At The Leelanau School, we offer day and boarding students in grades 9-12 an educational experience where integrated learning support, individualized attention, small classes, and a commitment to whole-person wellness are at the center of what we do.Students discover and develop their strengths as both students and citizens with the guidance of engaged faculty committed to cultivating a school where students know and embrace themselves as learners – no matter how they learn.
A BETTER WAY TO LEARN
Leelanau’s rich, supportive environment is a community where teachers love to teach and the focus is on how to learn, rather than what to learn. We are a haven for intelligent and creative students: the bright, the talented, the inquisitive who may also feel unchallenged, restless, and anxious.
Academics
Music, Visual Arts & Theater
At The Leelanau School creativity is encouraged and students are welcome to explore each arts discipline. Parents are often amazed that their “non-singing” child has a beautiful voice or that their camera shy child feels perfectly comfortable on the other side of the lens!
You don’t have to come with a talent, we will help you discover and develop your talents.
Health, Wellness, & Nutrition
Earth Day at Leelanau was more than a celebration—it was a reflection of who we are.
The day unfolded with hands-on moments of care and curiosity—upcycled art and landfill instruments, the protection of piping plovers, and a carbon footprint picnic. By afternoon, that learning reached outward—along campus trails and into the wider community. Students volunteered with partners like Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, Samaritans' Closet, and Light of Day Organic Farm, tending to the places and people that sustain the enduring beauty of this place we call home.
Stewardship that begins with awareness grows into action. 🌎
#EarthDay #Stewardship #Community #ABetterWayToLearn #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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"Jackson "Jax" Noonan is our morning meeting shout-out guy! He is an enthusiastic student, often raising his hand first when Mr. Hansen opens the floor—eager to recognize his friends, teachers, family members, favorite bands, himself, and sometimes even a sunset, the moon, or the weather. At The Leelanau School, we value gratitude as an everyday practice, and Jackson expresses it consistently.
Jax is genuinely friendly, kind, and sociable, with a bright spirit. He readily engages in conversation with adults—a trait we deeply appreciate—and just as naturally extends acts of kindness to his peers. Like all of us, he rides the emotional and academic roller coaster of life and occasionally encounters challenges. What stands out is his resilience; his bright spirit reliably returns. At The Leelanau School, resilience is a core value.
Jax’s great love is music—especially when it features a double bass pedal, has an edge, and is best played loud. He engages in music class with conviction, keeps up with his favorite bands, wears their apparel, and often sparks conversations about music (which, by the way, is a lot more fun than many other topics!). He also gets to as many concerts as he can. Music, however, is not his only interest. Jax is curious about current affairs, loyal to his St. Louis sports teams, and deeply connected to his family and friends. At The Leelanau School, we encourage students to pursue their interests and cultivate a love of life—something Jackson clearly embodies.
At Leelanau, we have the privilege of truly getting to know our students. I have had the pleasure of teaching Jackson each semester he has been here. I believe he will do wonderful things as he graduates, and I wish him the very best." — Michael Gaden | Leelanau Faculty #seniorspotlight #classof2026 #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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For the 18th year, Leelanau students partnered with the National Park Service to help protect beach habitat for the endangered Piping Plover—one small bird making a big comeback.⠀
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Through the Platte Plains Piping Plover Protection Project for the Park, students roll up their sleeves and take part in real conservation work. The project connects learning to action—linking our community to something larger than ourselves: the rhythms of migration, the fragility of habitat, and the shared responsibility to care for both. Stewardship comes to life.⠀
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Last year, breeding pairs reached 87—and for the first time in over 60 years, plovers nested on all five Great Lakes. ⠀
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We can all make a difference. Happy Earth Day 🌎⠀
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#EarthDay #greatlakes #pipingplover #conservation #learnbydoing #HandsOnLearning #abetterwaytolearn #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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“Behind all seen things lies something vaster; everything is but a path, a portal or a window opening on something other than itself.”― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand and Stars #possibility #curiosity #joyfullearning #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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"Rowan Wert joined The Leelanau School just a year and a half ago, coming to us from Marquette, MI, yet his presence has made a lasting and meaningful impact on our community. Rowan is known for his kindness, integrity, and genuine regard for others. He carries a deep respect for first responders and has a remarkable ability to help those around him better understand and appreciate their service and sacrifice.
A loyal friend and thoughtful individual, Rowan brings both creativity and practicality to everything he does. He enjoys working with his hands and is often the first to step forward when something needs to be repaired or improved—tools at the ready, and always with a willingness to help.
Rowan will be greatly missed for his sincere greetings, his ready smile, his steady concern for others' well-being, his grounded and thoughtful perspective, and his deep appreciation for both the natural world and the strength of community. As he graduates, Rowan plans to pursue a career as a first responder—a path that reflects his character, his values, and his commitment to serving others.
We are proud of all that Rowan has contributed to our school and look forward to the difference he will make in the world ahead." — Becca Dymond | Provost #seniorspotlight #classof2026 #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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"Jacob Beck: athlete, comedian, historian, musician, artist, friend, scholar. With Jacob's many talents and interests, the list could go on and on. When I first met Jacob as a 13-year-old freshman in my FAU, I was immediately impressed with his quick wit and impressive knowledge of geography and flag identification. What I didn't know then was that Jacob is so much more than his sense of humor and penchant for trivia. He has a kind heart, an empathetic nature, and a curiosity to explore new ideas. Because of his ability to read people and situations well and to stay calm under stress, our whole community has learned to trust him to see all sides with an open mind. And of course, he loves to laugh and make people laugh. When Jacob is around, there will always be good conversations and lots of laughter. The Leelanau School has been so fortunate to have had Jacob in our midst for these past four years!" - Elizabeth Blondia, Leelanau Faculty #seniorspotlight #fouryearsenior #classof2026 #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me want to dream." — Vincent Van Gogh
#lookupattheskyday #starrystarrynight #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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At Leelanau, we believe something simple and powerful: when students take notice of the natural world around them, they start to care more deeply—for themselves and for one another.
It begins with something small—a fish, a walk in the woods, a sunset on Lake Michigan, or the discovery of something unexpected. From there, curiosity grows into connection, and connection into empathy. This is when learning takes root—and becomes joyful.
This is our Leelanau experience. 🍃
Explore it for yourself at leelanau.org | bit.ly/46N5XXe ... See MoreSee Less
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Today is Hug a Dog Day—and here at Leelanau, we’re more than happy to oblige. 🐾
Our campus dogs offer far more than a friendly face. They provide steady companionship, a calming presence in moments of stress, and a quiet kind of support that helps students feel grounded and seen. Whether it’s a walk between classes, a reassuring nudge during a tough day, or simply the comfort of being nearby, these four-legged friends play an important role in the rhythm of our community. There’s something powerful about the way dogs invite us to slow down, connect, and be present—and in a school environment, that can make all the difference.
#hugadogday #wellbeing #communitycare #studentsupport #boardingschoollife #abetterwaytolearn #theleelanauschool ... See MoreSee Less
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