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
