The Frederick Gunn School is a private, coeducational, boarding and day prep school for students in grades 9–12 and postgraduate, located in rural Connecticut, United States. The campus borders the village green of Washington, a small, historic town in Litchfield Hills. Formerly known as The Gunnery and Mr. Gunn's School, it was named for its founder, has no military affiliations and is a non-sectarian school.
The Frederick Gunn School was founded in 1850 by Frederick W. Gunn, a teacher, abolitionist, and father of recreational camping in America, based on his belief that strength of character was the goal of education.
History Formerly known as The Gunnery, The Frederick Gunn School was founded by Frederick William Gunn and his wife Abigail in 1850. It was originally 30 boys on . In 1894 The Ridge School was founded as an affiliated junior school for younger boys. The school offered a classical education typical of Anglican tradition schools of the time but also emphasized athletic opportunities, environmental awareness and moral values. In a less inclusive era, the Gunns' school welcomed girls, international students and African American students.
In the 1920s the school became an all-boys school, enrollment tripled and new buildings were added. During World War II, The Gunnery prepared boys for entering the armed forces. In 1977, The Gunnery returned to its coeducational roots. For several years prior, The Gunnery had a partnership with the nearby all-girls school Wykeham Rise, which has since closed. The first female head was appointed in 1991.
Boarding The Frederick Gunn School is a day and boarding school, with 73% (232 boarders, 83 day) of its students residing in one of the 10 dormitories on campus. Students are supported by teachers, coaches, faculty advisors, dorm parents, administrators and student leaders who are designated as Residential Assistants (RAs). In most dormitories, students are grouped by class. Each dormitory consists primarily of single and double student rooms, but also house faculty and their families. There are students from 22 countries and 22 states in the U.S. Students from the Bahamas, Bahrain, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Korea, Mexico, Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and the U.S. Virgin Islands were included in the student body in the 2021–22 academic year.
Athletics Championships 1987 – Boys Ice Hockey – WNEPSAC Championship 1988 – Boys Ice Hockey – WNEPSAC Championship 1989 – Boys Soccer – WNEPSAC Division II Championship 1990 – Boys Ice Hockey – WNEPSAC Championship 2002 – Girls Ice Hockey – New England Division II Champions 2004 – Boys Baseball – Western New England Prep Baseball League Champions 2007 – Boys Baseball – Western New England Prep Baseball League Champions 2007 – Girls Lacrosse – New England Class B Co-Champions 2009 – Boys Baseball – Western New England Prep Baseball League Champions 2012 – Girls Field Hockey – New England Class C New England Champions 2013 – Girls Ice Hockey – New England Division II Champions 2013 – Boys Hockey – Edward G. Watkins New Years Tournament Champion 2014 – Girls Ice Hockey – New England Division II Champions 2014 – Boys Crew – National Scholastic Championship Regatta Champions 2015 – Boys Hockey – Edward G. Watkins New Years Tournament Champion 2016 – Boys Hockey – New England Elite Eight Tournament Champion 2016 – Boys Lacrosse – WNESSLA Champions 2016 – Boys Lacrosse – Colonial Tournament Champions 2016 – Boys Football – New England Eight-Player Football Champions 2017 – Boys Hockey – Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic Champions 2018 – Boys Hockey – Avon Old Farms Christmas Classic Champions 2019 – Girls Cross Country NEPSTA DIII Cross Country Champions 2019 – Boys Crew – Beebe Cup Winner 2019 – Boys Crew – Du. Pont Cup Winner 2019 – Boys Crew – Head of the Riverfront Regatta, first place, junior 4+ 2020 – Boys Hockey – NEPSAC Tournament Piatelli/Simmons (Small) Bracket Champion
Notable alumni
Gerald Warner Brace, novelist Justin Dunn (2013), Major League Baseball player Edsel Ford II (1968), director of Ford Motor Company George Grande (1964), Major League Baseball announcer P. J. Higgins (2012), Major League Baseball player Andrew Lack (1964), chairman of NBC News Dick Lehr (1972), journalist Kayla Meneghin, professional hockey player Noemi Neubauerová, professional hockey player Kristýna Pátková professional hockey player Sam Posey (1962), professional racing driver James N. Rosenberg (1895), lawyer Sean P. Stellato (1997), NFL Agent / Author Peter C. Sutton (1968), art historian C. Whitney Tillinghast 2nd, Adjutant General of New York Jonathan Tisch (1972), businessman Steve Tisch (1968), businessman Sam Walther, professional hockey player Dick Wolf (1965), television producer
References
External links NEPSAC main page The Frederick Gunn School website