At The Leelanau School, we offer day and boarding students in grades 9-12 an educational experience where integrated learning support, individualized attention, small classes, and a commitment to whole-person wellness are at the center of what we do.Students discover and develop their strengths as both students and citizens with the guidance of engaged faculty committed to cultivating a school where students know and embrace themselves as learners – no matter how they learn.
A BETTER WAY TO LEARN
Leelanau’s rich, supportive environment is a community where teachers love to teach and the focus is on how to learn, rather than what to learn. We are a haven for intelligent and creative students: the bright, the talented, the inquisitive who may also feel unchallenged, restless, and anxious.
Academics
Music, Visual Arts & Theater
At The Leelanau School creativity is encouraged and students are welcome to explore each arts discipline. Parents are often amazed that their “non-singing” child has a beautiful voice or that their camera shy child feels perfectly comfortable on the other side of the lens!
You don’t have to come with a talent, we will help you discover and develop your talents.
Health, Wellness, & Nutrition
All congratulations to our Leelanau School seniors and their families! This is goodbye, but it’s not the end of our connection or your learning! Our live stream didn’t work this morning, but you can relive the celebration shortly via the link on our homepage at leelanau.org or musichub.live/leelanau-school-graduation-2026/ ❤️🎓🍍 ... See MoreSee Less
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Yesterday, the Leelanau community—near and far—gathered to celebrate the legendary Cris Pina-Gautier and his extraordinary career at The Leelanau School. Thank you for the wisdom, humor, compassion, and dedication you have shared with generations of students. We love you, Cris. Enjoy retirement, stay close, and stay safe! ... See MoreSee Less
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Please join us Saturday, June 6 at 11 am to celebrate The Leelanau School Class of 2026. 🎓 Our graduation ceremony is filled with love and pride, joy and nostalgia. If you cannot make it at 11 am, this link will remain available for several weeks on our homepage at leelanau.org. Stream here: bit.ly/3SoBZGA
#celebrate #marchtogradgreen #theclassof2026 #abetterwaytolearn #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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We are pleased to be part of a fellowship of small boarding schools, consultants, and therapists working together to help students find the educational fit they deserve—one that allows them to thrive. Click below to learn more...
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The Leelanau School Affirms Belonging as the Foundation of Student Success | All Kinds of Therapy
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The Leelanau School Affirms Belonging as the Foundation of Student SuccessAn intentionally designed, non-therapeutic boarding school environment where connection comes first—and learning follows At ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
As another school year draws to a close, our underclassmen are balancing reflection, preparation, and celebration. Between campus beautification, visioning for the year ahead, and packing for summer, there was still time to gather in the afternoon sunshine for a little carnival fun. ☀️🎪 Community, laughter, and making memories—classic end-of-year Leelanau moments. #schoolsout #abetterwaytolearn #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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Seniors are off on their final camping trip before graduation! We hope they deepen bonds, reflect, and of course, make memories to last a lifetime.
#seniortrip #seniorclass #graduating #graduatingseniors ... See MoreSee Less
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"Some life lessons are better learned on the water than in school." Thankfully, The Leelanau School magic finds a way to balance the two. Congratulations to students and faculty on this final day of classes. May the days ahead bring more adventure, the great outdoors, joyful learning, and really big fish! Thanks for the memories, Capt. Bob. #abetterwaytolearn #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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"Sage Cross is a three-year senior and has certainly left his mark on Leelanau. Deeply passionate about history and driven by a genuine curiosity about the world, Sage brings thoughtfulness, insight, and enthusiasm to everything he does. Whether discussing philosophy, analyzing film, or exploring historical ideas, he has a remarkable ability to make conversations engaging and meaningful for everyone around him.
Some of my greatest interactions with Sage were through sharing our mutual interests in music, film, tea, and history. I first had the pleasure of sharing music with him when he joined the Music Club as a member, and later as the club’s leader. His love of different genres, combined with his creativity and leadership, helped shape the club into a welcoming and vibrant space for students. He brought that same energy to Film, a class he took twice for simple love of the subject. The deep inspiration Sage draws from history was highlighted on our trip to Japan and I will miss the familiar sight of him practicing traditional tea making as we engaged in our class discussions. What truly stands out about Sage in all of these areas is his passion for thinking deeply. He always asks thoughtful questions, challenges ideas, and approaches learning with genuine excitement.
I have seen Sage grow so much over the last three years, and am so proud of this young person who leads not by demanding attention, but by inspiring others through his passion, intelligence, and authenticity. He is opinionated but open, funny but earnest, intellectually sharp but generous. Students like Sage not only make classes more dynamic and discussions more interesting, but school communities stronger. I can’t wait to attend one of his lectures as a future history professor!"—Dr. Elizabeth Wolterink, Leelanau Faculty #seniorshoutout #theclassof2026 #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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"Ramon was shy and reserved when I first got to know him last year, much like anyone stepping into a new environment. It took him a few weeks to even mention that he had played an instrument before. But once that confidence started to grow, things began to change. Not long after, he asked me, “Mr. Rogers, how come when I put my fingers here, it’s a C chord?” That question told me everything. He was listening. He was retaining. More importantly, he was beginning to think deeply about what he was learning. From that moment on, I knew he was hooked.
Ramon’s curiosity has pushed him forward in exciting ways. Since then, he has become a leader in the music room and a steady, dependable presence for the other guitar players to lean on. He has always had a genuine drive to learn and discuss ideas, but it has been especially rewarding to watch him grow into someone who actively seeks out challenges to become a stronger, more knowledgeable musician.
What stands out most is the depth of his curiosity. He thinks carefully about the mechanics of playing, how the body moves and functions to make music easier and more expressive. At the same time, he wants to understand the theory behind what we play: how music is written, why certain sounds work together, and what gives music its emotional power. I’ve also watched that desire for understanding deepen his appreciation of music as an art form.
Ramon’s curiosity, thoughtful presence, and confident leadership on the guitar will be greatly missed." — Nathan Rogers, Leelanau Faculty #seniorshoutout #theclassof2026 #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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