Education & History
Two schools united in vision: The Stone Independent School and Solvit Academy
With the merger, Stone is now offering the only K-12 problem-based education in Pennsylvania.
Built on years of shared vision that students learn best by doing, The Stone Independent School and Solvit Academy are merging to provide a unique educational opportunity for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, starting July 2026.
Founded in 2017, Stone offers problem-based, interdisciplinary education for 7th to 12th grade while Solvit Academy has specialized in mixed-age, experiential classrooms for elementary-aged students since 2020.
Now, as the only K-12 problem-based school in Pennsylvania, the new Stone Independent School is able to bring an education that fosters intellectual agility in a student-centered, innovative environment to students of all grade levels and ages—empowering them to thrive across disciplines, industries, and global contexts.
“Lancaster has been a laboratory for educational innovation for nearly three centuries. This merger marks a remarkable new chapter in that story. By uniting these two schools with such strong and complementary philosophies, we’re creating a unique K–12 environment where students can pursue their passions, develop their voices, and prepare to make an impact in the world.”
– Mike Simpson, Head of School at The Stone Independent School
With this new model, students will learn from their earliest years to ask open-ended questions, pursue evidence across disciplines, and use their discoveries to create meaningful work for authentic audiences beyond the classroom.
“Uniting our communities ensures we preserve what makes each school special while expanding opportunities for every learner. I am thrilled to continue this work as a member of The Stone Independent School’s Board of Trustees and to help build a truly 21st century model of education.”
– Melissa Groff, Owner and Head of School at Solvit Academy
As they work towards designing a state-of-the-art campus in Lancaster, both locations will remain open with Lower School (K-6) operating on North Prince Street and Middle and Upper Schools (7-12) at the New Holland Avenue campus.
They invite families to schedule a tour and learn more about the application process by visiting stoneindependent.org.
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