2024-2025 Sanford School Profile

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2024 - 2025 | SCHOOL PROFILE

School History, Mission, and Community

Founded as a working farm school in 1930, Sanford has evolved into an independent school that identifies and develops the intellectual and creative talents of a diverse group of students in preschool through 12th grade. Sanford’s academically rigorous and emotionally balanced student culture fosters collaboration over competition and provides a demanding and well-rounded college preparatory education. Our ultimate goal is to teach

Demographics and Enrollment

• 2024-2025 Total Enrollment (preschool-12th): 680

• Senior Class Size: 74

• Upper School (9-12): 306

• Students of Color: 36%

• Upper School Students of Color: 35%

• Upper School Students receiving need-based financial aid: 65%

• Sanford students hail from four states (DE, PA, MD, NJ), and over 53 different zip codes

Curriculum

• Students in grades 9-11 must enroll in 6 classes per semester, and students in grade 12 must enroll in at least 5.

• The school recommends that students take no more than 3 AP/honors courses per year. However, students may take more than 3 AP/honors courses after extensive conversations with their advisors and teachers.

Heather Graber Stinson Director of College Counseling stinsonh@sanfordschool.org

students to live humanely within the Sanford community to prepare them to meet demands and responsibilities in the broader world. Sanford embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion to create an environment of belonging for all identities. Acknowledging that this work is never done, we continue to listen, learn, engage, and act.

Accreditations & Affiliations

• Cum Laude Society

• Delaware Association of Independent Schools

• National Association for College Admission Counseling

• National Association of Independent Schools

• Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools

• Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling

• Students enrolled in an AP course are required to sit for the corresponding exam.

• Students have the opportunity to take AP classes in 10th grade; the majority of students take AP courses starting in 11th grade.

• Sanford School does not rank.

Pete Williams Associate Director of College Counseling williamsp@sanfordschool.org

Mark Anderson Head of School

Abbi Smith Head of Upper School

Academic Calendar and Grading Scale

Sanford operates on a semester calendar; full-year classes receive 1.0 credit; half-year classes and some electives receive 0.5 (½) credit. Grades are calculated at the end of each semester and a final letter grade is reported as the average of both semesters.

• First-quarter grades will be available to students and reported to colleges by November 15.

• First-semester grades will be available to students and reported to colleges by January 31.

A (4.00) = 93-100

A- (3.67) = 90-92

B+ (3.33) = 87-89

B (3.00) = 83-86

B- (2.67) = 80-82

C+ (2.33) = 77-79

C (2.00) = 73-76

C- (1.67) = 70-72

D+ (1.33) = 67-69

D (1.00) = 63-66

D- (0.67) = 60-62

F (0.00) = <60

The unweighted GPA comprises all classes, whether full-year or semester, which fall under the auspices of the English, Science, Mathematics, History, or World Languages Departments and any class designated either Honors or AP in the Visual Arts Department. The weighted GPA comprises all classes in which a student has received a letter grade other than P/F. In computing the weighted GPA, the School increases a grade earned in a course designated as Honors by one grade mark (1/3 of a point), and a grade earned in an Advanced Placement class by two grade marks (2/3 of a point). Thus, a B (3.0) earned in an Honors class is calculated as a B+ (3.33) for weighting purposes; likewise, a B (3.0) earned in an Advanced Placement class is calculated as an A- (3.67). While the actual earned grade is reflected on the transcript, the additional points for weighting are reflected in the weighted GPA calculation.

Advanced Placement and Honors Courses

AP Courses (22):

• African American Studies

• Art History*

• Biology

• Calculus (AB)

• Calculus (BC)

• Chemistry

• Computer Science A

• Drawing

• 2-D Art & Design

• 3-D Art & Design

• English Language and Composition

• English Literature and Composition

• Environmental Science

• French Language and Culture

• Latin*

*Denotes courses not running in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Honors Courses (12):

• Algebra II

• Anatomy & Physiology

• Art

• Biology

• Calculus

• Chemistry

• English 9

• English 10

*World Language courses are not offered at the honors level.

Independent Study

• Physics C: Mechanics

• Psychology

• Spanish Language and Culture

• Statistics

• US Government & Politics

• US History

• World History: Modern

Graduation Requirements:

• English: 4 credits

• Mathematics: 3 credits

• History & Global Studies: 3 credits (one must be US History)

• World Languages: 3 credits of the same language

• Science: 3 credits (biology & chemistry required)

• Electives: 5 credits (must include 0.5 credit of performing art, studio art, technology, and health)

• Geometry

• Physics

• Precalculus

• World Civilizations I

• Co-curricular activities: one athletic and one co-curricular activity required per year

With proper approval, a student may plan an independent study under the direct academic supervision of an Upper School faculty member. This includes Advanced Placement classes not offered in the standard curriculum. Independent studies are graded on a Pass/ No Pass basis based on criteria agreed upon between the student and faculty supervisor. Grades earned in Independent Studies are not included in a student’s GPA.

University of Delaware Early College Credit Program

Juniors and seniors may apply to enroll in one class each semester, which can replace a sixth class in a traditional Sanford schedule. No credit is given and GPA is not impacted; however, the student will earn college credits (three credit hours) issued by the University of Delaware.

Additional Curricular and Co-Curricular Programs:

Classes and Electives: Sanford School’s curriculum ensures an expansive liberal arts and sciences education. Particular emphasis is placed on encouraging students to explore outside their comfort zone, taking risks in their learning, and uncovering new interests and talents. It is common for students who have never engaged in performing arts to try their hand at a Piano or Acting elective or to join Concert Choir as a senior. Students who do not see themselves as artists unreservedly sign up for Painting, and those who fear public speaking will eagerly enroll in the Art of Leadership and Public Speaking elective. Ingrained in Sanford’s academic culture is the expectation to take classes that challenge students; these are often the classes about which students speak most excitedly and appreciatively. They also beautifully illustrate our motto, “No Talent Lies Latent.”

Student-Led Clubs and Activities: The Upper School has over 40 student-led clubs and organizations. These are formed based on student interest and community input and are largely student-run, with support from a faculty advisor. Some recent clubs, organizations, affinity, and alliance groups include Archery Club, Beekeeping Club, Black Student Union, Gender-Sexuality Alliance, Hispanic Heritage Affinity Group, Math League, Sanford Environmental Action League, Science Olympiad, Service Club, and Sign Language Club.

Student-Run Honor Council: By signing a formal pledge each year, students acknowledge their individual and collective commitment to the principles of honesty, respect, and personal responsibility in their daily lives at Sanford. Violations of the Honor Code can be brought before the Honor Council, composed of students and faculty.

Athletics: A proud member of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA), Sanford fields 19 teams. Upper School students must play on an athletic team one season per academic year. Sanford currently offers the following sports: Fall – boys’ soccer, cross country, volleyball, field hockey, instructional tennis; Winter – basketball, wrestling, swimming, wintertrack;Spring–lacrosse,girls’soccer,tennis(varsityonly), spring track, golf, baseball, and sailing.

Senior Capstone: This required research project on a topic of the student’s choice culminates in a 3000-word publication-ready article and an eight-to-ten-minute presentation in front of faculty, students, staff, and families.

Senior Project: During the last weeks of school, seniors are required to complete an off-campus, unpaid internship with a local business, corporation, or agency of their choosing.

Colleges to which Sanford students have been admitted, 2021-2024.

• Schools with currently enrolled Sanford students are bolded.

Albright College

Allegheny College

American University

Arcadia University

Arizona State University

Auburn University

Bard College

Baylor University

Binghamton University

Boston College

Boston University

Bryn Mawr College

Bucknell University

Butler University

Cabrini University

California Polytechnic State University

California State University, San Marcos

Carleton College

Carnegie Mellon University

Case Western Reserve University

Catholic University of America

Champlain College

Chapman University

Clemson University

Coastal Carolina University

Colgate University

College of Charleston

College of the Holy Cross

Colorado State University

Columbia University

Commonwealth University (Bloomsburg)

Connecticut College

Cornell University

Davidson College

Delaware State University

Delaware Technical Community College

Denison University

DePaul University

DePauw University

Dickinson College

Drew University

Drexel University

Duquesne University

East Carolina University

Eastern University

Eckerd College

Elizabethtown College

Elon University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Emerson College

Emory University

Endicott College

Fairfield University

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Flagler College

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Gulf Coast University

Florida Southern College

Florida State University

Fordham University

Franklin & Marshall College

Furman University

George Mason University

George Washington University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Gettysburg College

Goldey-Beacom College

Goucher College

Hamilton College

Hampden-Sydney College

Hampton University

Haverford College

High Point University

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Hofstra University

Hollins University

Howard University

Immaculata University

Indiana University

Ithaca College

Jacksonville University

James Madison University

Johnson & Wales University

Juniata College

Kenyon College

King’s College

Kutztown University

La Salle University

Lafayette College

Lehigh University

Lewis & Clark College

Liberty University

Louisiana State University

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Maryland

Loyola University New Orleans

Lycoming College

Lynn University

Marist College

McDaniel College

McGill University

Miami University (OH)

Middlebury College

Millersville University

Monmouth University

Moravian University

Morehouse College

Morgan State University

Muhlenberg College

Neumann University

New York Institute of Technology

New York University

North Carolina A&T State University

North Carolina State University

Northeastern University

Olin College of Engineering

Pace University

Penn State University

Pepperdine University

Providence College

Purdue University

Queen Mary University of London

Quinnipiac University

Randolph-Macon College

Reed College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rhodes College

Roanoke College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Roger Williams University

Rollins College

Rutgers University

Saint Joseph’s University

Saint Michael’s College

Salisbury University

Salve Regina University

San Diego State University

Santa Clara University

Savannah College of Art and Design

Seton Hall University

Sewanee: The University of the South

Shenandoah University

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Simmons University

Skidmore College

Smith College

Southern Methodist University

Spelman College

St. John’s University

St. Lawrence University

St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevenson University

SUNY at Albany

Susquehanna University

Swarthmore College

Syracuse University

Temple University

Texas Christian University

Texas Tech University

The College of New Jersey

The College of Wooster

The Ohio State University

The University of Alabama

The University of Manchester

The University of Tampa

The University of Tennessee

Thomas Jefferson University

Towson University

Trinity College Dublin

Tulane University

Union College

United States Military Academy at West Point

University College Dublin

University of Arizona

University of Bristol

University of British Columbia

University of California, Davis

University of California, Irvine

University of California, San Diego

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Cruz

University of California, Los Angeles

University of Central Florida

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Connecticut

University of Delaware

University of Denver

University of Florida

University of Georgia

University of Glasgow

University of Hartford

University of Illinois

University of Kentucky

University of Lynchburg

University of Mary Washington

University of Maryland

University of Maryland, Baltimore County

University of Massachusetts

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of Minnesota

University of Mississippi

University of Nebraska

University of New Hampshire

University of North Carolina Asheville

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina Wilmington

University of Oregon

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

University of Rhode Island

University of Richmond

University of Rochester

University of Scranton

University of South Carolina

University of Southern California

University of St Andrews

University of Stirling

University of Toronto

University of Utah

University of Vermont

University of Virginia

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin

Ursinus College

Villanova University

Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Wake Forest University

Washington and Lee University

Washington College

Washington University in St. Louis

Wellesley College

Wesleyan University

West Chester University

West Virginia University

Westminster College

Wheaton College (MA)

Whitman College

Widener University

Wilkes University

William & Mary

Williams College

Wilmington University

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

York College of Pennsylvania

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