This article describes a concept called the "blue ocean thinking strategy," developed by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, professors at INSEAD, an international graduate school of business in France. The "blue ocean" thinking strategy considers opportunities to create new markets for services, rather than focusing solely on improving one's position within an existing market. An example of blue ocean thinking for independent schools is looking at the problem of long-term financial sustainability from a different perspective entirely. Millions of children in the United States need a quality education. What kind of financial model could independent schools construct in order to educate more of them? Independent schools have taken up this challenge in different ways, from launching charter schools to creating micro-schools that are within the financial reach of a larger portion of the school-age population. Independent schools have always been known for their ability to innovate in the classroom; the business model is the next frontier. This undertaking can both strengthen schools and create opportunities for many more children to experience a high-quality education.