A Good Person is Always Learning
Dear Future Highlander,
Whether you are just beginning to explore boarding school, or you are nearing decision time for the coming years, I hope that this book helps you see why our students are such proud Highlanders, both in their time on campus and as alumni. The Frederick Gunn School is built on the belief that strength of character is the true goal of education, and that is learned as much through athletics and residential life as in our classrooms. We all — students and faculty — are learning every day, and we push one another to be at our best. The result is quite simple and unique for a high school: Highlanders look out for one another. Highlanders are always learning, and that is a virtue that resonates deeply with me as an educator. Our program is built so that every student learns about themselves and how they learn. Being a great learner is the very best resource we can give to our students as they face the changing landscape of information and work in the coming decades, and it is a value that has shaped our curriculum since Frederick and Abigail first started our school in 1850. This is also why we place so much value in our Advising Program and carve out time for these trusted adult relationships in our daily schedule. Each Highlander is asked to reflect on what kind of impact they want to have in the world when they leave this beautiful campus, not just what profession to pursue, but what kind of citizen they want to be and what legacies of good they will leave along their way. This is embodied in our Citizenship and Just Democracy curriculum, but also permeates the ethos of their coaches, teachers, and house parents. As our students figure out how to be good citizens of this school, they learn what responsibility and impact will feel like throughout their lives.
All of this amounts to our students taking risks and innovating. It’s why our Entrepreneurship Program lives right at the heart of campus in our new Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Center for Innovation and Active Citizenship. Think of our campus, and the surrounding hills of Litchfield County, as a learning laboratory. We are so lucky to be in Washington, Connecticut, and right on the edge of the Steep Rock Nature Preserve, established in 1925 by alumnus Erick Rossiter. Whether through the tradition of School Walk, or just hiking down to the Shepaug River with your friends on a sunny Sunday afternoon, the outdoors help keep us grounded, well, and attuned to the world around us.
Highlanders work hard and compete fiercely, and our students go on to leading universities on their own terms, already having a sense of who they are, and who they want to be in the world, prepared for any challenge that may come their way. We also have a lot of fun. This is high school after all!
Our Admissions team is eager to answer your questions as you get to know the Gunn community, and they are best reached at admissions@frederickgunn.org.
Always learning, Emily Raudenbush Gum
EMILY RAUDENBUSH GUM HEAD OF SCHOOL
Emily Raudenbush Gum became the 12th Head of School in 2023. She is a graduate of The Hill School, University of St. Andrews, and University of Oxford. Emily and her husband, Wheeler, are the proud parents of two young children, Hezze and George. “My family arrived on campus in 2018 and we were overwhelmed by the amazing Highlander community. I hope this book helps you see why our students and alumni are such proud Highlanders. As a future Gunn student, you will develop a sense of what kind of impact you want to have in the world and be prepared for any challenge you may face.”
Washington and the surrounding towns have long been home to writers, artists, and performers seeking inspiration, calm, and a bucolic lifestyle that includes a farm-to-table ethos and great espresso. (photo: George Home)
Washington block party at sunset, The Judy Black Memorial Park & Gardens. (photo: Kate Talarico @m3mediapro)
BELONGING & INCLUSION
FIRST-YEAR PROGRAM
The Start-up Starts Here.
H IGHLANDER TERM
EXPLORE YOUR BIG IDEA.
AMHERST COLLEGE• BARD COLLEGE • BABSON COLLEGE • BENTLEY UNIVERSITY • BOSTON COLLEGE
BOSTON UNIVERSITY • BOWDOIN COLLEGE • BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY • BROWN UNIVERSITY • BRYN MAWR
COLLEGE • BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY • CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY • CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVER
SITY • CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE • COLBY COLLEGE • COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS • COLLEGE OF
WILLAM & MARY • COLORADO COLLEGE • COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY • CONNECTICUT COLLEGE • CORNELL
UNIVERSITY • DARTMOUTH COLLEGE • DENISON UNIVERSITY • DICKINSON COLLEGE • DREXEL UNIVER
SITY • ELON UNIVERSITY • EMERSON COLLEGE • EMORY UNIVERSITY • FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY • FLORIDA
STATE UNIVERSITY • FORDHAM UNIVERSITY • FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE • GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY • HAMILTON COLLEGE • HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY • HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
ITHACA COLLEGE • JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY • JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY • KENYON COLLEGE • LA
FAYETTE COLLEGE • LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO • MACALESTER COLLEGE • MAN
HATTANVILLE COLLEGE • MARIST COLLEGE • MIAMI UNIVERSITY OHIO • MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE • MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE • NEW YORK UNIVERSITY • NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY • OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE • OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY • PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
PITZER COLLEGE • PRINCETON UNIVERSITY • PROVIDENCE COLLEGE • PURDUE UNIVERSITY • RENSSELAER
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE • ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY • RUTGERS UNIVERSITY • SKIDMORE COL
LEGE • SMITH COLLEGE • SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY • ST LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY • SWARTHMORE
COLLEGE • SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY • TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY • THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PARIS
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL • TRINITY COLLEGE • TUFTS UNIVERSITY• TULANE
UNIVERSITY • UNION COLLEGE • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA • UNI
VERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER • UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT • UNIVERSITY OF DENVER • UNIVERSITY
FLORIDA • UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA • UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN • UNIVERSITY OF MI
AMI • UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN • UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI • UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA • UNIVERSITY
SOUTH CAROLINA • UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA • UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS • UNIVERSITY
TEXAS AT AUSTIN • UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT • UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA • UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN • VANDERBILT UNIVERSTY • VASSAR COLLEGE • VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY • WAKE
FOREST UNIVERSITY • WILLIAMS COLLEGE • WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS • YALE UNIVERSITY
The Founders Day Regatta is Held each year on our home course at lake waramaug in connecticut. Coach Rod BeeBe organized the first event in 1959, and it is now the second longest-running high school regatta in new england, draWing over 2,500 athletes and spectators.
Over the last 10 years, hundreds of students have commited to collegiate athletic programs. Gunn athletes have played at top schools, including Amherst, Bowdoin, Brown, Cornell, Penn State, Princeton, Weselyan, and Williams.
Cam Donaldson ‘17, Cornell forward and All-Ivy Honorable Mention. (photo: Dave Burbank/Cornell Athletics)
Day students are fully integrated into the residential life experience and all aspects of campus life. Boarders have day student roommates. Day students often eat three meals a day on campus and sleep over on Saturday nights. It is often hard to differentiate between a boarding and a day student.
Faculty advisors serve “In loco parentis,” guiding students through their school experience during weekly advisory group lunches and meetings as well as individual meetings throughout the year.
In addition to academic grades, student progress is measured through a second grading system known as Academic Merit. Our teachers provide feedback every five weeks in five areas that we consider integral to development. They are: preparedness, completion and conscientiousness, engagement, collaboration, and self-awareness and persistence.
Our community of teachers, coaches, dorm parents, and advisors work together to help ensure every student’s well-being and success. Three times each year, all
of The Frederick Gunn School’s faculty advisors gather as a community to review the progress of every student, one at a time. Over the course of a full day, advisors discuss areas where each student is performing well, where they may be struggling, and what can be done to encourage every student to thrive in all aspects of school life — from the classroom to the playing field to the dormitory.
ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Early Decision Dates:
Early Decision for all students that have decided The Frederick Gunn School is their number one choice.
Early Decision applications are due in early December and admissions decisions are released in mid-December.
Please see additional information regarding Early Decision at gogunn.org/admissions-process
Regular Decision Dates:
January 15
Regular decision application deadline
February 1
Regular decision financial aid application deadline
March 10
Notification of regular admission decisions & financial aid awards
April 10
Regular decision enrollment response deadline
1 INQUIRE
Complete our online inquiry at gogunn.org/inquire or contact the Admissions Office at (860) 868-7334
2 SCHEDULE A VISIT
To schedule a personalized campus tour and interview, please call (860) 868-7334 or e-mail us at admissions@frederickgunn.org
3 SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Complete and submit the Standard Application Online (SAO).
4 INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS
If you are an international applicant, please refer to our international admissions page for additional instructions. gogunn.org/international-admissions EXPLORE OUR CAMPUS
5
We encourage all prospective students and parents to check out our campus virtually.
