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Why Gunn
About
The Frederick Gunn School has always been a place for students to take risks. We want you to push yourself because you are the kind of student, the kind of person, who can achieve remarkable things. We will challenge you and will insist that you push yourself. We don’t believe in letting students default to a comfort zone. You will learn just how much you can accomplish. And you will be astonished.

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Admissions
Students at The Frederick Gunn School spend their high-school years growing up, growing wiser, and growing more confident. They form lasting friendships by supporting each other as they step outside of comfort zones alongside faculty who truly believe in them. Coming to Gunn is a choice to dig a little deeper, to get past the shiny surface of so much that surrounds us. We would love for you to become a Highlander.
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Academics
The Frederick Gunn School prepares students for college and global citizenship by integrating academic learning with the immersive experiences of boarding school life. By extending education beyond the classroom, we equip students with the leadership skills needed to thrive in an interconnected world.

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Arts
At The Frederick Gunn School, we invite our students to be creators and makers. Whether you are interested in the visual or performing arts, you will have the chance to leave your mark on the world, to challenge others to see the world in a new way, and to express your perfectly unique point of view.

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Athletics
Inspired by Frederick Gunn’s belief that athletics builds both "muscle and character," our program offers 36 teams across 16 sports. Whether you are a high performing athlete or a beginner, this is where you can master new skills, discover new passions, and contribute to the tradition of being a Highlander, in and out of competition.

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Student Life
At The Frederick Gunn School, the best moments often happen between the bustle of academics and co-curriculars. Whether it’s sharing lunch, hosting a movie night, or sledding behind Teddy House, you will find opportunities to gather, relax, and build lasting friendships across our campus. It's why students and alumni refer to Gunn as home.

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Giving
From experiential learning opportunities and faculty development, to student life activities, athletics, and financial aid, gifts of all sizes — from alumni, friends, faculty and staff, students, and families — collectively ensure the school can maintain our standards of excellence and improve where needed.

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Scottish Heritage

Frederick Gunn’s ancestors, the Gunn clan, hailed from the far northern reaches of Scotland and claim to have descended from the Norse Earls of Orkney, who centered around the Scottish city of Caithness.

Jasper Gunn was the progenitor of the Gunn family in the new world. He sailed from Scotland aboard the ship Defence and arrived in Massachusetts in 1635. He and his wife were among the first settlers in Milford, Connecticut, and he was the first doctor there. His great-great-great grandson, Samuel Gunn III, moved to Washington, Connecticut, where his grandson, Frederick Gunn, was born in 1816.
Mr. Gunn’s heritage is represented today in our formal dress, which includes the Gunn tartan, and the school’s athletic teams, the Highlanders.
The story of The Frederick Gunn School has been shared with the Clan Gunn Heritage Centre & Museum in Latheron, Scotland, which has been visited by several faculty members. The school maintains contact with the center, as well as the Clan Gunn Society of North America.

Photo Credit: Natalie Waite, NRW Photographer, Scotland

Gunn Clann Heritage Center in Scotland