Founded in 1881, Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Mass., is an independent boarding and day school for girls in grades 5-12 (boarding begins grade 9). Emphasizing sound academic education and preparing each individual for college and life, the School balances exposure to new ideas and the challenge of analytic and creative thinking, focusing on the development of self-esteem, leadership, and respect for others. As a school for girls, Dana Hall provides female students with a particularly favorable environment for education and self-development.
Dana Hall students have the freedom to experiment, express opinions, explore, and take on new challenges. They are supported by strong role models and inspired by their peers. They find confidence and strength, and they acquire and build the skills they need to succeed throughout their lives. We have seen the research: there is an increasingly persuasive case that co-ed schools are not educating girls and boys.
And we know there are fundamental, biological differences in male and female brains. That does not mean that girls and boys have differences in their potential to achieve. But there are differences in how the sexes access that potential. The curriculum is essential. How that curriculum is taught is critical. And teaching girls is what Dana Hall does best. For our Upper School students, who have the opportunity to live on our beautiful Wellesley campus, that specialized care and understanding extend well beyond the traditional high school experience.
At Dana Hall, a dorm is not just a place to sleep -- it's a home away from home, personal space in a broader community, and the springboard for life skills and confidence that Dana students gain as they develop independence. And it's all on one campus, which means less time getting to and from school and activities, and more time to focus on school work and be with friends. Most young people have to wait until college to see the world, but not Dana girls. Guided and supported by dormitory faculty, students learn to value others' respect, integrity, multicultural sensitivity, and personal responsibility.
Faculty are dedicated and passionate, and they stick around because they love the community. They are more accessible, so students can find impactful mentors and build meaningful relationships (which we know is influential for girls' self-esteem and development). Our students realize their teachers have lives, and our teachers know their students as individuals since they see them in the "off hours." At a girls' boarding school like Dana Hall, every day presents girls' opportunities to learn, lead, and succeed.
Dana Hall School is committed to fostering excellence in academics, the arts, and athletics within a vibrant, caring, and inclusive community. With an emphasis on integrity, leadership, diversity, and service and respect for self and others, Dana Hall provides its students with a unique opportunity to prepare themselves for the challenges and choices they will face as women and citizens of the world.
We are committed to building an inclusive community that respects and affirms each of its members, honoring their diversity of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and socioeconomic status. We are committed to building an educational program that recognizes and values the many peoples and perspectives of our community and the world. We realize that conflicts may arise in creating such a community, but we see these possible conflicts as opportunities for growth, open and honest communication, and learning. Through our commitment to diversity, the Dana Hall community prepares students for the challenges and choices they will face as women and citizens of the world.
Dana Hall offers a broad, sophisticated range of courses, coupled with an intense focus on academic skills like research and writing. Through this dynamic combination, students develop intellectual courage, personal strength, and passionate interests to construct their college and life questions. Beyond the common core of English, math, science, social science, and foreign language, students deepen their education with visual and performing arts, computer science and fitness, and athletics. Ninety-eight percent of students in the Upper School take four years of math, and nearly as many pursue four years of science, taking advantage of Dana's state-of-the-art science building.
Dana Hall offers a wide range of languages, including Latin, French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese, all taught using a state-of-the-art language lab. To fulfill the Dana requirement in "non-Western" social studies, you can choose from classes focused on the history and culture of Africa, East Asia, Latin America, Russia, or the Middle East. In a typical year, Dana offers 17 Advanced Placement courses. The School's unique array of electives, including political science, public speaking, architecture, and web design, is even more exciting. Each of these courses reflects the passionate expertise of Dana teachers, teaching what they love best.
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