A Michigan Boarding School Within Reach of Chicago
Sometimes a student does not need to try harder at the same kind of school. They need a school that teaches differently. At Leelanau, individualized attention, integrated learning support, small classes, and whole-person wellness are built into everyday life.
Families looking beyond large Chicago-area public and private schools may be seeking a place where teachers have time to listen, students can take an active role in learning, and relationships matter as much as the daily schedule. Our approach is designed for students who have more to offer than a transcript or test score can capture.
Explore our profile of a prospective student to see whether Leelanau sounds like the right fit for your child.
More time to be seen and heard
In a small class, teachers have more opportunities to notice how a student participates, what sparks their curiosity, and where they might need a different approach. A student does not have to disappear into the back row.
Room to discover different strengths
Drama, music, science, art, and experiential projects offer more ways to engage than worksheets alone. Students can build confidence by trying something unfamiliar and finding a place to contribute.
A community beyond the classroom
In a residential community, friendships and faculty relationships extend beyond the school day. Shared meals, outdoor activities, and Family Advisory Units make connection part of everyday life.
Boarding School With ADHD and Executive Functioning Support
Many students arrive at Leelanau with ADHD, executive functioning challenges, or learning differences. Others simply need a more flexible learning environment. We don’t ask every student to learn the same way.
Learning how to learn
Through the Learning Commons, students work with Learning Specialists on the habits behind academic success: managing assignments, setting goals, organizing materials, understanding how they learn, and applying those strategies in real classes.
Hands-on, college-preparatory academics
Experiential and project-based instruction gives students opportunities to connect ideas to the real world, whether they are investigating local freshwater ecosystems, collaborating in the arts, or exploring questions in class. Postsecondary advising helps students consider college and other paths after graduation with attention to individual fit.
Leelanau is an educational boarding school, not a therapeutic treatment program. If your child needs intensive clinical services, a conversation with admissions can help determine whether the school is an appropriate match.
Nature Is Part of the School Day
The Crystal River, Lake Michigan, and surrounding forests make it possible to bring observation, movement, and exploration into learning. From freshwater ecology to outdoor activities, our Northern Michigan setting gives students new ways to connect with what they study.
Students also grow, harvest, and learn about food through the school greenhouse and gardens—a hands-on part of the school’s commitment to wellness and stewardship.
Boarding School Life: Belonging, Structure & Growing Independence
Living at school is about more than having a place to sleep. At Leelanau, residence life is an extension of learning, with opportunities to practice responsibility, resolve everyday challenges, build friendships, and develop self-management skills.
Every student belongs to a Family Advisory Unit (FAU), a small mixed-age group supported by teaching and residential faculty. FAUs meet throughout the week, share meals and activities, and give students approachable adults who know them beyond the classroom.
Parents remain important partners. Our school emphasizes communication and a shared commitment to each student’s academic, social, and emotional development. Families can explore Family Advisory Units and student life to learn how that support works.
A day with rhythm and room to grow. Classes, meals, movement, study hall, and activities create a predictable framework while giving students space to take more ownership of their time. See our daily schedule.
“The sense of community and connectedness is palpable on [the Leelanau] campus.”
— Kelly Mahar, parent of a Class of 2022 student. Read more family stories.
Visit Campus — Then Explore Northern Michigan
The best way to understand whether Leelanau is right for your family is to walk the campus, meet the people, and see how learning happens. Schedule a tour with admissions and leave time to explore Glen Arbor and nearby Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Take a walk around Glen Arbor, enjoy the Lake Michigan shoreline, or visit the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The National Park Service offers information about trails, beaches, and seasonal access. The Traverse City tourism guide to Leelanau County offers more ideas for dining, sightseeing, and exploring during your stay.
If your family enjoys the arts, Interlochen Center for the Arts offers performances and cultural events south of Traverse City. Interlochen is a separate school and arts institution, not the location of The Leelanau School.
For accommodations and local restaurant suggestions, see our local lodging and dining resources.