The Thacher School

Two pillars, made of native stone, stand squarely at either side of the entrance, announcing your arrival at The Thacher School—Casa de Piedra. They whisper of generations of Thacher students who have passed by them, entering a world in which they will grow, incrementally, from children into women and men. The alchemy of this change is uniquely Thacher’s: combine the most challenging academics with the rigors of horses and western mountains, athletics and arts, and offer them up to girls and boys eager for a steeper climb, a greater exertion of mind and body, a place where their best selves will be encouraged and affirmed. Then put it all into a community that values the stuff of which great and lasting civilizations are made: honesty, fairness, kindness, and truth.

We have watched many families at the same crossroads where you stand. And we know that making a decision about your child’s high school education is one of the most important you will face as a parent: your choice can determine so much about how your child will shape his or her interests, attitudes, and personal perspectives on the world. Additionally, we recognize the decision to enroll at a boarding school brings its own set of unique questions and concerns. We hope that the links that we have put together on this page will help to answer some of your most immediate questions.

Beyond these initial concerns about your child’s possible curriculum or about the teams he or she might play on or the kind of horses they might ride; beyond formal dinners and UnProms, community service opportunities and dorm life and the dining room, there’s more to ask, more to learn in answer to a basic question: “Why Thacher?”