Dana Hall School

Founded in 1881, Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Mass., is an independent boarding and day school for girls in grades 5-12 (boarding begins grade 9). Placing emphasis upon sound academic education and the preparation of each individual for college and for life, the School balances exposure to new ideas and the challenge of analytic and creative thinking with concentration on the development of self-esteem, leadership, and respect for others. As a school for girls, Dana Hall provides female students with a particularly advantageous environment for both education and self-development.

Dana Hall students have the freedom to experiment, express opinions, explore and take on new challenges. They are supported by strong role models and inspired by their peers. They find confidence and strength, and they acquire and build the skills they need to succeed throughout their lives. We’ve seen the research: there’s an increasingly persuasive case that co-ed schools are not educating girls as well as boys.

And we know there are basic, biological differences in male and female brains. That doesn’t mean that girls and boys have differences in their potential to achieve. But there are differences in how the sexes access that potential. Curriculum is important; how that curriculum is taught is critical. And teaching girls is what Dana Hall does best. For our Upper School students, who have the opportunity to live on our beautiful Wellesley campus, that specialized care and understanding extends well beyond the traditional high school experience.

At Dana Hall, a dorm is not just a place to sleep -- it's a home away from home, a personal space in a larger community, and the springboard for life skills and confidence that Dana students gain as they develop independence. And it's all on one campus, which means less time getting to and from school and activities, and more time to focus on school work and be with friends. Most young people have to wait until college to see the world, but not Dana girls. Guided and supported by dormitory faculty, students learn to value respect for others, integrity, multicultural sensitivity and personal responsibility.

Faculty are dedicated and passionate, and they stick around because they love the community. They are more accessible, so students have more opportunity to find impactful mentors and build meaningful relationships (which we know is powerful for girls' self esteem and development). Our students realize their teachers have lives, and our teachers know their students as individuals, since they see them in the "off hours." At a girls' boarding school like Dana Hall, every day presents opportunities for girls to learn, lead and succeed.

Dana Hall School is committed to fostering excellence in academics, the arts, and athletics within a vibrant, caring and inclusive community. With emphasis on integrity, leadership, diversity, and service as well as on respect for self and others, Dana Hall provides its students with a unique opportunity to prepare themselves for the challenges and choices they will face as women and citizens of the world.

We are committed to building an inclusive community that respects and affirms each of its members, honoring their diversity of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and socioeconomic status. We are committed to building an educational program that recognizes and values the many peoples and perspectives of our community and the world. We realize that conflicts may arise in the creation of such a community, but we see these possible conflicts as opportunities for growth, for open and honest communication, and for learning. Through our commitment to diversity, the Dana Hall community prepares students for the challenges and choices they will face as women and citizens of the world.

Dana Hall offers a broad, sophisticated range of courses, coupled with an intense focus on academic skills like research and writing. Through this dynamic combination, students develop the intellectual courage, personal strength and passionate interests to construct their own questions, for college and for life. Beyond the expected core of English, math, science, social science and foreign language, students deepen their education with requirements in the visual and performing arts; computer science; and fitness and athletics. Ninety-eight percent of students in the Upper School take four years of math, and nearly as many pursue four years of science, taking advantage of Dana's state-of-the-art science building.

Dana Hall offers a wide range of languages, including Latin, French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, all taught using a state-of-the-art language lab. To fulfill the Dana requirement in "non-Western" social studies, you can choose from classes focused on the history and culture of Africa, East Asia, Latin America, Russia or the Middle East. In a typical year, Dana offers 17 Advanced Placement courses. Even more exciting is the School's unique array of electives, including political science, public speaking, architecture and web design. Each of these courses reflects the passionate expertise of Dana teachers, teaching what they love best.