The Frederick Gunn School

Washington

Connecticut

United States

Overview

Founded in 1850 by Frederick Gunn, an outdoorsman recognized as the founder of camping in the United States, an abolitionist, and pioneering educator, The Frederick Gunn School is a coeducational, independent, college preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades 9‒12 and post-graduate. Located on 220 acres boarding the village green of Washington, Connecticut, our campus is a landscape for life and learning. Our teachers are passionate about what they teach, and do not let students default to their comfort zones. Our programs emphasize character, teamwork, and independent thinking, and our students become active citizens, prepared to change the world in the same entrepreneurial way as our founder, to be a force for good.

Academics

Department Director Emily Gum

Student/Teacher Ratio: 5:1

Average Class Size: 12

Summer Programs: Offered

Full Time Teachers: 60

Number of AP Courses Offered: 21

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 60%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

English

Classics
Creative Writing
Honors
Literature
Poetry

History

Asian History
Classical History
European History
Honors
Medieval History
United States History
World History

Foreign Languages

Chinese-Mandarin
French
Spanish

Religion / Philosophy

Ethics
Philosophy
Social Justice
World Religions

Humanities / Social Sciences

Economics
Psychology

Sciences

Anatomy
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Ecology
Environmental Science
Genetics
Physical Science
Physics
Sports Medicine

Math

Algebra
Calculus
Functions
Geometry
Honors Math
Probability
Statistics
Trigonometry

Computer Studies

Computer Programming

Music

Band
Choral Music
Composition
Electronic Music
History of Jazz
Individual Instructions
Music Appreciation
Music History
Music Theory
Orchestra
Songwriting
Voice

Performing / Visual Arts

Acting
Animation
Art History
Ceramics
Design
Drama
Drawing
Graphic Design
Journalism
Lighting Design
Painting
Photography
Portfolio
Pottery
Publications
Public Speaking
Sculpture
Silkscreen
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Textiles
Theater Arts
Theater Design
3-D Art

Special Programs

Study Abroad
Community Service
Independent Study
Internships
Leadership
Outdoor Education

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms:

Average Students Per Dorm: 22

Number of Girls Dorms: 3

Number of Boys Dorms: 7

Dorm Amenities

Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Facilities

Baseball Field
Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Football Field
Indoor Basketball Court
Technology Center

Other Facilities

Tennis Courts (clay and hard); Ice Hockey Rink; Theater

Clubs & Organizations

Amnesty International
Community Service
Computer Club
Diversity Club
Dorm Proctors
Environmental Club
Food Council
Foreign Language Clubs
Honor Council
International Club
Literary Magazine
Math Club
Model UN
National Honor Society
Newspaper
Outing Club
Peer Counseling
Peer Tutoring
Photography Club
Science Bowl
Sexualities Club
Snowboarding Club
Student Activities
Student Government
Student Publications
Theater Club
Yearbook
Yoga Club
Radio Station

Arts & Athletics

Arts Department Director: Ronald Castonguay

Athletics Department Director: Michael Marich

Arts

Acting
Animation
Art History
Ceramics
Design
Drama
Drawing
Graphic Design
Journalism
Lighting Design
Painting
Photography
Portfolio
Pottery
Publications
Public Speaking
Sculpture
Silkscreen
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Textiles
Theater Arts
Theater Design
3-D Art

Interscholastic Sports

Alpine Skiing
Alpine Ski Racing
Baseball
Basketball
Crew
Cross Country Running
Field Hockey
Football
Golf
Hiking
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee

Recreational Sports

Camping
Dance
Hiking
Outdoor Education
Snowboarding
Ultimate Frisbee

Graduates

Summary: The college process is an exciting time in a Gunnery student’s life that culminates in choosing a college or university to build upon their Gunnery education. How a student goes about making that decision is as important as the decision itself. For many students, the choice is the first major decision in their life for which they will have almost complete control. At The Gunnery, each student works with one of our four college counselors in a carefully constructed process. The Gunnery College Office collaborates with students and parents to engage in honest self-reflection, which is the cornerstone of an enjoyable and productive college process. Together, we research appropriate colleges that merit further investigation by students. We encourage a healthy perspective with the goal of developing a well-balanced list that leaves everybody involved excited about not only the outcome, but the process as well. Gunnery college counselors are heavily involved in The Gunnery community which gives them the opportunity to get to know each college advisee personally and uniquely equips them to guide students through the college process to find the right individual fit for them.

College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

Wellesley: 1

George Washington: 1

Harvey Mudd: 1

Pomona: 1

Colorado College: 1

USC: 1

Bates: 1

Reed: 1

Tufts: 1

Oberlin: 1

Cornell: 1

Tulane: 1

Davis: 1

Barnard: 1

Middlebury: 1

Lehigh: 1

Pitzer: 1

Smith: 1

Northwestern: 1

Cal Poly: 1

Stanford: 1

Berkeley: 1

UCLA: 1

Stanford: 1

UC Santa Cruz: 3

College of Wooster: 2

U of Puget Sound: 3

Wellesley: 2

RPI: 3

Hendrix: 3

Guildford: 2

Kenyon: 4

College of the Atlantic: 3

Lewis & Clark: 2

Whitman: 3

Notable Alumni

Jonathan Linen

Class of 1962

Vice Chairman of American Express and Director of InterContinental Hotels Group

Edsel Ford II

Class of 1968

Member of the Board of Directors for the Ford Motor Company

Dick Wolf

Class of 1968

Creator of 'Law & Order'

Jonathan M. Tisch

Class of 1971

Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels and Treasurer of the New York Giants.

Dr. David M. Albala

Class of 1973

Chief of Urology at Crouse Hospital (Syracuse NY) and past White House Fellow

Maynard Webb

Class of 1974

Chairman of Yahoo former COO of eBay and Author

David Modell

Class of 1980

Former owner of the Baltimore Ravens

Mark Lazarus

Class of 1982

Chairman of NBS Sports

James Perse

Class of 1991

Fashion Designer

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 21%

Average Merit Scholarship: 12,276

Current Endowment Amount: $23,600,000

Interested in The Frederick Gunn School?

Vital Information

Student Body Type: Coed

Total Boarding: 224

Total Day: 76

Total Enrollment: 300

Boys: 165

Girls: 135

Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12

Day Grades Offered: 9-12

School Type: High School, Post-grad

Dress Code: Formal

Applications Accepted: SAO

Application Deadline: January 10th

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $61,950

5-Day Boarding: N/A

Day Tuition Fee: $44,200

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 50%

Average Awarded: $

School Finances