As a future-focused institution, the Campus Laboratory School (CLS) of Carlow University aims to foster a passion for discovery and service in our students. We believe values like empathy, as well as academic achievement, are vital qualities for future leaders to possess.
With this vision in mind, CLS educators have developed a curriculum that – while providing a rigorous course of study - emphasizes compassion, inclusion, and expression. This distinctive learning environment aims to lay groundwork for the larger educational journey, while preparing students to live ethically in our ever-changing world.
Rooted in compassionate service and sustained by a thriving community, the Campus Laboratory School of Carlow University is devoted to educating the leaders of tomorrow.
We believe teaching and learning are sacred acts. As a proud member of the Mercy Education System of the Americas, CLS is dedicated to a merciful approach to education, grounded in progressive values and the Mercy Catholic tradition of faith, love, and service.
Prepared with an ethical and moral compass, CLS students are trained to put Mercy values into action and work assertively for what is right. Our holistic program imparts qualities including curiosity and critical thinking, arming students with skills to last a lifetime. These core competencies include:
As part of our dedication to the values of the Sisters of Mercy, we embrace their five Critical Concerns. We believe in a future where leaders are motivated by social justice, so acts of service are woven throughout our curriculum. In recent years, service and curriculum projects have included
As a laboratory school, CLS maintains an integral relationship with Carlow University, partnering on educational experiences, professional development, and more. Likewise, our story is deeply tied to the history of Carlow University.
The Campus School traces its roots to 1843, when seven determined Sisters of Mercy boarded a ship in Ireland, carrying with them the twin values of academic excellence and compassionate service to others.
Upon their arrival in Pittsburgh, in 1844, Our Lady of Mercy Academy was founded. This was the first private academy for girls in Pittsburgh, at St. Mary's on Penn Street. For the next 180 years, the Sisters’ simple yet boundless mission touched countless lives, and continues to inspire our future leaders today.