Harding Academy values balance—between nurture and challenge, between academic skillsets and transformative experiences, and between intellectual accomplishment and physical, social, and emotional development. This whole-child approach is a foundational component of Harding learning and teaching.

Our strategic plan seeks to honor this longstanding Harding commitment in more concrete and intentional ways, through fresh curricular and programmatic initiatives. Eventually, scheduling structures will also ensure social-emotional learning at Harding is woven smoothly into the fabric of our teaching and instruction. In addition to enriching Harding’s general student experience, a strengthened commitment to social and emotional wellness bolsters healthy enthusiasm for academic applications and grants our graduates vital 21st-century competencies—including managing stress, navigating social media, collaborating productively, deploying empathy, embracing differences, and reading social cues in-person and online. Our students become not only happier, more well-rounded children, but also resilient, resourceful learners, leaders, and thinkers.