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
At The Leelanau School, Senior Seminar Presentations are more than a final assignment—they are a rite of passage. Each senior develops a thesis, engages in sustained research, presents their findings to the community, and fields thoughtful questions from peers and faculty alike. It is a moment that calls for both intellectual rigor and personal voice.
This year’s topics reflect the remarkable range of our students’ curiosity—moving from progressive metal and Meshuggah to the history of tea in China; from the modern geopolitics of Russia to D-Day’s legacy; from Renaissance painting to firefighting tools and unmanned underwater vehicles—alongside personal and practical explorations of distance running, chess, fermentation, fitness, and the cultural history of dolls.
And perhaps most importantly, each one is an invitation—to listen closely, to ask questions, and to celebrate the emergence of young scholars finding their voice. #SeniorSeminar #StudentVoice #CuriosityinAction #LearningthatMatters #JoyfulLearning #ABetterWaytoLearn #TheLeelanauSchool ... See MoreSee Less
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"As a student who joined the Leelanau School community three years ago, Ty brings an exceptional level of care and attention to every project he takes on, often diving deeply into the smallest details others might overlook. Several examples come to mind.
On the Bahamas trip for Winter Term, Ty read guidebooks like novels, eager to see and identify as many species as possible. He spent long hours in the evenings with instructors, talking about sharks. The school where we were staying was trying to discourage a small Potcake puppy (the local breed) from hanging around campus. Wanting to follow the rules but unable to ignore the cuteness, Ty would trek long distances down the beach to find it and give it some attention. The campus dogs here at Leelanau will also have to cope without one of their biggest supporters next year.
Another example: after a visit to Northwestern Michigan College’s impressive drone lab, Ty chose as his senior project to build and test a SeaPerch underwater drone in a very short time. He will carry these arts and engineering skills with him to the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York next year. Go Tigers—and congratulations, Ty!" — Joe Blondia, Leelanau Faculty #seniorspotlight #abetterwaytolearn #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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Saturday night was golden for Leelanau students and faculty at the City Opera House. The 2026 Skipper Prom brought laughter, connection, and the kind of moments that linger long after the music fades ✨ #skipperprom #moments #connection #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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Photos from Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes's post ... See MoreSee Less
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What a great treat to host The Pathfinder School at Leelanau for Star gazing!On Friday, April 10, our middle school students were hosted by The Leelanau School at their Lanphier Observatory, home to a 14″ Celestron Telescope.
Under the night sky, students engaged in hands-on astronomical observation—an experience that brought their science learning vividly to life. One highlight of the evening was capturing an image of the Pleiades star cluster, a stunning grouping of stars also known as the Seven Sisters.
Many thanks to middle school science teacher Mandi Young and Leelanau School faculty member Elizabeth Wolterink for coordinating this meaningful and memorable educational opportunity.
On Friday, May 8 Leelanau School Head of School Rob Hansen will be on campus hosting information sessions for Pathfinder families about the high school experience at Leelanau. ... See MoreSee Less
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Earth Day at Leelanau was more than a celebration—it was a reflection of who we are.
The day unfolded with hands-on moments of care and curiosity—upcycled art and landfill instruments, the protection of piping plovers, and a carbon footprint picnic. By afternoon, that learning reached outward—along campus trails and into the wider community. Students volunteered with partners like Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, Samaritans' Closet, and Light of Day Organic Farm, tending to the places and people that sustain the enduring beauty of this place we call home.
Stewardship that begins with awareness grows into action. 🌎
#EarthDay #Stewardship #Community #ABetterWayToLearn #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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"Jackson "Jax" Noonan is our morning meeting shout-out guy! He is an enthusiastic student, often raising his hand first when Mr. Hansen opens the floor—eager to recognize his friends, teachers, family members, favorite bands, himself, and sometimes even a sunset, the moon, or the weather. At The Leelanau School, we value gratitude as an everyday practice, and Jackson expresses it consistently.
Jax is genuinely friendly, kind, and sociable, with a bright spirit. He readily engages in conversation with adults—a trait we deeply appreciate—and just as naturally extends acts of kindness to his peers. Like all of us, he rides the emotional and academic roller coaster of life and occasionally encounters challenges. What stands out is his resilience; his bright spirit reliably returns. At The Leelanau School, resilience is a core value.
Jax’s great love is music—especially when it features a double bass pedal, has an edge, and is best played loud. He engages in music class with conviction, keeps up with his favorite bands, wears their apparel, and often sparks conversations about music (which, by the way, is a lot more fun than many other topics!). He also gets to as many concerts as he can. Music, however, is not his only interest. Jax is curious about current affairs, loyal to his St. Louis sports teams, and deeply connected to his family and friends. At The Leelanau School, we encourage students to pursue their interests and cultivate a love of life—something Jackson clearly embodies.
At Leelanau, we have the privilege of truly getting to know our students. I have had the pleasure of teaching Jackson each semester he has been here. I believe he will do wonderful things as he graduates, and I wish him the very best." — Michael Gaden | Leelanau Faculty #seniorspotlight #classof2026 #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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For the 18th year, Leelanau students partnered with the National Park Service to help protect beach habitat for the endangered Piping Plover—one small bird making a big comeback.⠀
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Through the Platte Plains Piping Plover Protection Project for the Park, students roll up their sleeves and take part in real conservation work. The project connects learning to action—linking our community to something larger than ourselves: the rhythms of migration, the fragility of habitat, and the shared responsibility to care for both. Stewardship comes to life.⠀
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Last year, breeding pairs reached 87—and for the first time in over 60 years, plovers nested on all five Great Lakes. ⠀
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We can all make a difference. Happy Earth Day 🌎⠀
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#EarthDay #greatlakes #pipingplover #conservation #learnbydoing #HandsOnLearning #abetterwaytolearn #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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“Behind all seen things lies something vaster; everything is but a path, a portal or a window opening on something other than itself.”― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand and Stars #possibility #curiosity #joyfullearning #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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