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About

We Are SD

Welcome to SD.

San Domenico is an independent, K-12 day and boarding preparatory school with a tradition of innovation and academic excellence since 1850.

Our mission is to provide exceptional education rooted in inquiry, reflection, and purpose.

As a global community of lifelong learners, San Domenico inspires students to joyfully discover their passions, develop the skills and knowledge to lead with courage, wisdom, and kindness, and make a positive impact in the world.

As California’s first independent school and Marin County’s only K-12 school, we are proud to offer both day and boarding options for students from the San Francisco Bay Area, across the country, and around the world. The confluence of SD’s diverse community of students, our bucolic 515-acre campus, and our rich heritage of exceptional, purpose-driven education creates an unparalleled environment for students to develop as scholars and changemakers.

Leading the way in Purpose-Driven, Exceptional Education

Since 1850, San Domenico has placed college preparatory education with a sense of purpose at its core. We believe that when students develop a deeper sense of purpose, their academic performance skyrockets along with their well-being, resilience, and leadership. 

Leading the movement to redefine the metrics of achievement, our graduates gain entrance to top universities and pursue impressive career paths precisely because they navigate with purpose, passion, and drive.

An exceptional education—where values and academics join together—creates more than just great students. It develops great people.

CAIS Report cover
Strong Praise for SD in Latest CAIS Accreditation Report

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Teaching at SD

Inquiry and Innovation

At SD, you’ll embrace a scholarly mindset, preparing you to pursue your goals with confidence. 

As students grow, so too does our curriculum. Our Lower School students build a strong foundation by mastering fundamental skills and fostering their love for learning. Middle School students are further challenged with rigorous mathematics and language arts courses that prepare them for high school. When they reach Upper School, our students gain access to a variety of cutting-edge signature programs, including the Game Design Academy and integrated STEAM programming, not to mention an impressive array of AP and Honors courses.

At every grade level, our K-12 student experience is imbued with experiential learning, innovative assignments, and deep inquiry—all designed to challenge students to think outside the box and excel in a rapidly changing world.
 

Academics

Student Dance Concert

Create something new.

San Domenico is proud to have one of the most extensive and innovative Visual and Performing Arts programs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Whether submitting films to Sundance, honing photography skills in the studio, staging a performance in the Hall of the Arts, or studying in our world-renowned Virtuoso Program for professional-track classical string musicians, there are no boundaries to explore your creative passions.

Arts at SD

Boarding students

SD Boarding: 515 Acres to Call Home

Welcoming 140 students from the Bay Area and around the globe, our boarding program differentiates SD as one of the most diverse and international high schools in the Bay Area. With students from 20+ countries enriching our community, meaningful discussions and connections naturally unfold. On a daily basis, formal classroom discussions and casual social interactions change the way our students see the world.

Boarding students take full advantage of what campus offers—whether spending time after dinner in our Visual Arts studio, taking a dip in the pool after basketball practice, or tackling the 20 miles of hiking and biking trails surrounding our campus.

Lifelong friendships and day-to-day camaraderie naturally develop when students live in community and experience on-campus activities and engaging weekend trips with trusted residential staff as their mentors and guides.

Boarding Program

SD Sports

It’s a great time to be a Panther.

We believe the athletic playing field is an extension of the classroom—an environment where many of life’s important skills are learned and refined. Whether at practice or the big game, our coaches are committed to the Double-Goal Philosophy, which holds that “winning is important, but teaching life lessons through athletics is most important.”

As a student-athlete, you’ll have access to some of the best coaches in California, all of whom have either coached or played at the collegiate level. Coaching accolades include Positive Coaching Alliance Double Gold Standard, three state championships, and seven BCL league championships.

Athletics