Academics
To Teach Fully, You Must Understand Deeply
At Dawson, academics are more than checking boxes or chasing test scores. They’re about knowing students deeply, challenging them with intention, and preparing them for a world that keeps changing. We’re grounded by timeless principles and inspired by modern methods that guide every lesson and every journey.
107 Acres To Spread Your Wings.
Deep learning requires the right environment. Dawson’s quiet, tree-lined campus offers plenty of space to breathe. From classrooms and MakerSpaces to outdoor learning areas and athletic facilities, it’s a home-away-from-home where students can unplug, focus, and connect.
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Known, Nurtured, And Challenged.
Students thrive when they’re seen for who they are and encouraged to stretch into who they can become. At Dawson, personalization is a daily practice. Small class sizes, dedicated advisors, college counselors, and teachers match high expectations with strong relationships. Academic excellence flows naturally.
One Journey With Three Steps.
- Lower School: Curiosity and confidence are born.
- Middle School: Independence and deeper thinking emerge.
- Upper School: Purpose and readiness take shape.
- College Counseling: Guidance for the next leap forward
Skills Change, But Wisdom Endures.
Through hands-on, problem-based learning, Dawson students develop the skills the future will demand: grit, creativity, empathy and adaptability.
They design, build, collaborate, and reflect across disciplines, discovering how to think deeply, navigate uncertainty, and keep learning long after graduation. Because the future won’t reward test scores, it will reward curiosity and courage.
We’re Not Using AI, We’re Directing It.
It’s easy to see AI as a substitute for effort. Instead, Dawson students get cutting edge training on how to use the world’s most powerful technology to accelerate their most ambitious projects.
AI literacy begins in third grade and continues in Middle School. By the time they get to Upper School, students can think about AI critically, use it ethically, and integrate it into their natural workflow to enhance productivity, creativity and analysis.
Success Is Defined By Impact
Yes, our graduates are accepted to many of America’s best colleges and universities. But it’s what they do after that that makes us proudest. They start businesses, found charities, and innovate for the greater good. Our graduates stand out not just for where they go, but for how they show up
Experiential Education Is The Foundation.
Dawson students spend an average of 100 hours a year learning beyond the traditional classroom. They enjoy field trips, service, internships, labs, maker projects, and Dawson’s signature programs.
Class Trips: Grades 7–12
An annual technology-free, outdoor adventure designed to strengthen community and reinforce Dawson’s core virtues. Whether hiking, volunteering, or navigating new environments together, students are encouraged to dare, reflect, and connect.
Winterim: Grades K–12
A weeklong, faculty-designed program that invites students to immerse themselves in a topic, culture, or activity. For students in grades 5–12, Winterim often includes travel, adding cultural depth and global perspective.
Drift: Grades K–12
Our cross-divisional mentorship program, designed to foster connection and belonging through sustained relationships across grade levels. Drift creates a culture where students feel welcomed into something larger than themselves, while learning ethical leadership skills.
Connections: Grades 9–12
Dawson’s internship program, offering Upper School students the opportunity to explore interests, build professional skills, and gain hands-on experience beyond campus. Students choose from summer internships, co-curricular experiences, and semester-long, credit-earning internships. We offer a wide variety of opportunities, with particular focus in the following areas:
- Arts, Media, and Entertainment
- Technology, AI, and Data Systems
- Engineering and Aerospace
- Clean Energy, Climate, and Sustainability
- Healthcare and Biosciences
- Business, Finance, and Innovation
Dawson Distinctions: Grades 9-12
Students move beyond traditional coursework to apply their knowledge in specific areas of study. Distinctions require a capstone project, portfolio, and real-world experience. They’re available in Art, Business and Entrepreneurship, Civics, Innovation, and Science.