Welcome to The Donoho Middle / Upper School

Director's welcome

Welcome to the Middle and Upper School!

Donoho is a special place where students work together with caring, compassionate faculty and coaches who live out the mission by engaging their passions. In turn, you will see students who delight in wisdom as they build the skills necessary to prepare for college. It is a place that offers opportunities to not only participate but excel in academics, athletics, and the arts. Students who come to Donoho are greeted with the support of our college counselor who begins working one on one with students their freshman year to track their growth as a student and provide individualized college counseling. Additionally, with a low teacher-to-student ratio, students experience the support of teachers who are passionate, life-long learners themselves who value the necessity of open communication with students and parents while being available through one-on-one tutorial opportunities. The result of these interactions is a student body who feels confident and equipped for college.

Our students’ accomplishments are many, and I look forward to sharing these and more with you as you learn more about our great school! Thank you for visiting us, and we hope to see you on campus very soon!

Go Falcons!

Russ Connell

Middle/Upper School Director

English Teacher

Dad of Edwin ’20 & Estella ‘24; and Husband of Karen ‘90

Philosophy & Overview

At The Donoho School, we seek to empower our school community to LEAD–to Live with Honor, Engage its Passion, Act with Humility, and Delight in Wisdom! This mission statement drives everything we do at Donoho–from the programs we create to the courses and enrichment opportunities we offer. A student at Donoho can expect to be offered the tools, rigor, and support needed to enter college fully prepared, ready to excel both at the college level and in the world after their studies have ended.

Education is a never-ending journey. Donoho strongly believes its curriculum and dedication to its students, combined with an outstanding faculty committed to excellence in all endeavors, provides a key part of that journey that is both impactful and transforming. A great school, however, goes beyond just its curriculum in its impact. At Donoho we take pride in who we are outside of the classroom. Service is stressed and required, and Donoho students work tirelessly to improve the community outside its walls. We also work to build and nurture our own community where we celebrate the accomplishments of all, encourage and support our peers, and provide comfort and understanding when it is needed. It is that sense of community and belonging coupled with our educational process that truly sets Donoho apart from other schools and creates friendships and bonds that last a lifetime.