San Domenico School

At San Domenico, we believe that what students do with their education is as important as their academic performance. We know that being a college prep school is not enough. Every day we encourage our students to not just study, but also to reflect on their learning, find their purpose, and celebrate in community, because an exceptional education, where values and academics join together, creates more than just great students—it develops great people.

As a K-12 day school with an international boarding program option for students in grades 9-12, one of the unique aspects of an SD education is our diverse student body. With a far-reaching private bus system, we enroll boys and girls in grades K through 12 from regions throughout Marin, San Francisco, Napa, the South Bay, and around the world. Our 515-acre campus, nestled in the hills of San Anselmo, California is a welcome "home away from home" for our students, faculty, parents, and alums.

Lower School students celebrate Lunar New Year with Upper School students from Asia. Middle School students may find a geography report resource in an Upper School student from Mexico. Day students in high school may find themselves vacationing with a new classmate in Korea. Local parents may find their home a weekend retreat for boarding students. Here, students find themselves discussing foreign policy issues with students from other countries, gaining invaluable perspective on worldly affairs. The options for cross-cultural and multi-generational bonding are limitless and reflect our deep commitment to educating the next generation of global leaders. SD students come to understand global interconnection on a whole other level.

Our 168-year history as California's first independent school gives us strength in character that lasts through time. It is with tremendous appreciation and humility that we carry on a tradition of inquiry, respectful discourse, a striving toward peace and social justice, and an inspired sense of purpose and service.

At San Domenico, we guide each other in building more purpose-driven lives. Living with purpose starts with identifying your own beliefs and your own values. It requires mastering new skills and working diligently to accomplish personal goals—goals that often serve a greater good. It continues by inviting others to complement and magnify your strengths.

Academic excellence is at the heart of a San Domenico education. Here, education doesn’t stop at simple acquisition of facts and figures. In pursuit of excellence and in support of academic curiosity, we encourage students to consider how diverse academic subjects offer distinct perspectives. It’s in this exploration and in this questioning that we find purpose and meaning.

We seek to inspire and equip students for excellence in life—not just at school. Our measure of academic success goes beyond grades and test scores. When students themselves lead their own learning—when their curiosity and passions take over and they claim ownership of the person they are to become—we know we have achieved our goal.

Confident in their abilities and undeterred by challenge, our graduates boldly cultivate an intellectual life. By practicing habits of study, debate, and questioning, our students can better consider and respond to the diverse challenges of their time.

Many schools talk about community, but at San Domenico community is a key tenet of our Dominican heritage. St. Dominic attracted his first followers precisely because they wanted to study, work, learn, and celebrate in community. Through study, discussion, and example, Dominicans confidently and fluidly crossed intellectual, spiritual, and cultural borders.

From an athletics team meeting to regroup after a tough loss to our youngest students gathering each morning to share their hopes for the school day, we understand that opening ourselves to others is a skill that must be constantly practiced and refined. Healthy debate, thought-provoking conversations, and lively exchanges among students, coaches, and teachers spur our community to greater success and growth. Whether we talk things out and come to consensus or reason together yet still disagree, we are always acting in a true spirit of community, as true Dominicans.

As California's oldest independent school we provide innovative and progressive education anchored by our 168-year old history and the Dominican spirit of inquiry. We evolve to meet the changing needs of the times, providing students with a living, breathing example of creativity, flexibility, and innovation, balanced with the strength of tradition.

Our community is comprised of families of many faiths including Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc., as well as families who do not follow any particular faith but appreciate the value of discovering a sense of the sacred in its many manifestations. San Domenico classes are student centered, allowing every student to develop his or her own creativity, critical thinking skills and love of learning. Our distinguished iPad program fosters the development of 21st century skills that are widely integrated into all programs.