Dunn School
P.O. Box 98, 2555 W. Highway 154
Los Olivos, CA 93441
Los Olivos, CA 93441
Tel: (800) 287-9197
Founded in 1957, Dunn School is an independent, college preparatory, 6th through 12th grade coeducational boarding and day school.
We are located in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, in Los Olivos, California, 30 miles from Santa Barbara.
Dunn School's 60-year old mission is to educate the whole student to his or her fullest potential in preparation for a life of learning and responsible leadership in society. We achieve this by focusing on the development and integration of 5 core values: Social and emotional wellness; physical readiness; intellectual growth; social responsibility; and moral courage.
School News
- Dunn News Sources - 01/12/2021 - You can access the latest news from Dunn School on the front page of our website: www.dunnschool.org or on our social media page.
- Dunn School Announces New Head of School for 2021 - 10/13/2020 - The Dunn School Board of Trustees has unanimously selected Mr. Kalyan Balaven, currently Director of Teaching and Learning at The Athenian School to succeed Mr. Mike Beck as Head of ...moreSchool upon his retirement in June 2021. Read more about Mr. Balaven on our website. hide
Top 10 Placements
Similar Size Schools
Dunn School is listed among the top 10 schools with 200-400 students (out of 109 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- Student Attention Small average class sizes
- Student Attention Low student:teacher ratio
| Definition of Terms | 2020 School Data | Dunn School | Boarding School Avg. |
| School Focus | College Prep | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered (Boarding) | 9-12 | 9-12 |
| Grades Offered (Day) | 6-12 | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| ADD/ADHD Support | Yes | Yes |
| Supports Learning Differences (LD) | Yes | Yes |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1957 | 1907 |
| Campus Size | 58 acres | 125 acres |
Student Body
| Enrollment | 249 students | 302 students |
| % Students of Color | 45% | 25% |
| % International Students | 16% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 60% | 70% |
| Average SAT Score | 1210 | * National Avg. »View |
| Average ACT score | 25 | *National Avg. » View |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | No | No |
Academics and Faculty
| Saturday Classes | No | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 10 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 5:1 | 7:1 |
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 13 | 18 |
| ESL Courses Offered | No | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 63% | 70% |
| Summer Program Offered | Yes | Yes |
| Summer Program Cost | $8,500 (Includes tuition, room, board, and activities for 4 weeks.) | |
| Summer Program Details | Link to Summer Program Details | |
Finances
| Endowment Size | $13 million | $23 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $66,900 (Financial aid and payment plans available. Learning Strategies is an additional fee of $17,000.) | $59,000 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $31,600 (Financial aid and payment plans available. Learning Strategies is an additional fee.) | $32,900 |
| Tuition international students | $66,900 | $53,975 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 56% | 40% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $22,961 (Not available for Learning Strategies.) | $25,000 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | No | No |
Admission
| Application Deadline | Feb. 1 / rolling | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | No | Yes |
| Acceptance Rate | 45% | 57% |
| Director of Admissions | Mike Mckee | |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Sarah Harris | |
Course Listings
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
AP / Advanced Courses
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 13 | 18 |
| Courses | Advanced Art, Advanced English 11, Advanced U.S. History, Advanced World History, AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, AP English Literature, AP Environmental Science, AP Spanish, AP Statistics, English 10 Honors, Math I Honors - Geometry & Algebra, Math II Honors - Data, Models, & Predictions, Math III Honors - Mathematical Analysis, Spanish II Honors, Spanish III Honors, US History Honors | |
Sports
| # Interscholastic Sports Offered | 8 | 16 |
| Sports | Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball | |
Extracurriculars
| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 19 | 24 |
| Extracurriculars | Club or Organization: Affinity Club, Badminton Club, Computer Science Club, Dance Company, Debate Club, Dormitory Council, Film Club, Peer Tutoring Association, Spirit Committee, Student Government, Surf Club, Sustainability Club, Youth 4 Direct Relief Club Arts and Music Programs: Drama/Theatre, Dunn School Band Recreational Athletic Programs: Mountain Biking, Pickle Ball, Swimming, Yoga | |
College Matriculation
| Year: 2020 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled) | |
| Chapman | 2 | |
| Northeastern University | 2 | |
| University of California - Irvine | 2 | |
| University of California at Los Angeles | 2 | |
| University of Southern California (USC) | 2 | |
| Barnard College | 1 | |
| California Polytechnic State University | 1 | |
| New York University | 1 | |
| University of Oregon | 1 | |
| Wellesley College | 1 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
School Notes
- LD types supported: Mild/Moderate Learning Differences
- Dunn School accreditations: TABS, NAIS, WBSA, SSATB, WASC
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Mike Boone - Inventor of Boone Boards and highly successful serial entrepreneur.
- Justin Ching '07 - Film maker, professor at USC, and Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient.
- Nyuol Tong '10 - Founder/Publisher of The Bare Life Review and Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient.
- Yoky Matsuoka - Co-founder of Google X, CTO of Google Nest.
- Abu Danladi '19 - MLS recruit and Gatorade National Player of the Year. Currently playing for Nashville Soccer Club.
- Aiden Terry - Oscar-winning animater who worked with Kobe Bryant.
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