Mission and Principles

Our mission and principles serve as the foundation for building the exceptional programs, outstanding faculty, and welcoming community of parents and students that define our private school experience. Our motto, No Talent Lies Latent, inspires our mission and is the basis for our guiding principles.

Our Guiding Principles

Good Character

We value and develop good character, and expect all members of our school community—students, teachers and staff, administrators, parents, alumni, and volunteers—to conduct themselves with honor and treat each other with respect.
High Expectations

We have high expectations for students, and we help them to develop the organization, communication, and study skills that will enable them to thrive in a rigorous academic environment.
Self-Advocates

We encourage students to be self-advocates, taking personal responsibility for managing and balancing their own work, behavior, commitments, and development.
Explore and Experiment

We provide a safe, positive, and caring environment where students are encouraged to explore and experiment to discover their own unique interests, talents, and love of learning.
Intellectual Risk-Taking

We promote intellectual risk-taking, recognizing that learning from one’s mistakes can yield greater growth and build personal resilience.
The Value of All Students

We recognize and value the diverse talents, learning styles, and individual characteristics of all students, and we teach in a manner that gives each student the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Interdisciplinary Learning

We promote interdisciplinary learning, and we help students to develop healthy personal relationships that will enable collaboration, leadership, and teamwork in academics, the arts, and athletics.
Technology in Teaching & Learning

We use technology to enhance teaching, and to help students learn how to harness new technologies to further their own goals.
Create, Think & Solve Problems

We develop creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities that enable students to apply knowledge and abstract thinking skills to real-world situations.
Serve Others

We work together to serve others, giving our time, talent, and resources to improve our school and the broader community.
True Success

We recognize that true success in life comes from pursuing one’s own worthwhile goals with enthusiasm, self-discipline, and commitment.

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Our Mission

Sanford School identifies and develops the intellectual and creative talents of a diverse group of students. Within a caring and supportive college preparatory environment, students are encouraged and challenged to achieve their finest in academics, athletics and the arts. Our ultimate goal is to teach students to live humanely within the Sanford community in order to prepare them to meet the demands and responsibilities of the future in the broader world.

Our Views on Diversity

Throughout the school’s history, Sanford has celebrated and respected the unique talents of our community members. We continue to create an inclusive, nurturing environment that instills a healthy respect for differences. Sanford values diversity at our core, including, but not limited to: culture, ethnicity, race, spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, learning styles, socio-economic status, and interests.

Our Diversity Statement: The Sanford community embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion to create an environment of belonging. This work is never complete, and we continue to listen, learn, engage, and act. Please read our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion page for more information.