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
The Glen Arbor Players will host auditions for their production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 PM. This hilarious and touching play presents strong women, drawn together to find strength—and love—in the wake of tragedy.
Directed by Bob Boles, this classic comedy set in a Louisiana beauty salon has a cast of 6 women, ages 20-75. This is an off-book production; memorization is required. Auditions:
* Tuesday, May 26 – 6:30 pm at The Leelanau School
* Wednesday, May 27 – 6:30 pm at the Traverse City Library, Thirlby Room, 2nd floor
For questions and a script, contact director Bob Boles: rsbusa@aol.com
Performances at The Leelanau School: Fri & Sat, July 24 and July 25 @ 7pm; Sun, July 26 @ 2pm | Fri & Sat, July 31 & Aug 1 @ 7pm; Sun, Aug 2 @ 2pm ... See MoreSee Less
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"Max Wohlfeil came to Leelanau from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, for his junior and senior years, and I first met him during his very first week of school as we gathered for breakfast and morning meeting. At the time, he was quiet and reserved, offering only small glimpses of his interests and wonderfully quirky sense of humor. Yet even in those early months, what stood out most was Max’s attentiveness to the people around him. Time and again, I witnessed him extending kindness and grace to classmates in moments when they needed it most.
As he moved into his senior year, I noticed a new calm confidence in Max. Perhaps it came from knowing he would attend the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in the fall, or perhaps it was simply the steady growth that happens when someone begins to feel fully at home in themselves. Whatever the reason, getting to know Max this year has been a blast. I am grateful to have witnessed his growth through moments both large and small: learning new recipes during Winter Term’s Food is Love class, critiquing the lunch menu with conviction, acting in the Submarine Class end-of-term video, and serving as an essential part of our Spanish 3 class. One moment that especially captured this growth was his senior presentation comparing chess and Clash Royale, in which his passion, humor, and confidence shone through. I have no doubt Max will continue to navigate the next phase of his life with the same quiet strength and success he has shown here at Leelanau."—Melissa Ellsworth, Leelanau Faculty #seniorshoutouts #theclassof2026 #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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We are skating our way toward the end of the school year. Two more weeks and the 2025-26 academic season will be in the books! #community #studybreak #abetterwaytolearn #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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We’re hiring a School Counselor or Social Worker for Fall 2026.
At The Leelanau School, this is a visible, relationship-centered role—woven into daily life with students in a small, close-knit boarding school community. With ~40 students on the shores of Lake Michigan, the work here is personal, meaningful, and impactful.
If you’re drawn to supporting adolescents in a hands-on, community-driven environment, please click below to learn more:
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School Counselor or Social Worker (Fall 2026) - The Leelanau School
leelanau.org
Join The Leelanau School as a School Counselor or Social Worker and support adolescents in a small, relationship-based boarding school community on the shores of Lake Michigan.1 CommentsComment on Facebook
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We’re proud to host the Glen Arbor Players’ opening performances of the season, A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters, in our newly updated campus Auditorium. Directed by Teddy House, performances will take place:
• Friday & Saturday, May 22–23 at 7 PM
• Sunday, May 24 at 2 PM
• Friday & Saturday, May 29–30 at 7 PM
• Sunday, May 31 at 2 PM
No tickets are required. The Glen Arbor Players suggest a $10 donation at the door to support future productions. We hope you’ll join us for an evening of theater and community! ... See MoreSee Less
Glen Arbor Players Read ‘Love Letters’
www.leelanaunews.com
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Did you know a single blood donation can save as many as three lives! Sign up for your appointment time with the Versiti Mobile Drive at bit.ly/4dt8eNj. Campus parking is available near the bloodmobile. 🩸❤️ 😍 ... See MoreSee Less
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"Thirty days before graduation, in the sort of profound conversation that can only happen after midnight, Chloe Sunderman reflected on her time at Leelanau and her regret of not joining us sooner. The narrative isn’t unfamiliar: she was unhappy at her old school, but hated the idea of boarding school, and was more than a little scared. It is scary–we never pretend it isn’t. Leelanau asks our students and their families to be vulnerable in ways most don’t expect to encounter until after high school. The last years of childhood are precious, and to leave behind the familiar, no matter how much we dislike it, is really difficult. We learn a lot here—more than anyone remembers teaching— and one of my favorite Leelanau maxims is, “You can do hard things.” Chloe arrived in early 2025 as a mid-year junior—another challenge. Since then, I’ve watched her, like so many of us, find a home here. The place she dreaded has become a place she doesn’t want to leave.
Chloe is the best of all Chloes, and it has been an honor to watch her embrace her Chloe-ness. She finds ways to carve out a Chloe-shaped space wherever she goes, and, guided by her calm logic, unique wisdom, and creative spirit, she moves authentically through the world. There are so many things I wish to convey about this magical human. At Leelanau, she’s forged incredible friendships, built some fantastic sandcastles, and taught herself to crochet. I’ve watched her dance when everyone else was afraid; build fairy gardens in the rain on our third (rainy) day of Senior Exploratory; impress the owner of one of Mackinac Island’s finest toy stores with her gnome-print pants; happily construct sand castles on the beach on a typical Tuesday night; sit alone out by the bell and chart the night sky, then welcome my company, and excitedly point out the planets and stars. She’s shared more facts about space than I’ll ever retain, but for the rest of my life, I won’t be able to think of Jupiter without also thinking about its moons, and of Chloe. These stars will follow her to Mt. Holyoke." - Jess Fales, Leelanau Residential Faculty #seniorshoutouts #theclassof2026 #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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"When Hunter first arrived at Leelanau as a freshman, he was hesitant to say he would be staying. Four years later, that same student shows up every day, committed to our community and a leader among his peers. Guided by a strong moral code and a family legacy of service and honor, Hunter is often the first person to step forward whenever help is needed. Whether he is gathering students to watch the sunset, organizing lunchtime fishing trips, or mentoring peers in practical skills during the 8th hour, his loyalty to his friends and respect for our environment truly show.
Early on, the Metals room became a place he felt at home, and even before he had taken a class, I would see evidence of his curiosities. Once he started taking classes, that curiosity led him to create everything from jewelry to large helmets. He helps keep the tools in working order and is a mentor to beginning students. What I admire most is his ability to turn a challenge into an opportunity. When a project hits a hurdle, Hunter doesn't simply start over; he leans into his knowledge of the material. By letting the process guide him through these challenges, he transforms potential setbacks into creative solutions that give his finished pieces their originality. We have all seen Hunter evolve in his time here; what once showed up as stubbornness has grown into perseverance, conviction, and the courage to stand up for himself and others. As he prepares to enter the trades to become an electrician, we are incredibly proud of the man he has become and eager to see him bring his talent and integrity to the world."—Elara Coleman, Leelanau Faculty #seniorshoutouts #theclassof2026 #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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