A strong sense of community. High expectations for student involvement and achievement. A “can-do” school spirit. Our commitment to the community of Santa Fe. And, more than anything, the depth of talent, ambition, energy, and creativity alive on this campus each day.
We ask a great deal of parents, students and ourselves. Along with a rigorous academic program, students are involved in athletics, our award-winning service learning program (TAP), and the visual and performing arts. We educate with an eye to broad developmental needs at each age, believing that students reach their full potential when they are challenged and supported in many areas. Prep is committed to building a diverse school community, recognizing our social responsibility to create access for families across the economic spectrum and believing all of us benefit from learning in a diverse and inclusive school.
The Prep Difference
Our Faculty: Expertise and Dedication
The lifeblood of Santa Fe Prep is our faculty, offering students excellent instruction both in and out of the classroom. Over 70% of our faculty have advanced degrees in their fields, and they inspire and mentor students as part of the college preparatory education we provide. Trained in their disciplines, the faculty bring skill and experience, but most importantly, passion as teachers and as learners. Such passion breeds excitement in the classroom and encourages students to engage with their teacher, subject, and fellow classmates. Santa Fe Prep encourages and supports professional development, not only to build upon the diverse background and educational experience of the faculty but to continue to aid in the design and development of innovative classes and curriculum. Each faculty member is also an advisor, supporting students in all aspects of their full Prep life. Advisors meet with their advisees at regularly scheduled times as well as informally to check in, offer academic advice, or arrange for extra support if needed.
Our Students: Learning with Enthusiasm
The students at Santa Fe Prep are the heart of the school. In the classroom, on the field, or on a camping trip, they offer a constant mix of enthusiasm, intellect, commitment, and kindness. Students savor the blend of a challenging curriculum, dynamic arts program, spirited athletic teams, and valuable service-learning opportunities. Each Prep experience builds upon the last, guiding students toward growth and development. Beyond small classes, students can enjoy a wealth of activities during any given week. They can choose to serve in student government, edit a school publication, represent a foreign country in Model United Nations, or perform in a play or our jazz band. We seek to build a school community where older students guide and mentor younger ones in the classroom, on sports teams, and in the larger arena of school life.
Balancing Challenge with Support
The Santa Fe Prep model is to challenge our students in all aspects of their lives at school while offering many levels of support. Our curriculum asks students to engage directly with the world of ideas and to build academic skills and develop the knowledge bases necessary to thrive in a complex world. Each student has a faculty advisor who provides academic counseling, personal support, and a direct connection for parents to school life. Our Learning Specialist helps identify a successful path for learning-differenced students and coordinates any academic accommodations. Peer Mentors, a selective program in the upper school, develops junior’s and senior’s counseling and tutoring skills to assist younger students. Finally, the school’s administration is available to address any issues that may arise for students or parents as they navigate the six years of a Prep education.
Matching Potential with Passion
Prep is committed to helping each student develop a passion for the life of the mind and the personal character to live responsibly in the world. Through the many areas of our school life, students develop interests and talents they may not have known they possessed—singing in our spring musical production, conducting experiments in one of our science labs, taking and developing photographs, and serving on student council. As our graduates attest, a Prep education prepares them for academic success in college. Our college counseling office helps students identify appropriate colleges and universities where they can pursue their passions and indulge their interests.