<p>I know Exeter and Lawrenceville are?</p>
<p>Can someone tell me if any of these schools are Harkness as well...
Phillips Andover
St. Pauls School
Deerfield Academy
Concord Academy
Choate
Hotchkiss
The Taft School
Loomis Chaffe
The Peddie School
Milton Academy
Groton</p>
<p>If you’re looking for a school that utilizes discussion-centered learning in the classroom, there are quite a few schools that use that method. </p>
<p>“Harkness” is a very specific approach - there is a great video on Exeter’s website that talks about it extensively, and explains it really well. </p>
<p>Many schools use an actual “Harkness table” - a certain-size oval wooden table, copyrighted with the Harkness name, that usually includes pull-out desks around the sides of the table, so students turn to the side when taking a test - but may not “officially” employ the “Harkness method.” Other schools may have the students sit in a circle, or around the edges of a large round or square or oval or rectangular table - but not use an “actual” Harkness table.</p>
<p>When we were looking at schools, we were more concerned about the quality of the interaction/teaching/discussions going on in the classrooms, then whether the style was “officially” Harkness or not.</p>
<p>Some schools we visited that utilized the “discussion-centered learning” approach very well (certainly not in every class, but in the majority):
Choate
Deerfield
Loomis-Chaffee
Milton
Ridley
St. Marks
Thacher</p>
<p>Most of the schools you listed have small classes, so discussion is very common.</p>
<p>Northfield Mount Hermon uses the Harkness concept a lot (though not the specific tables).</p>
<p>Emma Willard uses Harkness tables in some classes, and discussion-based learning seems to be the norm.</p>
<p>The Masters School (Dobbs Ferry, NY) officially uses Harkness tables and the Harkness method/concept/philosophy.</p>
<p>Hotchkiss uses round tables in humanities classes and rows of desks in math and science classes.</p>