How the Frederick Gunn School equips students for what’s next

Bold. Independent. Thoughtful. These are some traits that characterise students attending The Frederick Gunn School. It was first founded in 1850 by Frederick Gunn, an educator and abolitionist who believed in the transformative impact of education on society. Such values remain strong in the school today, making for an outstanding educational experience for all students.

At The Frederick Gunn School, no one day is the same. Classes are designed for the needs of tomorrow, combining the rigour of a college preparatory curriculum with elements of active citizenship. It’s an approach that succeeds not only at readying students for the world’s most prestigious universities, but helping them grow as responsible, fully-engaged individuals.

Exciting activities follow after classes. From competitive sports to the dramatic arts, students are encouraged to discover their passions and test their strengths. They’re supported by a 220-acre campus with athletic facilities and the 32,000 square foot Thomas S. Perakos Arts and Community Center. The Frederick Gunn School’s 35 sports teams and renowned arts programme recognise that athletics and arts are central to the school’s learning ecosystem. Students of all levels participate in the school’s athletic and arts offerings. Together, athletics and arts teach students resiliency, courage and collaboration that help students become truly integrated humans.

Every student is recognised for who they are at The Frederick Gunn School — a result of a deliberately sized community of 325 learners. With every passing hour, their bonds deepen. They grow together as individuals and leave with the confidence to truly be a force in the world.

A rigorous academic system

Equipping students with the knowledge and skills to become intelligent, active citizens of the world is at the heart of academics at The Frederick Gunn School. Here, students are challenged from the get-go to push themselves and to never default to their comfort zones. Over 120 unique courses and 35 AP and Honours classes are available, encouraging students to think independently, take risks and address problems from an interdisciplinary lens.

Students are consistently learning how to learn — intellectual curiosity is welcome as students commit to being life-long learners.

It’s a rigorous learning approach that  prepares students for the most selective universities in the world. In recent years, Gunn students have gone on to Johns Hopkins University, Brown University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, New York University, Northwestern University, University of California - Berkeley, University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University, among others.

Not bound by walls

Frederick Gunn loved the outdoors — and, in creating his school, instilled the value of adventure. The Gunn Outdoors programme embodies the best of this. Here, students are given the unique opportunity to engage with the outdoors, where they will learn to take risks, problem-solve, lead, collaborate and to deal with a world that won’t conform to their every desire. The outdoors gives students lessons that they will hold onto forever.

It’s a privilege afforded to them by their location in Washington, Connecticut. Students go on backpacking trips through the White Mountains, build and maintain trails around the wider community property and explore the terrain outside school grounds. On campus, they’re often making full use of their lush natural surroundings, such as by spending evenings around a campfire. There’s always room for more at The Frederick Gunn School.