Student Life

At Dawson, there are as many opportunities outside of the classroom as there are in. Our relatively small Upper School allows for genuine student participation in athletics, theater, and clubs and fosters a community that supports one another. Here you can rarely distinguish class rank, as freshmen and sophomores are as likely to earn a lead role on stage or in student government as they are a starting position on the field.

Town Council

When founded as the Colorado Junior Republic, town meetings were held for its “citizens,” who were not managed by a representative democracy but a participatory one. Town Council ran the town
 meetings, of which the entire school community attended.

Today, an elected executive committee provides leadership to grade representatives and an elected conduct committee.  Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, they meet weekly to discuss issues, develop proposals relating to student life and school policies, and plan extracurricular activities that complement the school’s academic program. 

Peer Leaders

An Upper School mentoring program, this student-led initiative was created to mentor, nurture, and support the transition for ninth grade and new students into the Upper School through interpersonal relationships.  

Clubs 

With 20+ clubs there are ample opportunities to pursue your passions outside of class. From archery to board games, multicultural activities to knitting, and environmental awareness to the nationally competitive stages of robotics and speech and debate, student-created options are offered every semester. 

Dances

Imagine a community where 80 percent of its members attend a special function. That’s what happens at Dawson. Annual dances include homecoming, prom and the occasional rave. Dances are for Upper School students and their high school guests only.