Private Boarding School in Northern Michigan

The Leelanau School:
Located on the shores of Lake Michigan and on the banks of the Crystal River in Northwest Michigan, Leelanau is a strength-based small boarding school offering Grades 9 - 12 to intelligent boys and girls who learn differently, especially those with ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, and similar learning difficulties.

At Leelanau, every student finds out what he/she wants in life and, with confidence, how to grow his/her successes in every subject. How do we know what a student’s strengths are? The first step: we ask. Too many young people struggle in larger high schools because their teachers don’t have time to know them, discover the way they learn best, help them imagine their own potential, and present them with opportunities to succeed and push past their limitations.

Leelanau teachers, well schooled in theories of learning differences, understand the importance of knowing each student individually, and our six to one student-teacher ratio makes it possible. Our teachers find ways to affirm students’ interests, personalities, and special abilities in the classroom, while also challenging each student in areas of learning that present more difficulty.

Accreditation:
We are accredited by the Independent Schools Association Central States (ISACS).

Leelanau students enjoy uncommon access to teachers who become both friends and mentors, instructing, answering questions, modeling positive intellectual and social attitudes, or just talking.

Within our exceptionally small community–around 90 students and 50 teachers, staff, and administrators–your student’s presence, his personality, and his voice never slip by unnoticed.

A Family Away From Home:
At Leelanau, your student feels at home. Our Family Advisory Units, groups of six to eight students and three faculty “parents,” meet regularly and informally throughout the week.

The “family” provides consistent care and attention to your student’s non-academic needs–gathering for a holiday celebration in Glen Arbor, slipping a birthday card under the door, or sharing homemade cookies for no reason at all

We are able to offer students an individualized approach to academics from our expert faculty and an enriching and structured residential life program that continues beyond the school day.

Whether it is in the classroom, in the dorm, in the equestrian ring, on the slopes, or volunteering in the community, everything about Leelanau is a life-enriching experience.

- College Preparatory Curriculum with Advanced Placement Courses, College Prep PSAT, SAT and SAT
- Core Subjects include humanities, math, science, fine arts, foreign languages, athletics
- ESL and TOEFL Programs for international students
- Weekend activities
- Learning Resource Center
- Exploratory Week Program with five-day educational adventures
- Life Skills Program
- Mentor Program
- Summer Programs

The Leelanau School’s Residential Life Program works within our mission to “inspire, encourage and support the discovery of individual potential” through teachings from our residential staff and guest speakers as well as unique Life Skills offerings from our entire faculty and staff.

Through the Residential Life Program, students are provided with opportunities to learn to be both happy and successful in their lives. The program helps to teach students to keep a balance of healthy eating and sleeping habits, make the right friends and form positive relationships, deal with good and bad choices, stay clean and organized, and handle academic pressure.

Dorms:
There are two main dormitories and three smaller dormitories on campus with faculty apartments attached to each. Each dorm is equipped with a comfortable common area, a refrigerator, microwave, television and VCR. Students are held accountable for the cleanliness of their rooms and shared living areas.

Our students learn how to live as a responsible member of the Leelanau community. They takes turns at kitchen duty, works out differences with roommates, helps keep the campus clean, and perhaps serves as dorm prefect.

They also learn the importance of getting involved in the larger community. Leelanau staff and students volunteer at the Traverse City Women’s Resource Center, Habitat for Humanity, the Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter, and the National Park Service.