Branson Admissions - Viewbook, Fall 2022

Branson is here to help you develop the confidence, willpower, and moral compass to be brave.

Because when you are brave, anything is possible.

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Branson is more than just a great school. It’s an ever-evolving educational community that challenges and supports students as they grow into confident, thoughtful, ethical people. We encourage students to be brave in whatever they do—in the classroom, on the field, on stage, in the community, even with their peers. Because when you are brave anything is possible.

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OUR MISSION

Branson develops students who make a positive impact in the world by leading lives of integrity, purpose, learning, and joy.

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OUR CAMPUS

At Branson, students learn, study, and play together on our beautiful 17-acre campus nestled beneath iconic Mt. Baldy and majestic Mt. Tamalpais.

Cross the bridge to the Academic Quad and take a look around. If you peek into the open classroom windows, the intensity of intellectual discovery is palpable. In history classrooms, you’ll find students and faculty discussing the U.S. prison system through the lens of ethical philosophers like Aristotle and John Rawls, while the Marine Biology lab hums with the energy of students studying ocean invertebrates in our saltwater aquarium. Laughter erupts as a Mandarin class performs skits under the trees.

You’ll find fresh air and sunlight streaming into the open sides of the LEED-certified Student Commons as groups of students work intently on class assignments. Up the hill, a few students tend to t he organic garden’s aquaponics system, while the sounds of the rock band practicing drift down the hill from the Douglas Fine Arts Center.

Animated groups of students descend the long, brick stairway, their voices rising as they leave the quiet of the cozy library.

At first glance, it may seem like a quiet morning. If you take a step closer, you’ll experience a joyful community buzzing with the excitement of learning, deep in the throes of collaborative discovery.

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BRANSON BY THE NUMBERS

345 + 84 Students*

Faculty & Staff

78% of Faculty Hold Advanced Degrees

25%

of Students Live in San Francisco, East Bay, and Sonoma County

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Past Gallard Fellows**

Over

177

League Championship Wins

40+

Clubs/Affinity Groups

7:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

Over

$3.5M In Financial Aid Awarded Annually

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Acres of Rolling Hills

68

Middle Schools Represented

35%

Self-Identified Faculty of Color

*Student population will grow to 420 by the 2025-26 school year. ** rough the Bess K. Gallard Fellowship, one Morehouse College or Spelman College graduate teaches at Branson each year. Many Gallard Fellows become full-time faculty and administrators.

42% Self-Identified Students of Color

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F A C U LT Y

Teachers are what make Branson, well, Branson.

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“It was in Branson’s small classrooms that the person I am today, the person I hope to become, began to take shape. Branson teachers encouraged my thoughts, my writings, and they believed in me like no one else had believed in me before. A dream began to take shape, a dream I’m on my way to living.”

JAVIER ZAMORA ’08 Poet and Author of Unaccompanied

They love chemistry and the process of crafting a thesis. They love the Pythagorean theorem and exploring the

Honor

themes of identity and self-expression

is earned

in Ms. Marvel. They sculpt. They bake and

every day.

scuba dive. They coach track and baseball.

At Branson,

They’ll take a pie in the face (literally).

we create

They lead affinity groups. They’ll wear

an

crazy outfits on spirit days. They’ll cheer

environment

you on at games and in performances.

of trust

They may shed a tear or two at your

by taking

graduation. They’ll be your mentors,

responsibility

your guides, and your friends.

for our own

And, they’re also pretty inspiring. So

actions while

inspiring, you’ll often find yourself

pursuing our

reeling a bit when you leave class.

potential.

You may not have realized you could get a headrush from an exciting class. That’s the magic of a Branson teacher. In their classrooms, learning is captivating, funny, ridiculously engaging—you’ll just want to keep going back. What happens in the Branson classroom—it’s transformational.

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F A C U LT Y S P O T L I G H T

Malik Ali, History Teacher Malik’s deep passion for and broad knowledge of history are no secret at Branson—or beyond, where he’s been honored by the Teaching American History organization and the James Madison Foundation. But history wasn’t the first subject Malik taught at Branson (or even his second, after establishing Branson’s Track & Field program). After coaching middle-school woodwind musicians in Philadelphia, tutoring peers in mathematics at Morehouse College, and teaching Language Arts in Miami’s Summerbridge Program, Malik came to Branson as a Gallard Fellow and spent his first decade at Branson teaching English. Whatever the discipline, Malik always seeks interdisciplinary opportunities to deepen students’ understanding and appreciation for the material. When he’s not at Branson, Malik can be found salsa dancing or hiking in the East Bay hills.

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Gretchen Koles, Math Teacher Gretchen loves teaching math at Branson—so much that, after leaving to pursue a graduate degree and work as an engineer in the 1990s, she came back.

Whether teaching BC Calculus, AP Statistics, or summer Geometry, Gretchen strives to co-create a challenging and fun environment in her classes with her students, where everyone can feel comfortable taking risks and reach their full potential. Her recipe for students’ success?

Having high expectations and giving lots of support. She’s also the advisor of the Branson yearbook (and brings chocolate to all the meetings!). Outside of school, Gretchen spends time in the mountains with her husband and is enjoying her new puppy, who’s “just the cutest little fellow in the world.”

Sergio Ovalles, Spanish Teacher & Spanish Interpreter/Translator Sergio’s love for teaching comes from a simple belief: teachers can save lives. It was after he returned from Mexico that his eighth grade teacher, Ms. Rausch, changed his life’s trajectory by simply believing in him, despite his shortcomings with the English language. Since then, his life-long endeavor has been to thank her by believing in his Branson students, whether in Spanish 2, 3, or the Native/Heritage speakers class. He strives to create a culture in class where students can succeed, with joy and enthusiasm, despite their challenges. Outside the classroom, you’ll find Sergio embracing a healthy lifestyle, traveling to other Spanish-speaking countries, and dancing Tango.

Heather Duncan, Science Teacher Heather Duncan has been teaching biology and chemistry for over thirty years, including Branson’s popular Microbiology and Infectious Disease course.

She loves the classroom and has dedicated her life’s work to instilling a passion for the environment and love of learning to her students. She has had the opportunity to teach all three of her children in high school and can appreciate a student’s perspective of her classroom.

When not in the classroom, Heather coaches girls’ lacrosse, supports clubs such as Women in STEM and Sustainable Seas, and trains her puppy for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Outside of Branson, Heather enjoys running, hiking, and backpacking.

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ACADEMICS

We live in a rapidly changing, complex world.

A Branson education leans into change.

You’ll build on our core curriculum with electives and courses such as Shakespeare and the Twenty-First Century, History of Hip-Hop, Microbiology and Infectious Disease, or Mobile Application Development in iOS. You’ll have even more options through the Bay Area BlendEd Consortium, such as Bay Area Cinema & Filmmaking, Entrepreneurship & Design Thinking, or Wilderness Studies.

And if you want to step out even further, Branson offers opportunities to learn globally—spend a semester abroad at The Island School in the Bahamas, The Mountain School in Vermont, or maybe even a full year in China or Italy.

At Branson, learning happens all around, all the time. You’ll learn from upperclassmen who’ve become passionate about a particular subject or area, faculty and staff advisors in clubs, your coach or instructor, or a guest speaker at Assembly. We embrace education as a process that goes both ways—students and faculty power the engine of teaching and learning together.

“I have always enjoyed our discussions in class because I get to hear the different views and opinions that my peers have on certain subjects.

It has become more common for these discussions to continue outside of the classroom, which I love because it shows how passionate everyone is about learning. I appreciate how everyone can hold very strong opinions and beliefs but they are still open-minded.”

NANCY GRAMAJO ’21

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Innovation and collaboration between students and teachers make learning come alive at Branson. Whether it’s exploring challenging questions, undertaking new experiences, or working to positively impact our communities, Branson encourages everyone to immerse themselves in the deep-end of education.

Here are just a few ways we’ve pushed beyond our boundaries to grow in the last few years: Immersives In 2022 Branson launched Immersives—a two-week end-of-year program for students in every grade to explore a specific field of study in courses co-taught by faculty and staff members.

As a student, you choose from two dozen course offerings on a wide range of interdisciplinary topics (everything from “Chocolate” and “Ethics in Artificial Intelligence” to “African Drumming”).

Assembling every grade level, immersives serve as an ideas incubator for teachers, an opportunity to bring new people and grades together, and a culminating community-wide academic celebration at the end of each year.

Courage looks different for everybody.

At Branson, we take risks, conquer fears, and do the right thing as we grow to be brave.

Youth Forum Co-designed by students for students, the multi-day Youth Forum event brings keynote speakers to campus and creates campus-wide discussion through workshops—all based on topics that most interest the student body in a given year.

After soliciting feedback through surveys, student leaders focused last year’s forum on “People and Planet.” Session topics included Sustainable Fashion, Criminal Justice Reform, and Ethics in the Data Industry. Keynote speakers included author and activist Bakari Kitwana and many other visiting– as well as faculty and student– presenters and panelists.

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COMMUNITY

Be who you are, wherever you are, all the time.

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At Branson, we encourage you to show up as your authentic self. When you’re comfortable in your own skin, you can be empowered to step outside your comfort zone and grow. It takes courage to lean into actions that teach you about yourself.

Our students, faculty, and staff bring to Branson a wealth and diversity of life experiences. We strive to give our students a deep and confident sense of belonging in each of their diverse identities as we cultivate their unique talents and strengths.

From this, our students become leaders who enrich our community, and the world, with their ideas and perspective.

Kindness means seeking understanding of others so

D I V E R S I T Y M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T

Branson believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential components of an excellent learning environment and a vibrant, caring community. We

we can be compassionate, helpful, and fair.

aspire to create a community in which every member feels a deep sense of belonging and inclusion.

Whether through our Human Development curriculum; our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programming; guest speakers; or affinity groups, students develop an understanding of how their intersecting identities and skills make them powerful contributors to any conversation. Branson is here to help you develop the confidence, willpower, and moral compass to be brave.

Students meet Dr. Cornel West, American Philosopher, Political Activist, Social Critic, and Author 13

CHANGEMAKERS

We are change makers.

At Branson, we belong to each other and to the world, becoming expert participants in future conversations and agents of change who redefine privilege as the opportunity to serve others and drive progress.

Through Community Engagement programs, Junior Fellowships, clubs, affinity groups, or just on their own time, Branson students take their interests outside the classroom and connect what they are learning with other passions to make change happen.

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Natalie Wendt ’22

In the summer of 2021, Natalie explored her love of fashion and interest in sustainability by collecting clothing donations from around the Bay Area and running a pop-up thrift store in San Francisco. “Through my project, I encouraged people to be more aware of the impact of fast fashion and show them that recycled clothing can be affordable and fun,” she said. Natalie donated 100% of sales from the thrift store to Friends of the Urban Forest, an organization in San Francisco that supports the environment by planting and caring for street trees and sidewalk gardens.

Chris Mazzola Head of School

“The purpose of a Branson education is not solely to catalyze the b rilliance and potential of each student, but also to realize the common bond we have with each other in working to create a beloved community.”

Lawrence Bancroft ’21

“It’s time to have these tough race conversations and challenge the status quo because if we don’t, who will? America needs to become a nation based on empathy and understanding and not belittling and over-policing.

People fail to see the intersectionality of social and economic issues, and the sooner we treat them as one and the same, the sooner change will happen,” said Lawrence Bancroft ’21 in his speech at a Black Lives Matter protest in June 2020. Lawrence grew up in Tiburon and is passionate about reclaiming the black narrative and building a just society, whether at Branson or in the Bay Area community.

Max Gutierrez ’23

Max explored the connection between Filipino identity and food culture all over California, as he interviewed Filipino chefs and restaurant-goers in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. He not only brought his film back to Branson in order to share his exploration with the Branson community, but also shared techniques with the Film Club in order to inspire others to tell stories about their identities. “Everyone has a story to share,” Max said.

“It’s all about finding your voice to tell it.”

Purpose is something we find and something we offer. We see privilege as the opportunity to serve others and drive progress.

“One of the things I love about Branson is that all the kids really enjoy doing community engagement. We see it less as a requirement and more as a fun way to get involved with our community. This is a big part of the culture at Branson and, in my opinion, is one of the things that Branson students do best...At Branson, kids will help out their community even after they have completed all their required hours, just because they want to.”

JAMIE KLEIN ’22

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STUDENT LIFE

Your affinity group meeting is in an hour. Tonight you have rehearsal for the annual winter dance performance, Body Talk. Tomorrow is Crazy Hat Day, which you’ll obviously be rocking at the fall sports all-school assembly and, to top it off, you just got an email that today’s lunch is a “breakfast for dinner” theme (yes!).

You’re also really looking forward to your Debate Club and STRIVE (Students Tackling Racial Issues via Education) meetings later this week.

With 40+ clubs and 9 student affinity groups to explore, Student Life is about students, by students, and for students. After the Fall Clubs Fair, maybe you’re inspired to write op-eds for the Branson Blazer or raise student concerns to the administration as part of Student Senate. Whether pursuing long held interests or discovering new ones, there’s no shortage of ways for you to engage.

STUDENT SUPPORT

At Branson, we offer wrap-around support to help you take risks, find your authentic voice, and realize your potential to change the world.

Class Deans: Each class dean

Clubs: From surfing to singing, if you

supports students’ holistic development

have an interest, we have a student-led

through academic and co-curricular

club to match. (And if we don’t, you can

interests and pursuits.

create a new one!)

On-campus Counseling: Our licensed family therapist offers students a safe and welcoming space to share what’s on your mind. Also, come meet our therapy dog, Reggae!

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“I love Branson because of the community that drives the academics. Branson is a safe environment where we all can express our humanity and find our identity while learning concepts and ideas that will empower us for the rest of our lives. All the teachers and students are open, ready to help and foster positivity...Branson makes compassion, thought, and community the most important, which in the end allows us to succeed and eventually make the world a little better place.”

SHAIL BELANI ’23

Advisory Group: Beginning freshman

Rand Learning Center: Have a

year, your advisor will be both your guide

diagnosed learning difference? Want help

to talk through academic, personal, or

with note-taking or study skills? Or do you

community challenges and your advocate.

just need a quiet place to take a test? Come

Weekly meetings in your small group

to the Rand Learning Center and we’ll set

hold space for important community

you up for academic success.

conversations or simply to check in and enjoy connecting.

Affinity Groups: From our Women of Color Affinity Space, to our Alphabet Group for LGBTQIA+ identifying students, to our Funky Family Group for non-nuclear family structures, there are many ways to explore and connect with peers about the wonderful dimensions of your identity.

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AT H L E T I C S

sUp n r o #H Bulls #Go Branson is a small school that plays in the big leagues—and wins.

Branson’s outstanding tradition begins with our commitment to competition, hard work, and character development. However, even more than our 78 NorCal regional championships or 13 state championships, we celebrate when Branson student-athletes reach their potential both on and off the court. When you participate you become part of something bigger than yourself: your team, your sport, your legacy.

“My favorite part about Branson is the diverse range of activities. Instead of fitting into one role or box like a stereotypical high school, the jocks are also nerds, artists, and theater kids, at the same time. This culture helps students feel comfortable trying new activities and creates an overall sense of inclusivity because it breaks down a lot of traditional high school barriers.”

SILVIA JACOBY ’22

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AT H L E T I C S

Branson is a small school that plays in the big leagues— and wins.

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VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

Whatever the art form, students drive the creative process.

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Whatever the art form, students drive the creative process. You will collaborate with both your teacher and peers while also honing your individual voice. You will be challenged to try new things and take artistic risks, while also learning the formal and technical elements of the discipline. You will be inspired and urged to make your art a part of your daily practice so that you can grow, improve, and move past challenges. At Branson, your authentic self will inform and inspire the work you produce in any art form, and the skills you develop will serve you in all areas of life.

Featured artwork by Sofia Bobroff ’22 and Maegen Dillon ’18 21

COLLEGE DREAMS

College Counseling at Branson is not just about helping you find the right college. It’s much more than that. It’s about helping you discover who you are now, and who you want to become.

You may know exactly what you want from your college experience.

You may have no idea. Or you may still be figuring it out. Our college counselors will help you create your own roadmap to success, starting with the “why” of where you want to go. They listen carefully.

They ask thoughtful questions. And because they stay at the forefront of college admissions and financial aid trends, you can trust their expertise to help you find your path forward.

Branson graduates are thriving at colleges and universities, large and small, all across the U.S. and the world.

ALUMNI VOICES

You’ll find Branson alumni in all walks of life; from entrepreneurs to activists, lawyers to software engineers, scientists to athletes, they do it all. Our alumni stay connected with Branson, coming back to campus for alumni soccer and basketball games, reunions, to teach classes, or to just stop by and say hello to their favorite faculty. Branson graduates help each other out, whether you’re looking for a job or need help with a project. The friendships and connections you form at Branson will last a lifetime.

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C O L L E G E M AT R I C U L AT I O N 2020-2022

Agnes Scott College

Harvard University (2)

Rice University

American University (2)

Haverford College (3)

San Diego State University

University of Notre Dame

Amherst College (2)

Indiana University

Scripps College (2)

University of Oregon

Babson College

Johns Hopkins University (2)

Skidmore College

University of Pennsylvania (5)

Bates College

Lehigh University

Southern Methodist University (7)

University of Richmond

Boston College (3)

Lewis & Clark College

Stanford University (11)

University of Rochester

Boston University

Loyola Marymount University

Swarthmore College

University of San Diego

Bowdoin College (2)

Loyola University, Chicago

Syracuse University (2)

University of Southern California (7)

Brown University (9)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The University of Tampa

University of Utah

Bryn Mawr College

Middlebury College (9)

The University of Texas at Austin

University of Virginia

Cal State University, Sacramento

New York University (4)

Tufts University (8)

University of Washington (4)

Carnegie Mellon University

Northeastern University (6)

Tulane University (2)

University of Wisconsin (3)

Claremont McKenna College (3)

Northwestern University (3)

University of British Columbia (2)

Vanderbilt University (4)

Colby College

Pepperdine University

UC Berkeley (6)

Vassar College (2)

Colgate University (2)

Pitzer College (3)

UC Irvine (2)

Wake Forest University (2)

Colorado College (2)

Pomona College (2)

UC Los Angeles (13)

Washington and Lee University (3)

Columbia University (2)

Princeton University (2)

UC San Diego (2)

Washington University in St. Louis (5)

Cornell University (2)

Reed College

UC Santa Barbara

Wellesley College (3)

Dartmouth College (4)

UC Santa Cruz

Wesleyan University (3)

Davidson College

University of Chicago (6)

Williams College

Denison University

University of Colorado Boulder (3)

Yale University (3)

Duke University (5)

University of Miami

Ecole Poly Federale de Lausanne

University of Michigan (5)

Emory University (2) Franklin & Marshall College Franklin University, Switzerland George Washington University Georgetown University (4) Georgia Institute of Technology

“The friendships forged at Branson over four intense years remain strong even today. At my class’s fiftieth reunion, 25 women picked up on old conversations as if there had been no interruption in time. At Branson, we had developed not only a common language, but also an unshakeable trust and belief in each other.”

RACHEL HOOPER ’69 Environmental & Land Conservation Attorney

“What I loved most about Branson was that the faculty nurtured creativity, both inside and outside of academics. I always felt like a bit of a weirdo as a teenager, but at Branson there were so many teachers who were drawn to and actively encouraged that side of me. Their encouragement resulted in a blend of creatively focused study and adventurous exploration of art and music and culture outside of school that helped me gain confidence in who I am and led me happily down the path to where I am now professionally and personally.”

MIKE LONG ’92 Emmy Award-Winning Film Editor

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GET TING TO BRANSON

Branson serves students from five Bay Area counties, so we offer a variety of transportation options. We strongly encourage carpooling and other modes of transportation that reduce traffic for our neighbors and model environmental sustainability.

CARPOOLS

SHUTTLE BUS

BRANSON BUS AND VAN SERVICES

The vast majority of students carpool to Branson. Parking spots on campus and close to campus are reserved for carpools.

Branson’s free shuttle runs a continuous loop from the St. Anselm’s parking lot (one of our off-campus parking areas) to campus in the mornings and after school.

GOLDEN GATE TRANSIT

MARIN TRANSIT YOUTH PASS

Branson offers bus service to and from the East Bay, San Francisco, and select locations in southern Marin. See our website for routes, schedules, and costs. Exact stops may change each year depending on student residences.

Students may also use Golden Gate Transit to commute to Branson to and from the East Bay, San Francisco, and within Marin.

The closest stop to Branson is at Bolinas Avenue and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

Branson participates in the Marin Transit Youth Pass program, which allows Marin County students under 18 unlimited rides on local transit routes in the county. Students whose household incomes qualify them as low-income are eligible for free Youth Passes.

SMART TRAIN Branson provides morning and afternoon shuttles to and from the San Rafael Transit Station. These shuttles may only be used by students who commute by train.

GREEN OPTIONS Branson encourages walking, biking, and electric bikes, with incentive programs for bike purchases.

Contact transportation@branson.org to learn more.

A F F O R D I N G A B R A N S O N E D U C AT I O N

All students interested in Branson are encouraged to apply, regardless of ability to pay.

We are committed to opening our doors to a socioeconomically diverse student body.

Backing that commitment is a financial aid budget of over $3.4 million each year, which allows us to welcome talented students from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds into our community.

TUITION, EXPENSES, AND FINANCIAL AID

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

Branson works hard to ensure that all our students are fully engaged in school life regardless of financial means. Branson budgets sufficient financial aid support to help fund students’ participation in enrichment activities and school events (such as school-sponsored trips, concerts, plays, and athletics). We also provide assistance for other miscellaneous costs.

The traditional financial aid process includes a detailed, comprehensive review of families’ eligibility via an online financial aid form through School and Student Services (SSS).

In the past, Branson has offered a full range of grants to eligible families, from $3,970 to almost full tuition. Financial aid is granted on the basis of annual need for students, which is determined by the Financial Aid Committee each year.

Tuition at Branson for the 2022–23 school year is $55,970. While we believe that Branson is well worth the investment, we know that private school tuition can be daunting, so we offer options to make it manageable for families. Financial aid and two payment plans (one-time or ten monthly payments) are designed to accommodate each family’s budget.

Additional expenses of roughly $2,500 to $3,000 cover the cost of the lunch program, textbooks, dues, cultural and social activities, and other miscellaneous expenses. Financial aid is available by application for tuition and the associated costs of attending Branson. Costs are adjusted for families receiving financial aid.

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To learn more about applying for financial aid, see our website and register with School and Student Services (SSS) at solutionsbysss.org or call them at 800-344-8348.

For more information, please visit branson.org/admissions

O U R VA L U E S

Branson admits students of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, or disability to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities of the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, gender, gender identity, religion, ethnicity or national origin, sexual orientation, or physical disability in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, or athletic or other school-administered programs. Branson complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in providing services to students with disabilities.

Photographs ©David Wakely Photography, Robin Jackson Photography, Doug Slater Photography, Sarah M. Gonzales/SMG Foto, Brian Wedge/Wedge Creative

Courage Kindness Honor Purpose

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2022–2023