2021 Landon Admissions School Viewbook

YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR SON. WE DO, TOO.

He is why we don’t waver – in our values, our program, or our people.

And this commitment to him is why we are a national leader in boys’ college preparatory education.

We want him to bring his energy, goodness, ideas, humor, creativity, curiosity, and intensity to every class, performance, project, and practice. The men and women of Landon who will be his teachers, coaches, mentors, and friends will challenge him to bring his very best.

OUR PROMISE We challenge and inspire every boy to think deeply and broadly; to embody the values of respect, resilience, and honor; to seek balance and pursue excellence in all endeavors; to become the best version of himself.

A LEADER IN ALL-BOYS EDUCATION At Landon, boys achieve at one of the finest all-boys college preparatory schools in the nation.

Since 1929, Landon School has prepared generations of boys to become accomplished, responsible, and caring men. For nearly a century, this mission has been made possible by dedicated men and women who have tirelessly shared their talent and expertise, by students eager to engage in the challenges Landon has introduced to them, and by the demanding, high-minded expectations Landon has set before them. Our program develops boys as scholars and servant-leaders, as thinkers and creators, as men of character and commitment who are ready for college and life beyond.

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A Leader in All-Boys Education

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SPACE TO EXPLORE

75 acres of fields, labs, studios, and active boys

ENTHUSIASTIC FACULTY Experienced teachers apply best practices for boys, such as incorporating movement, nontraditional assessments, and healthy competition into their lesson plans.

DYNAMIC AND CHALLENGING CURRICULUM Our teachers present key concepts in ways boys find exciting – such as stock market contests, Shark Tank pitches, and geography mystery games.

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CHARACTER EDUCATION

RELATIONSHIPS CRITICAL FOR LEARNING

800 signatures on the Code of Character pledge – one for every student and faculty and staff member

A DIVERSE COMMUNITY

40% students of color and a student body offering countless perspectives

Respecting his teachers, coaches, and mentors as experts who genuinely care about him is essential to his willingness to learn.

A BALANCED APPROACH

Every boy in every grade participates in arts and athletics programming.

CONNECTIONS THAT LAST FOR LIFE

AN ACTION-PACKED SCHEDULE

500+ alumni willing and able to support young Bears in their careers

Our school days move as fast as boys do and provide the breaks they need to remain engaged throughout the day.

A Leader in All-Boys Education

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COLLEGE MATRICULATION Landon students have attended 145 colleges over the past four years, including:

LOWER SCHOOL, GRADES 3–5

MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRADES 6–8

UPPER SCHOOL, GRADES 9–12

A happy, healthy, and active environment awaits every Lower School boy.

During this time of transition for boys, teachers are role models whom the boys respect and admire.

Holistic challenge yields the intellect, resilience, and independence that help boys become good men.

Our faculty are well-versed in what a boy needs to be successful throughout his academic career. It all starts in the Lower School, where we thoughtfully build a foundation of essential critical-thinking skills and social-emotional wellness. Our approach is backed by research and based solely on what’s best for boys.

The Middle School program focuses on increasing students’ aptitude for challenge, broadening their interests, and spurring social-emotional growth.

Teachers know how to get the most out of every boy and vary their instruction accordingly – whether it’s a rotation of 10-minute learning stations in Chinese class or metric Olympic challenges in science.

Adolescent boys must be known, and at Landon, they are – by teachers, coaches, and mentors who see them through multiple perspectives and leverage such relationships to the boys’ benefit. Students grapple with difficult ideas in humanities, build mousetrap-powered cars, create films of classic literary works, and hone the acoustics of paper plate speakers. Along the way, they realize how far their abilities can take them.

• Hands-on projects like gem mining and the spaghetti bridge challenge engage boys’ energy for problem solving and competition.

• A developmentally appropriate schedule maximizes students’ most attentive time periods.

• Students choose to study either Chinese, French, Latin, or Spanish for all three years.

• Extended recess rejuvenates boys’ brains, boosting cognitive development and overall health.

• Students present “This I Believe” speeches before the entire Middle School, showing boys that vulnerability and discomfort are acceptable feelings shared by everyone.

• Singapore Math and Harvard’s Project Zero pedagogical approach elevate boys’ critical-thinking capabilities.

• Boys begin small-group advisory sessions in which they share their ideas, perspectives, and emotions.

• Silent, sustained reading time ends each school day, when students most need calm.

• Teachers are tirelessly dedicated, including one who helped a student write a 225-page novel.

17 off-campus field trips each year

2 days learning and traveling during spring Mini-Mester trips

• Faculty, staff, and alumni lead seniors through "25 Things All Bears Should Know," including how to change a tire or complete taxes, the art of interviewing, and more.

• Senior Prefects serve as role models and tutors for Bears in the Lower and Middle Schools.

• Science classes employ student-directed laboratory investigations that give boys the opportunity to further develop their critical-thinking and analytical skills as the year progresses.

• Students practice Scratch coding and follow a robust, hands-on Code.org computer programming curriculum.

40 honors courses offered every year

Amherst College Berklee College of Music Boston College Bowdoin College Bucknell University Claremont McKenna College Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Duke University Elon University Emory University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Harvard University Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College Massachusetts Institute of Technology Middlebury College New York University Northwestern University Princeton University Sophia University (Japan) Swarthmore College Tufts University United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of California, Berkeley University of Chicago University of Michigan University of North Carolina University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania Vanderbilt University Vassar College Virginia Tech Wake Forest University Williams College Yale University

Throughout his years at Landon, my son has grown from a shy boy focused on his own interests to a young man always looking for ways to put others before himself.

We could not be more proud.

CURRENT PARENT

MEN OF CHARACTER The goodness and vast human potential inherent in boys inspire our focus on character development.

We know boys will rise to the expectations set for them.

That is why our Code of Character is at the core of what we do every day. We develop caring and thoughtful men who realize that their views and ideas matter, that their words can lift others, and that their actions, guided by respect, empathy, inclusivity, and civility, can effect positive change.

It is not just worthy work; it is a moral obligation we owe to our boys, their families, and the world to develop young men who live honorable and ethical lives.

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MEN OF CHARACTER

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Students in the Middle and Upper Schools attend more than 100 ethics assemblies throughout the year, which include speeches presented by their peers and faculty.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are priorities at Landon – and are evident in our student body, our curriculum, and the conversations we have with our boys.

Our intentional and thoughtful approach will immerse your son in a community that truly lives out its values.

Indeed, we believe the wider the variety of boys we welcome into our community, the richer each boy’s experience will be.

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Though our Buddies program, Upper School boys meet regularly with our Lower School Bears to serve as role models for our youngest boys.

SERVING WITH EMPATHY

ACTING WITH HONOR

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

Service is voluntary at Landon because a requirement has never been necessary to motivate our boys to share their time and talents with others. Landon boys look out for opportunities to work with different types of people through Special Olympics, A Wider Circle, and Iona Senior Services, among others.

Every student, teacher, and staff member signs our Code of Character at the beginning of every school year, reminding boys that we all must be accountable to each other in modeling the principles of respect and honesty.

We believe leadership grows from experience, which is why Landon students earn opportunities to take responsibility for their own actions and those of their peers through positions on our student and honor councils, captaincies on our athletic teams, and more.

Students attend Landon from 57 different ZIP codes around the DMV area.

All Grade 8 students present “This I believe” speeches.

Landon collaborates with Holton-Arms School on 21 annual coed events.

Connections for Life Along with the success your son achieves and the type of person he becomes through a Landon education, he will also have lasting friendships and a network of caring individuals throughout his career and his life. Whatever path your son chooses, he will have the support of Bears everywhere because they trust the character, intellect, and work ethic that stem from this shared experience.

NOTABLE ALUMNI AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

“A Constellation of Vital Phenomena,” written by Anthony Marra ’03, was nominated for the National Book Award.

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Austin Bisnow ’06 sings lead vocals for Magic Giant, an alternative rock band whose songs have charted the Billboard Top 30.

Attorney Scott Harris ’84 is the 20th Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States.

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At the University of Virginia, Darion Atkins ’10 earned the Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Award, given to the best defender in basketball, before playing professionally in Israel and Europe.

Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons graduate, Dr. Vincent Santillo, MD ’87 practices at NYU Langone Medical Center.

Tom Scott ’85, co-founded Nantucket Nectars and is CEO of The Nantucket Project, an annual conference spurring dialog around world issues.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, TJ Kim ’22 has used his love for aviation and new pilot’s license to fly donated medical supplies every week to rural Virginia hospitals experiencing shortages.

TJ’s “Operation SOS,” which stands for “Supplies Over Skies,” was recognized by the White House. He was also named a CNN Young Wonder for his efforts.

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GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT IN ALL AREAS Boys experience real and lasting personal growth through challenge and balance.

We believe requiring a boy to engage in an array of experiences, while providing him with multiple levels of support and guidance, introduces him to passions and abilities he didn’t know he had. This approach is essential to his emotional, social, physical, and intellectual growth.

The abilities to challenge himself, to constructively compete with those around him, to work hard toward a goal, and to learn from mistakes are essential skills for him to develop. That’s why every boy at Landon participates in arts and athletics in addition to our comprehensive and engaging academic program.

“I can see the effort he puts into playing quarterback or point guard, and I know he has the determination, focus, and patience required to improve as an artist.”

RICKY SEARS, STUDIO ART DEPARTMENT CHAIR AND JV HOCKEY COACH

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GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT IN ALL AREAS

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Teacher, Coach, Mentor Relationships are the foundation of our educational approach.

Boys work harder and achieve more when they respect and connect with their teachers. As experts in boys’ education, Landon faculty recognize that boys will only fully open themselves to complex intellectual problems and inspirational ideas when they trust that their teachers genuinely care about their well-being and success.

The exceptional men and women at Landon treat this responsibility with the seriousness, commitment, and energy it deserves.

The same faculty members will guide your son during times of celebration, stress, adversity, and triumph, helping him navigate his emotions and grow from his experiences. Because teachers also serve as coaches and mentors, they know each boy in multiple areas and can introduce challenge and reinforce character development on an individual level.

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Boys have group and one-on-one advisory meetings with faculty mentors every week.

Our teachers are experts in their fields – 70% hold advanced degrees.

The nine-year average tenure of faculty members illustrates their commitment to our boys.

GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT IN ALL AREAS

With only 14 students in the average class, teachers are able to challenge each boy to achieve his personal best.

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Top coaches, trainers, and state-of-the-art facilities – from a turf field installed in 2019 to our 42,0000-square-foot weight room – offer every Landon boy an experience akin to a collegiate student-athlete.

Landon offers 61 athletic teams from Grade 3 through Varsity.

BROWN AND WHITE AND GRASS-STAIN GREEN Athletic participation at Landon instills resilience, a strong work ethic, teamwork, and leadership.

Because we believe so strongly in the importance of developing these qualities, every boy in the Middle and Upper Schools participates in athletics during every season.

All head coaches are Landon teachers trained in A Call to Men leadership programming, which emphasizes the development of healthy, respectful young men.

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BEARS Joey Epstein ’18 helped lead the Bears to an undefeated season and national championship in 2017 and was named the USA Today Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year in 2018.

In the last two years, 49 graduates have committed to play NCAA athletics at Georgetown, Harvard, Middlebury, the Naval Academy, Northwestern, and many more.

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The Bears have won 19 IAC championships in eight sports over the last five years.

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Exceptional handbells, orchestra, chorus, and band programs encourage award-winning musicians and beginners alike to take their musical ability to the next level.

Our Middle School studio provides noise-cancelling headphones for boys who prefer to work in silence and group tables for boys who prefer to talk while painting.

SEE HIS TALENT BECOME REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. Cyrus ’21 earned the sole seat for a baritone saxophone player inMaryland’s All-State Jazz Band.

During “MAD” Days (music, arts, and drama), Middle School students perform for the whole school, allowing them to see themselves as multidimensional and creative.

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Five Landon students were recognized in the 2021 Maryland Region of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Pierce Ryan ’22 and Peter Qiu ’21 both won Gold Key honors.

Boys who participate in Landon’s theater program develop confidence and emotional intelligence, gain public speaking experience, and learn to work as a team alongside Holton-Arms drama students.

GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT IN ALL AREAS

Lower School students learn empathy and artistic technique as they create portraits of civil rights leaders alongside their inspiring quotes.

Every year, Landon offers 22 courses in music, theater, and studio art to choose from, beginning in Grade 3.

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The Best Version of Himself

THOMAS MEARNS ’21

KIEN PHUONG ’22

KALEB STARKS ’21

MAGUIRE ETHICS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

INTERNATIONAL CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD SILVER MEDALIST

RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN CHINESE

As he entered Form III, Thomas Mearns ’21 earned the Maguire Ethics Scholarship, a merit award to reward students of high moral character at Landon. As a senior, Thomas served as class president, a prefect, co-founder of the ethics club, and a varsity tennis player.

In the Upper School, Kien has played tennis, served as a peer tutor, joined the Asian Student Society, and competed on the “It’s Academic” team. Plus he is among the top 20 high school chemistry students in the country.

Kaleb was the president of the Black Student Union, captain of the varsity track and cross country teams, and founder of the Hip-Hop club. In 2019, he joined Landon’s cultural exchange program in China. He was also a prefect and peer counselor.

“There are so many diverse opportunities to learn at Landon.

I’ve learned so much about myself. I’m not a nationally ranked tennis player or the top student in my class, but I am the sum of all these experiences.”

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“I want to express my gratitude to Ms. Place, my instructor for my AP Chemistry class, for providing me with this extraordinary chance to test my knowledge.

She is an amazing teacher and thanks to her, I have been able to consolidate my foundation in chemistry for further study.”

GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT IN ALL AREAS

“In order to best understand the world, you have to engage with new perspectives. In every experience, you learn something.

I recognize that attending Landon is a privilege, and I hope more people have the opportunity to share these same experiences that I’ve had.”

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LANDON AT-A-GLANCE

28%

OF STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID

30:1

STUDENT–COLLEGE COUNSELOR RATIO

LOCATION

FACULTY

Bethesda, Maryland

64% male; 36% female

After-school programming offered until 6 p.m. for Lower and Middle Schools

70% hold advanced degrees

STUDENTS

COED OPPORTUNITIES

690 students

21 annual collaborations with Holton-Arms School students in performances and leadership seminars

40% students of color Average class size: 14

TEACHERS, COACHES, AND MENTORS

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The relationships they build with boys form the cornerstone of our entire approach, and the men and women who lead our students treat this responsibility with the seriousness and the energy it deserves.

BUS STOPS

Germantown

TRANSPORTATION Great Falls

Amidst today's challenges, boys excel in our commitment to flexibility, innovation, structure, and valued relationships. You can count on Landon.

Nothing diminishes our commitment to providing a safe, healthy, and impactful learning experience for your son.

6 bus routes with 12 stops offered from the following areas:

Landon Silver Spring

McLean

New Carrollton Friendship Heights Spring Valley Georgetown Arlington

Largo

• Alexandria • Arlington/McLean • Georgetown/Spring Valley/Friendship Heights • Silver Spring/Prince George's County

Alexandria

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• Great Falls • Potomac/Gaithersburg

Student–teacher ratio: 6:1

TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID 28% of students receive financial aid Average aid award: $25,817 90% of families who apply for aid qualify Lower School: $42,160 Middle and Upper School: $46,270

COLLEGE PREPARATION 95% of Landon graduates who filed early applications were admitted 58% of Class of 2020 graduates attending colleges on U.S. News and World Report Top 50 National Universities or Liberal Arts Colleges lists Student–college counselor ratio: 30:1 Average SAT score: 1320 Average ACT score: 29

SCHEDULE A VISIT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ADMISSIONS PROCESS.

301.320.1067 | admissions@landon.net

WWW.LANDON.NET

A Private School for Boys Grades 3–12

6101 Wilson Lane Bethesda, Maryland 20817