Sanford School is an independent, college-preparatory school for boys and girls in PreK (age 3) through high school. Located on a striking 100-acre teaching campus in Hockessin, Delaware, we are proud to be one of the region's best private schools. Sanford was founded in 1930 as an innovative school where No Talent Lies Latent. Ask any family, and they will tell you that Sanford's faculty is dedicated to bringing this motto to life for every child, in every classroom, every day. Our students enjoy rigorous academics, opportunities in the arts and athletics, an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, and immersion in a humane, worldly community that prepares them to succeed in every aspect of life.
Here at Sanford, we value each student for who you are, what you love, and what you want to achieve. This individual acceptance and support make our school family diverse in its talents and exceptional in its achievements. Beyond our 100% college acceptance rate, our 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio, and our demanding yet innovative academics, Sanford is genuinely a place to be yourself, express yourself, and challenge yourself.
- Our safe community comprises happy, healthy achievers who live by our Honor Code and champion each other's successes.
- Our outstanding college-preparatory curriculum and stellar faculty challenge students to broaden their ambitions, take risks, set higher standards, and develop lifelong habits for achievement.
- Our award-winning arts and vital athletics programs empower students to tap into their talents and boldly pursue their excellence with no fear of judgment.
- Our stunning, college-like campus offers the ultimate physical space for learning, both in and out of the classroom, while fostering self-reliance and independence.
Our mission and principles serve as the foundation for building the exceptional programs, outstanding faculty, and welcoming community of parents and students that define our private school experience. Our motto, No Talent Lies Latent, inspires our mission, and is the basis for our guiding principles.
Sanford School identifies and develops the intellectual and creative talents of a diverse group of students. Within a caring and supportive college preparatory environment, students are encouraged and challenged to achieve their finest in academics, athletics, and the arts. Our ultimate goal is to teach students to live humanely within the Sanford community to prepare them to meet the demands and responsibilities of the future in the broader world.
Throughout the school's history, Sanford has celebrated and respected the unique talents of our community members. We continue to create an inclusive, nurturing environment that instills a healthy respect for differences. Sanford values diversity at our core, including, but not limited to, culture, ethnicity, race, spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, learning styles, socio-economic status, and interests.
Sanford offers all the advantages that make an independent school education so valuable. Our bold approach to learning offers every student a rigorous, engaging, well-rounded, college-preparatory curriculum. From preschool to high school, Sanford students delve deep into core subjects and music and visual arts, world languages and cultures, and athletics. Led by our stellar faculty, Sanford students become critical thinkers, adept problem-solvers, independent learners, powerful self-advocates, and influential leaders. Our expectations are high, but so is the genuinely caring, developmentally appropriate support we provide at each level. Sanford students leave us as articulate, creative, self-assured, caring, and responsible young people who return to tell us how well prepared they feel, not just for college but for life.
Sanford students leave us as articulate, creative, self-assured, compassionate, and responsible young people who return to tell us how well prepared they feel, not just for college but for life. Learn more about the Sanford journey in each of our divisions.
Our academic, co-curricular, arts and athletic opportunities encourage students to explore their interests and grow intellectually and socially. Our teachers and coaches challenge and inspire our students to achieve their best. A cornerstone of Sanford's culture is the belief that everyone—even people who are different than you are—has a right to be treated with courtesy and dignity. The Sanford experience provides our diverse student body with a school environment where hard work is valued, where kindness and respect are community norms, and integrity and honesty are instilled and reinforced.
