Dunn School

For nearly 60 years, Dunn has stayed true to its important, necessary mission: to educate the whole student to their fullest potential, for a lifetime of learning and leadership. At Dunn, core values and proud traditions meet the initiative, innovation and fresh ideas of our faculty and students. Our accomplished alumni lead lives that embody this mission in thousands of unique ways. They are confident, self-reliant, creative and compassionate. They live in the Santa Ynez Valley, and they live in every corner of the world.

We take the education of the whole student seriously, and in recent years we've embarked on a journey to redefine what whole student education looks like for the rapidly changing landscapes our young people will face. We are writing on Medium about the theories and practices we are exploring, and we hope you will join the discussion at the link below.

At Dunn, we don't produce just one type of graduate. So we're not looking for a single type of student. Our community is teeming with bright, curious, multi-faceted young people who are finding their way in the world and seeking to develop their strengths for the challenges they face ahead. We believe that taking risks and stretching comfort zones is the essence of real growth. All sorts of students benefit from such an approach.

Students "find their fit" at Dunn School. Some students arrive with a firm understanding of who they are. They're creative, curious, adventurous and courageous—ready to explore life through new ideas and experiences. Others are still in their shell, waiting to be awakened and needing to learn more about themselves, their abilities, and their place in the world. Each student is distinct, and their learning styles are unique. In Dunn's small classes and caring community, each student is recognized for who they are. They are known by their teachers and advisor for their unique personality and ways of learning.

Dunn attracts young people from a wide variety of backgrounds and lifestyles. Our students come from all over California—from Los Angeles to Los Alamos, from San Francisco to Santa Ynez—and they come from across the nation and around the world (16 nations on five continents). Our students also bring a wide range of ethnic and national backgrounds and represent a broad socioeconomic spectrum, ranging from very affluent to very modest incomes. In fact, for nearly 70% of families, Dunn is their first experience with private education.

Student interests are as diverse as their backgrounds: they seek opportunities for intellectual challenge, artistic expression, athletic achievement, outdoor adventure, leadership among their peers, and social engagement. They are introverts and extroverts, intellectuals and entrepreneurs, quiet creatives and out-going athletes. Some are self-aware and others are still building self-confidence. They all are flourishing in some parts of life and still finding their way in others—as all young people do.

When students graduate from Dunn School, they mature into vastly diverse adults. For those who finish Middle School at Dunn, students are well prepared to enter the variety of schools available in the Valley—even though 80 percent of students choose to join Dunn's 9th grade in the Upper School. Upper School graduates enter a wide range of colleges and universities that suit students' interests, desires and learning styles. Some students choose small liberal arts colleges while others head to large public universities. Some select subject-specific schools (like engineering or art) and some head abroad for international institutions. And some choose to take a gap year from one of many quality programs that offer such programming and opportunities. Our graduates go on to be entrepreneuers, educators, engineers, computer scientists, architects, fashion designers, professional artists ... the list goes on!

But despite the focus on academics, ask any student at Dunn and they'll tell you, "My teachers pushed me, but they were incredibly accessible and supportive." It's this balanced combination of challenge and care that develops Dunn students into self-motivated and confident learners.

Dunn's teaching philosophy values experiential approaches to teaching and learning. Faculty are encouraged to employ project-based, problem-driven assignments in their classes to engage students in hands-on learning experiences. Students are also encouraged to participate in a wide variety of electives and co-currcuricular activities to round out their learning.