In a nutshell:

Our students learn about a piece of history or a part of the world during the school year, then at the end of the year, they go!

See places we've been and are going to in this forum!

2011 - IRELAND!!

2010 South Africa

2009 Brazil

2008 Portugal

2007 Japan

2006 England

2005 Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia,

Washington, D.C. & Baltimore

2004 New Orleans & Belgium

2003 Key West, Florida

2002 New York & Montreal

2001 Spain

2000 Greece

1999 Austria

1998 New Mexico

1997 Italy

1996 Jerusalem

1995 France

1994 England, Ireland,Scotland & Wales

Progressive education emphasizes "learning through discovery."

We believe a college preparatory school should offer so much more than just a college prep education. The Thornton-Donovan School centers on a thematic, flexible curriculum, influenced by the student's interest. It encourages social responsibility, and involves community service. It values diversity.

Thornton-Donovan was founded on the principle that a school must meet the changing needs of its students, its community, and its society. Our philosophy prepares our students to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing world.



Our thematic curriculum focuses on a particular county every year.

For the 2009 - 2010 school year, we will voyage in our minds, and in the

spring with our bodies, to South Africa. The music and art, history and politics, and the spoken word of the country are woven together in an elegant way with wonderfully specific electives. Learning, therefore, is absorbed organically, through osmosis.




At Thornton-Donovan, education is customized. In addition to rigorous reading, writing, math and sciences, from 6th grade onwards courses are selected based on interest and ability, not grade level. If she is capable, a 6th grade girl may find herself doing calculus with a 10th grader, and if he has the talent

and the desire, an 8th grade boy may find himself playing an instrument alongside a senior. This mixing of the grades allows for dynamic class discussion, mentoring of younger students, and a feeling of freedom and opportunity for our youngsters.




Our school offers an intimate and exciting academic community. Thornton-Donovan School offers an exceptional atmosphere that attracts an international group of dynamic and enthusiastic teachers whose class sizes vary from fifteen students all the way down to one!



The school also permits early graduation for talented juniors whose academic records indicate extraordinary achievement.



For these reasons and for so many more, the Thornton-Donovan School an out-of-the-ordinary college preparatory school.