About Orchard House
History
Four Richmond parents, inspired by the March 1996 symposium, Empowering Girls: Strategies for Parents and Teachers led by educator Nancy Davies, developed the idea of creating a different middle school experience for their daughters.
Affectionately known as "The Founding Mothers," these women dreamed of a small, all girls' middle school with a nurturing environment and a diverse student body.
In late 1996, they contacted Ms. Davies to consult with them about their idea for a new school. For months, the growing group met on Friday afternoons to talk about educating girls and what the emerging school would look like. In January 1998, Ms. Davies agreed to be the Founding Head of a new school.
The new school needed a name. One parent, remembering Little Women, made the suggestion of "Orchard House," the long-standing home of the famous literary family, the Alcotts of Concord, Massachusetts. It was growing up in Orchard House where Louisa May Alcott penned her famous diaries, which became the text for Little Women, an American classic beloved by school-aged girls for decades.
Similarly to the book, Orchard House celebrates the differences and tremendous affection among sisters growing up.
With the vision intact, admissions meetings were held throughout the city and surrounding areas at public libraries. Plans were made for school to begin. Careful and intentional thought was given to every aspect of the curriculum and the learning environment.
On September 5, 1998, twelve sixth graders and five seventh graders started classes under the guidance of two full-time and seven part-time teachers, including Ms. Davies. Orchard House rented the Ginter Park Recreational Association, located at 3421 Hawthorne Avenue, in the Northside of Richmond, which served as its home for six years.
In its second year Orchard House added the fifth and eighth grades aligning with its vision and research. In 1999, Orchard House had grown to 47 girls and in 2000, had its first graduating class of eight girls.
Over the next few years, enrollment grew to the school's intended capacity of 80 girls.
Orchard House successfully purchased 500 North Allen Avenue, an exceptional historic building. The school's commitment to the City of Richmond and to diversity guided that decision.
Throughout the summer of 2004, the school undertook major restorations and up fits on three floors in preparation for the upcoming school year. On September 7, 2004, Orchard House opened the doors of its permanent home.
Our urban location affords the girls many opportunities to become involved with the city, such as visiting museums and libraries, participating in clean-up projects, and working with younger children and the elderly in neighboring schools and agencies.
Consistent with its original mission, Orchard House strives to provide extraordinary education for middle school girls, constantly developing, evaluating, and implementing cutting edge research and programs.
Since its first graduating class in 2000, Orchard House girls have attended a diverse array of area high schools – public and private, mirroring the diverse elementary schools from which girls enter Orchard House, and replicating the same diversity of the high schools they attended.
In 2005, the Board of Trustees and the Head of School developed a sound strategic plan for Orchard House. The 2004-2009 strategic plan both strongly positions Orchard House for the future and charts specific initiatives for the school through 2009. The initiatives include new programs for students, further renovations to the building, additional financial markers for the school, competitive faculty salaries and benefits, and greater thrust to the search for diversity among our students and families.
Since opening its doors to 17 students eight years ago, Orchard House has been nurturing the hearts and minds of middle school girls and developing within them the strength and confidence to lead extraordinary lives. Our girls are ready for the future – and so are we.
