Santa Fe Preparatory School

For nearly 50 years, Santa Fe Prep has dedicated itself to opening a world of possibilities for our students, in the classroom and beyond. At Santa Fe Prep, we are dedicated to active discourse among teachers who love to teach and students who love to learn. You can see it on faces all across our campus: a sense of adventure, an aliveness of spirit, an awakened interest and curiosity. These are the foundation and the fruits of the Santa Fe Prep experience.

At Prep, our two highest commitments are to academic excellence and active citizenship. Our discussion-based learning encourages and stimulates an engaging exchange of knowledge and perspectives and the cultivation of skills and attitudes necessary for success in selective colleges and universities across the country and in life. Students participate fully in the life of the school as well as decisions that affect how we live and learn together.

Prep is a culturally vibrant and diverse community of students and educators who understand that learning takes place not just in the classroom but also in the richness of interaction, in the expansion of individual boundaries, and in the exploration and introduction of new interests, ideas and abilities.

With over 1700 graduates empowered by the values and qualities inherent in our school, Prep ensures that each student will be challenged and encouraged, stretched and supported. Here on our 33-acre Santa Fe campus, surrounded by the enchanting beauty of the Southwest, we provide a vigorous and exciting education rich with social interaction, sports competition, the arts, and a long-standing commitment to service learning.

Santa Fe Prep is an ambitious and diverse learning community dedicated to active discourse. We value our place in the community of Santa Fe, which enriches and defines us. We cultivate qualities of character, scholarship, and citizenship in our students that inspire them to act responsibly and compassionately at home, at school, and in the world.

Through the many dialogues that unfold on campus each day, our students exercise their minds in active inquiry. The discourse of Santa Fe Prep promotes the joy of discovery, the power of critical thinking and reflection, and the thrill of creativity. Our commitment to collaborative learning fosters an inclusive school environment grounded in trust, where students honor and respect each other and themselves. The world is full of possibility. Empowered with the values and qualities inherent in our School, our students can embrace lives of thoughtful purpose.

Student-centered, active inquiry characterizes our curriculum, which covers a breadth and depth of study across six academic departments, the arts, athletics and community service. The required core subjects develop the disciplines and skills central to a liberal education. Elective courses stimulate students to follow their passions.

Students take charge of their own learning in discussion-based classrooms. Small classes (average class size is thirteen) engender a mentorship approach to learning, and students learn to communicate confidently and comfortably with faculty. Each department has designed its curriculum to engage, excite and educate. Our greatest strength is our inspiring and dedicated faculty. We invite you to watch this short video below to hear their perspective on teaching at Prep.

Preparing our students for success in college and beyond is at the heart of our program. This preparation crosses all disciplines and activities, with an emphasis on creating life-long learners who are the architects of their own education. The many experiences offered to our students play a part in this preparation: a renowned arts program, AP and honors classes, service learning that leads students to understand and provide solutions to pressing social issues, a strong athletic program, and most importantly, an academic environment that produces critical thinkers, effective writers, and deep and lasting relationships between faculty and students.

In college counseling, our mission is to guide students through the many choices available after high school, including gap year options, and find a college environment where each student will flourish. Through a highly individualized process of one-on-one meetings and interviews, we work with each student and his or her family to create a list of criteria for colleges that will be a good fit personally and financially; we then guide students through the research process and help them navigate the various requirements for applying. Through these meetings and our college counseling classes, our goal is to reduce stress and give students a sense of control and confidence. As a result of this personalized approach, our students have many choices and attend a variety of schools, from large urban universities to small, rural liberal arts colleges, both in state and around the country.