Orion STEM Schools
Small Learners, Big Vision

Although many schools still rely on “old-school” methods—rote memorization, endless worksheets, and a chapter-by-chapter march—this approach reduces learning to formulaic problem-solving. In an era when AI and automation excel at pattern-matching from historical data, teaching students to regurgitate case studies risks turning them into human versions of narrow algorithms. How, then, can education break out of that template?

At Orion STEM Schools, the answer is empathy.

By treating challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities to understand real people, students learn to see the world through others’ eyes. “Who are the end users? What do they feel? How do they see the world?” becomes the guiding question for every project. Through careful observation, active listening, and perspective-taking, learners define problems with clarity and compassion.

To anchor empathy in daily practice, Orion devotes 50–60 percent of enrichment-course time to the Stanford d.school’s design-thinking framework: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test, and share. Across grade levels, students tackle age-appropriate, real-world challenges—kindergartners consider local water use, second graders prototype filtration models for underserved communities, and middle schoolers redesign urban spaces for accessibility. By encountering inevitable failures, learners cultivate grit, perseverance, and a “fail-forward” mindset.

Orion’s school day runs one hour longer than that of typical public schools, providing time for subject depth and exploration. Starting in the earliest grades, learners rotate through “medical science,” “consumer science”—which embeds financial literacy, neuroscience, and behavioral economics—and “data science,” alongside core math, science, and language arts. This breadth of exposure helps each child discover their passions and strengths, then align them with community needs—an essential step in forging purpose.

Emotional and relational intelligence receive equal emphasis. Each morning begins with mindfulness practice, and two dedicated “quiet zones” allow students to reflect and self-regulate. Educators—called “caring designers”—mentor just six students each, meeting daily to guide self-awareness and gratitude exercises.

Underlying all activities are Orion’s six core mindsets—acceptance, belonging, belief, presence, big dreams, and change-making—woven into lessons, projects, and relationships. Each student maintains a personalized growth plan, updated through peer feedback, self-reflection, parent input, teacher feedback, and SWOT analysis. By adulthood, graduates can articulate not only what they love and what they’re good at, but also how those talents address real needs and generate sustainable livelihoods.

Orion’s pedagogy draws on partnerships with leading institutions. Since 2014, UChicago STEM Education has advised the school; MIT’s Disciplined Entrepreneurship informs the entrepreneurship curriculum and project roadmaps; Harvard’s Making Caring Common and Angela Duckworth’s Character Lab shape social-emotional goals; Brown University supplies data-science curricula; and Dr. Michael Lewrick advises on design-thinking best practices. This global network ensures both rigor and relevance.

“Our students are driven to make a positive difference in the world. We are committed to enabling our students to find their voice, passion, and purpose by honing their skills, respecting their inquisitive minds, and translating their thoughts into authentic ideas that can make an impact,” says Selvei Rajkumar, founder and CEO.

Consider Steffi, a second grader whose water-filtration prototype began as a simple idea and evolved—through empathy interviews, iterative testing, and a growth-mindset culture—into a sturdy, low-cost model.

Steffi’s water model may not end a global crisis. But her mindset, the empathy she’s learned, and the courage to try again are the seeds of something far greater.

For her—and every student at Orion—it’s just the beginning.