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
"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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This Memorial Day, we pause in gratitude and remembrance for the Leelanau alumni who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
Their courage, selflessness, and devotion will never be forgotten. We honor their lives, remember their service, and hold their families and loved ones in our hearts today and always. ... See MoreSee Less
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The Glen Arbor Players will host auditions for their production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS on Tuesday, May 26 at 6:30 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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