Step inside Carlow University’s Campus Laboratory School (CLS) and you immediately feel it: a sense of welcome and care. Here, we know that the future of a just and merciful world begins in the earliest classrooms. CLS embodies that vision, creating a space where children are not only taught, but formed in knowledge, curiosity, creativity and compassion.
From preschool through eighth grade, CLS creates an environment where students are encouraged to harness their sense of empathy. Families who step into the school quickly see that it is more than a classroom setting. It is a community shaped by the Mercy values that have defined Carlow from its earliest days.
Where Mercy Takes Root
“The beautiful thing about CLS is how they’re able to meet every child where they are, and they see every child as an individual with different personalities and learning styles.” —CLS Parent Aimara Gomez-Martin
Children at CLS are immersed in experiences that spark joy and purpose. Whether exploring through hands-on projects, developing confidence in athletics, or discovering their voices through art and service, students are encouraged to see themselves as both learners and leaders. In this way, CLS models the belief that education should meet students where they are and lift them toward their fullest potential.
Grounded in the Mercy Catholic tradition yet welcoming of all faiths and backgrounds, CLS encourages holistic growth in a culture rooted in faith and love. That sense of belonging, combined with a focus on discovery and service, reflects Carlow’s conviction that the work of mercy begins in the everyday choices of each person: “Mercy Begins with Me.”
Connecting to a Larger Vision of Education and Service
“Our third child… has autism, and just the way the Campus School community has really embraced him… and just treated him with so much love and acceptance has really been beautiful to watch.” —CLS Parent Oluwafemi Graf
At the heart of the Campus Laboratory School is the belief that every child deserves the chance to thrive. The Learning Lab and Dyslexia Center embody that commitment. Here, students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences are supported through multi-sensory instruction, personalized assessments, and strategies designed to unlock their full potential. It is a place where challenges become opportunities, and where children discover that their unique ways of learning are also unique strengths.
Families, teachers, and even the wider community are part of this work. Workshops, tutoring, and training sessions extend the reach of the Learning Lab beyond the classroom, ensuring that students are surrounded by support at every level. In this way, the Campus Laboratory School doesn’t just educate. It nurtures, uplifts, and reminds each child that they are capable of more than they imagined.
Every achievement at the Campus Laboratory School is a reflection of the Carlow community’s values. It is a promise that through education grounded in service and inclusion, these children will grow into leaders who shape a brighter, more compassionate future.
“When I first came here, as got to know everyone… I became friendly with a lot of the parents. Everybody participates…the PTA sponsors so many activities and field trips and programs for the kids. They sponsor a carnival every year… I think the parents really work with the teachers to enrich kids’ lives.” —CLS Parent Tanying Dong