For the past forty years, it has been our mission to nurture and support girls' learning and desire to grow. Over the last seven years, we have created an enrichment program called the Affinities Program. This program has a distinct curriculum for each girl to discover her interests and strengths.

Purnell emphasizes that all students are capable of learning. Our instructional methods allow students to discover their own learning styles and to become proactive in their learning process. Classroom requirements and activities are supportive of the development of effective study habits. Instruction is thoughtfully designed to help girls find their passions, and explore paths to learning that will lead to success in college and beyond. For example:

• Teachers work to differentiate their classes so that every student learns skills, standards and content to her fullest potential. 
• Students work with their advisor and Individual Goal Coordinators to create an Individualized Goal Plan that provides structure and a clear path in order for each student to achieve her overall goal. 
• Each Wednesday, the entire school learns about and discusses the affinities of students.
• Students and their parents participate actively in the process of demystifying their learning. With 110 students, we are able to do this for every student in the school.

Our English and history courses encourage students to develop critical reading, writing and thinking skills. A strong emphasis is placed on gaining a deeper understanding of the variety of human experience and communicating that understanding clearly.

Math and science follow a college preparatory sequence, but are taught with hands-on, collaborative approaches. Girls are encouraged not only to find solutions, but also to understand all the facets of the problems themselves.

The arts are not add-ons to the curriculum. Instead they are both integrated into other coursework and explored fully in outstanding studio and performing arts programs.