentation of their project during a special evening gathering celebrating their Middle School journey.

• House System – Lausanne's House System, the first of its kind in the Mid-South, offers students and teachers the opportunity to work with one another outside of the academic arena. Through weekly house competitions that promote a healthy sense of school spirit, students establish connections that transcend classrooms and grade levels. Houses also provide older Middle School students with leadership opportunities through positions on our House Council and through the organization of school-wide activities. All students new to the 5th through 8th grades are sorted into one of four houses: Cottingham, Lendenwood, Massey and Monmouth, each named after a street surrounding our campus.

• Class Trips – Grades 5 through 8 take overnight class trips to enhance their classroom discussions and solidify friendships. 5th grade participates in a one-night trip to Victory Ranch in the spring to establish a sense of independence and team building. 6th graders take a team-building trip to Camp Bear Track in Arkansas. The 7th-grade trip centers around curricular enhancements in social studies and science. The 8th-grade trip allows the students to explore their impact on the communities around them.

• Learning Specialist and Counselor – Students benefit from the extra support of a learning specialist and counselor, who manage student learning plans and lead small group and individual exercises to help build student community and strengthen student self-advocacy.

• Mindfulness – The Middle School motto is “Work Hard: Play Hard.” Students in grades 5 through 8 go through many personal physical and emotional changes, and face new academic challenges while learning to balance special interests. The Middle School strives to help students approach learning mindfully by providing classroom exercises that heighten student awareness and ease anxieties. Each morning begins with a ten-minute “Daily Focus,” providing students with time to engage in continual self-reflection that empowers them to develop vital self-management, social and communication skills. Each class period also begins with a brief “mindful moment” to get focused and centered. This proactive, holistic approach to our students’ social and emotional development provides a foundation for becoming open-minded, caring and thoughtful society members. “Kindness is our superpower!”

Upper School Grades 9–12

Upper School students in the 9th and 10th grades at Lausanne benefit from continued development of critical thinking, research and communication skills while exploring the interdisciplinary studies of the last two years of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. Our goal is to develop students who are global-minded, collaborative, empathetic and active learners with the intellect and skills to pursue lives of purpose and meaning.

Classroom, co-curricular activities, student-organized interest clubs and community service experiences aim to help students develop their potential, explore their own learning preferences, take appropriate risks and develop a strong sense of personal identity. Through this self-reflection as well as the completion of most graduation requirements within their first two years of study in the Upper School, students are better able to design their schedules through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the 11th and 12th grades to develop their individual skill sets and interests and to enhance admittance to their preferred colleges and universities.

Grade level faculty advisors, small peer groups and a structured four-year college advising process provide students the support, guidance and self-reflection opportunities to find their individual college or university of choice.

• Middle Years Programme – Lausanne’s 9th and 10th grades are part of the Upper School while also an extension of the Middle Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate. In addition to continuing the development of students’ Learner Profile attributes, students in the 10th grade will complete a long-term personal research project.

• International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme – The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a rigorous academic program during the junior and senior years of high school. Students choose from a selection of classes offered at both standard (SL) and higher level (HL) in each of six different academic areas of study. All SL and HL classes are taught over two years. Students also write an extended essay, take a Theory of Knowledge class and participate in the Creativity, Activity and Service program (CAS). All students in the Upper School at Lausanne benefit from participation in the full Diploma Programme or participation in two or more IB Certificate Courses. Fifty percent of the junior and senior classes participate in the full Diploma Programme, and IB Math and English are required of all students. The math program is integrated to make connections across the content domains leading to higher test scores, better retention and advanced studies. Students who complete IB coursework with high marks should expect to have college credit applied towards their college graduation requirements.

• Flex Block – Each academic day, students in the Upper School have a 50-minute Flex Block starting at 1:25 p.m. This is a time when most teachers are in their classrooms. Students can get extra support on lessons or work with teachers and peers on various projects. National Honor Society students are also available for peer-tutoring. This is a great time for students to get one-on-one support in areas of challenge or a jump start on major projects or homework assignments.

• Advisory – The academic day for Upper School begins each morning at 8:50 a.m., with a 15-minute advisory period. Each student has a grade-level advisor and a peer advisory group of seven to eight students that meet daily. Teachers build meaningful relationships with all members of their advisories and their advisees’ parents and help shepherd them through the academic and social challenges that present themselves over the year. The advisor is the primary contact for the family in the school. After the advisory period, the first class begins at 9:05 a.m., following best practices for the teenage brain.

• Rotating Block Schedule – Upper School students rotate through six academic classes over two days. Following best pedagogy practices, academic classes are 85 minutes long, allowing students to dive deep into each subject. Students can tailor their experience with over 100+ course offerings, including but not limited to Anthropology, Business, Computer Science, English, Languages (French, Spanish, Mandarin), Math, Psychology, Science, Sports and Health Sciences, and the Performing and Visual Arts, taught through three different art studios. There are never more than 20 students in a class, and class sizes actually decrease in size as students enroll in various electives of interest. The average class size experience is 14 students.

• Technology – Technology is seamlessly integrated into all academic programs at Lausanne. Supported by our campus-wide wireless network, all Middle and Upper School students use personal laptops/ tablets in all of their classes. Our classrooms and innovation labs employ tools like 3-D projectors and laser cutters/engravers to enhance lessons across the curriculum. The Upper School’s Virtual Reality Suite offers students a multi-sensory and contextualized learning experience. To provide professional development for our teachers and other educators, Lausanne Learning Institute brings leading experts on technology into the classroom from around the world to Memphis each summer.

• Active Learning – Utilizing our flexible furniture, our highly trained teachers use active learning strategies to keep engagement high and optimize the student learning experience with each lesson.

• Class Trips and Internships – At the beginning of the school year, each class in the Upper School benefits from a unique week-long class experience designed to create a strong support system and opportunities for future planning. The freshmen go on a retreat with the 9th-grade faculty to learn about the Upper School culture and build community. Sophomores participate in a week-long internship in a local non-profit, allowing them to realize their impact on the communities in which they live. The junior class visits eight to ten colleges within a region with their college and faculty advisors to explore the differences between the types of schools. The seniors organize a week-long internship of their choosing, although corporate internships are encouraged. This internship’s timing is important to the college application process as seniors are narrowing their choices of program interests.

• Clubs – There are over 50 student-organized clubs represented by the Upper School annually. Interests include community service efforts, academic clubs such as the Knowledge Bowl, Model UN and Health Occupation Specialists of America (HOSA), athletic and arts clubs and special interest clubs such as robotics or music history. Students can participate in two clubs during the community time block offered each Wednesday.

• College Advisory – Guidance from both faculty and Lausanne’s three-member college advising team gives students the support and encouragement needed to explore their individual passions as well as to design specific areas of academic concentration based on college and university interests. College advisors give multiple presentations to freshmen, sophomores and parents and create discussion cues for faculty advisory groups throughout the year. The college advisors work closely with each junior and senior through the college admission process, hosting over 130 recruiters each fall from various colleges and universities to visit with students.

Lausanne Fine Arts & Design

We believe a strong arts education helps students appreciate global culture, sharpens communication skills, encourages creativity and hones self-confidence. We strive to instill a life-long love of the arts to enrich and deepen the whole range of life experiences. From PK2 through 12th grade, fine and performing arts are interwoven across the disciplines. In addition, visual and performing art classes encourage the discovery of relationships between the creative process and evaluative skills that enable a clearer understanding of our world.

Middle School

• 5th and 6th Grade
  • Trimester Rotation in Fine Arts
  • Art/Dance/Drama
  • Art/Music/Drama
  • Band
  • Chorus
  • Strings
• 7th and 8th Grade
  • Year-Long Studies in Fine Arts
  • Band
  • Chorus
  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Music Appreciation
  • STEAM
  • Strings
• Visual Arts
  • Upper School Visual and Performing Arts Classes
• Theatre Arts
  • Theatre Production
  • IB Theater SL and HL
• Instrumental Music SL and HL
• Chorus SL and HL
• Digital Video
• IB Film
• Art 1
• Advanced Art
• Multimedia Arts
• Photography
• Yearbook Design
• IB Visual Arts SL and HL
• Michelangelo Project Atelier SL and HL: Classical Drawing, Painting, Printmaking and Sculpting
• Art Studio Apprentice
• Ceramics
• Sculpture
• Programming as a Second Language
• The Conservatory

The Conservatory at Lausanne offers after-school performing arts classes to build creative, confident and expressive performers with a life-long appreciation for the arts. Both private and group lessons are available. Many of Lausanne’s theatrical presentations are part of Lausanne’s after-school enrichment programs. The Lower School Musical is offered through Conservatory classes. 5th through 12th-grade students may audition for after-school participation in the Middle School and Upper School musicals and plays. In addition to these performances, students may also audition for The Night of Broadway and Student Directed One Acts.

Lynx Athletics

Our students and community take great pride in supporting our Lynx and the blue and gold. While striving for personal growth and development in youth athletes, athletics at Lausanne also reinforces positive influences, self-confidence and the ability to excel inside and outside the classroom.

Physical education classes are built into daily schedules from PK2 through our Middle School. Although there is not a physical education graduation requirement in the Upper School, most students enjoy participating in team and individual sports. In addition to PE and individual and team sports, Lausanne athletics offers individualized and group training sessions from various sports, allowing student-athletes to develop their fundamentals or take their games to the next level. Afternoon and weekend academy participants can be beginners looking to learn and develop in fundamentals to elite athletes training for the next level.

Our hope is to help student-athletes realize the results of unyielding commitment, focus and drive. We believe the lessons learned through athletic participation are integral components of the educational experience. Lausanne’s student-athletes take their leadership responsibilities seriously and, in addition to building athletic abilities, make every effort to build school spirit across the divisions.

• Middle School Sports:
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Gymnastics
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
  • Track
  • Volleyball
• Upper School Sports:
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cheerleading
  • Cross Country
  • Football Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track
  • Volleyball

The Lausanne Way Forward

Through the supportive relationships of faculty and peers as well as the ownership students take of their own academic endeavors, Lausanne students are confident risk-takers with an understanding of a broad and balanced range of disciplines.

Lausanne’s students all benefit from having all three divisions on the same campus. From an early age, Lower School students gain a sense of the collegiate-prep journey they are on as they connect their early learning connections with older students. Middle and Upper School students are inspired by the interests and encouragement of their peers.

After years of exploring different subjects and co-curricular activities, internships, class trips and reflective conversations with faculty and friends, students work closely with Lausanne’s college advisors to apply to a wide range of schools.

Annually, the younger grade levels look forward to seeing the opportunities that await the senior class when they walk across campus with their college t-shirts.

The 8th graders have their first college advising experiences as they begin meeting with Upper School administrators and tour the Upper School. They complete their first college advising reflection and study during the spring semester parent/teacher conference. Parents also have the opportunity to meet with the college advisors and tour the Upper School.

In 9th grade, both an Upper School administrator and a college advisor meet with each family to discuss their student’s aspirational college goals. Students receive guidance on what courses, internships and extracurricular activities will help them as they move forward through their academic journey.

In 10th grade, students and parents meet with their college advisor to assess academic progress and address any concerns through early intervention. PSAT testing is reviewed, and students make goals for junior testing. Students also begin creating their college resume and conducting mock interviews.

In 11th grade, students begin the year visiting a variety of different college campuses during their class trip. The tours create a great learning environment showing students how to explore academic options and find their “right fit” institution. Throughout the year, students will continue to receive guidance on their resumes and mock interviews. Weekly meetings focused on college advising will begin in the spring. Over 130 colleges and universities will send representatives to Lausanne during this time to recruit our students.

The 12th graders benefit from previous years of personalized reflection with the college advisors and faculty mentors. Students and parents will meet with college advisors at the beginning of the 12th-grade year to create a targeted and tailored application list based on the student’s academic profile, personal goals and professional plans. Together, they will review application deadlines and identify potential scholarship opportunities. A college application boot camp in the fall will help seniors learn tips and best practices for filling out applications.

Lausanne has long been a place that helps students find their passion and confidence in an environment of empathy and true community support. Students’ interests are unlimited and their passion for learning lifelong. Through thoughtful and intentional learning experiences and the International Baccalaureate Programmes’ depth, students excel academically and personally, gaining a competitive edge when applying to the top universities in the world.

The variety of colleges and universities Lausanne graduates choose to attend year after year exemplifies Lausanne’s efforts to help each student find his or her own unique path. We hope their opportunities for success inspire you to explore Lausanne for the students in your life.

College Matriculation

Each class at Lausanne boasts a 100% graduation rate and a 100% acceptance rate. Due to the wide range of schools attended by Lausanne graduates, 85% of our graduates are matched with an alumni mentor who is still attending the college or university of the graduate’s choice or has settled in the area. Regional alumni representatives across the country also provide a network of resources for graduates.

Acceptances and Matriculation to 18 of Top 20 U.S. News & World Report Schools* Princeton University, Harvard University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, Yale University, Stanford University, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, Dartmouth College, Brown University, Vanderbilt University, Cornell University, Rice University, University of California – Los Angeles, Washington University in St. Louis *in the last five years

A TYPICAL LAUSANNE SENIOR CLASS

• 92 Graduates
• 100% Graduation Rate
• 100% Accepted to College
• Acceptances to 167 Different Schools
• Matriculation to 66 Different Schools
• $13 Million in Merit Scholarships
• 40% International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidates
• 94% Reception of International Baccalaureate Diplomas 78% Received Globally | 65% Received in United States | 56% Received in Tenn. $149,290 average in awards per student
• College acceptances and matriculation* over the past five years Accepted to 378 different schools | Attended 181 different schools