Academics

Students sit at a wooden classroom table writing in notebooks next to bright windows and bookshelves.

Academics

A Prep Education

In a world where AI underscores the value of what makes us human, Prep leans into a belief we’ve held for decades: A strong sense of self and the capacity for deep human relationships are the ultimate predictors of success.

We foster this humanity through small classes and a discussion-based curriculum developed by the teachers themselves, putting students at the heart of their own learning. By focusing on active inquiry and genuine connection, our students learn to communicate with confidence and think for themselves, guided by a dedicated faculty who truly know their content and their students well.

Two students wearing orange safety goggles perform a science experiment using a funnel and test tube at Santa Fe Prep.
  • 14 average class size
  • 75% Number of faculty holding advanced degrees
  • 64 Academic courses
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The Prep Difference

At Prep, our students learn with enthusiasm, our teachers challenge and support, and together, we match potential with passion.

 

  • Small Class Size
  • Away For The Day
  • Advisory and Academic Workshop
  • Liberal Arts Curriculum
A teacher wearing a Santa Fe Prep hoodie leans over a student's desk to help her with schoolwork.

Small Class Size

Small classes create big opportunities for learning. With an average class size of 14, students engage in thoughtful discussion, hands-on experience, and meaningful collaboration, while benefiting from individualized attention and coaching from their teachers. Faculty know when to challenge students to think more deeply and when to provide additional support, ensuring that every learner is seen and encouraged to grow. Most importantly, small classes cultivate the strong relationships between students and teachers, as well as between peers, that shape a memorable and supportive learning experience.

Two students enjoy a snowball fight on a snowy courtyard path outside Santa Fe Prep.

Away for the Day

At Prep, our "Away for the Day" phone and device policy creates space for something increasingly rare: presence. Without the constant pull of notifications, students spend breaks talking with friends, playing spikeball or hacky sack, reading, laughing, and connecting across grade levels. Classrooms become places of sustained attention and engaging dialogue, while moments between classes become opportunities to strengthen community. We believe that some of the most important learning happens when students are fully present with one another.

A group of four students sit around a table with laptops studying together in the Santa Fe Prep library.

Advisory and Academic Workshop

Prep students are assigned to a small advisory group, averaging 7 or 8 students per advisor. Advisories meet throughout the week to participate in small group activities and discussions, as well as to receive study support. Advisors act as advocates for their advisees in academic and personal matters. When not meeting with advisors, students can use dedicated academic workshop time to study, meet with teachers, and make up tests and quizzes.

A student wearing a black apron paints at a studio table in an art class at Santa Fe Prep.

Liberal Arts Curriculum

Prep's curriculum is grounded in enduring ideas and essential questions, and invites students to engage with contemporary voices, emerging perspectives, and the challenges of our time. Intentionally broad in scope and deep in inquiry, courses help students make meaningful connections across disciplines. As they progress through their years at Prep, they strengthen their ability to read closely, write thoughtfully, engage in active discourse, consider multiple perspectives, and reflect with purpose. The result is an education that prepares students not simply for what comes next, but for lives of thoughtful leadership and uncommon purpose.
 

Learning snapshots
  • Middle School
  • Upper School
A student in a tan hoodie smiles while assembling small craft pieces at a desk.

Life Skills

7th graders learn the importance of balancing academic success and personal well-being, focusing on planning and organization, study and communication skills, responsible use of technology, mental health awareness, and physical self-care. This holistic approach strives to provide a strong foundation of skills and resources necessary to thrive in the classroom and in their daily lives.

Students gather around picnic tables examining water samples in shallow trays.

Trout Release

The Trout in the Classroom program teaches students the value of environmental stewardship. 7th graders raise rainbow trout, a months-long process that teaches students about complex biological systems. All of their work culminates in a 7th grade rite of passage: the trout release into the Pecos River in late May.

A student in a blazer presents a 3D model project to a teacher and classmates.

Cooperative Learning

A multidisciplinary, year-long group project across core classes teaches 8th graders the value of cooperative teamwork, research, artistic expression, and ethical debate. This project engages students across all skill levels and areas of interest, and culminates in a spring exposition, during which students present their work as a team.

A student with glasses points to a yellow sticky note on a whiteboard using a thin pointer stick.

Latin

7th grade Latin classes introduce students to foreign language study and lay the foundation for future Spanish and English classes. Through fun and engaging learning methods, students acquire vocabulary skills and navigate conjugation and translation.

A student uses a mechanical balance scale under the guidance of a teacher in a science lab at Santa Fe Prep.

Physics Choice Board

In 11th grade physics classes, Choice Boards enable students to research physical and theoretical concepts in a manner that best suits them. Students engage in chosen activities to learn material with intentionality. This student-centered learning process puts Prep students in the driver's seat, empowering them to become active leaders in their own intellectual development.

A student stands at a wooden lectern in front of bookshelves while delivering a speech at Santa Fe Prep.

Senior Speeches

Each spring, seniors write and present a 5-minute speech based on issues of family, freedom, technology, and small questions. The process enables seniors to ponder topics meaningful to them while further developing verbal and written articulation skills. After initial presentations, a select group of seniors is chosen by their peers to deliver their speeches at Upper School assembly throughout the spring, an opportunity for departing seniors to self-reflect and impart wisdom to younger students.

Two students act out a scene on a stage in a dark theater in front of an audience.

Acting Class

Prep's art education requirements lead many students who otherwise might not take an acting class to the stage, where they find themselves memorizing lines, playing improv games, and trying to cry on command. Students discover confidence, skills, and talent they might never have explored as they push personal boundaries and grow to be more confident communicators.

A teacher in a vest and tie gestures animatedly while leading a seminar-style discussion at Santa Fe Prep.

Harkness Discussions

Harkness discussions are the cornerstone of Prep's 10th grade World History curriculum, shifting classroom dynamics away from a single authority and inviting students to lead conversations through intentional collaboration. By engaging in peer-led dialogue, students move beyond passive listening to practice evidence-based reasoning and critical inquiry. The Harkness experience cultivates the research and communication skills essential for students' future academic success.

What our Students Study

At Prep every student finds their own path — in the classroom, on the stage, in the studio, on the field, and in the New Mexico outdoors.

 

Two young female students sit together at a library table studying with books open in front of them.

English

Two young female students sit together at a library table studying with books open in front of them.
English

Living the Questions

The English department is committed to inquiry over easy answers and dialogue over accepted conclusions. Students lead lively discussions, exploring craft and meaning in both classic and contemporary literature. Across all grades, they examine cultural perspectives, identity, and style through a wide range of texts. The program is writing-intensive, with students expressing ideas through essays, narratives, journals, fiction, and poetry. Juniors and seniors may opt for Honors English electives. Our goal is to graduate independent thinkers who read deeply, write clearly, and see the lasting relevance of literature in their lives.

A teacher points to study materials on a table while helping a student in a classroom.

Mathematics

A teacher points to study materials on a table while helping a student in a classroom.
Mathematics

Investigations into Problem-Solving

Students at Prep engage with mathematics as a dynamic, investigative discipline — one that inspires curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Through inquiry and the appropriate use of technology, we treat math as a universal language that reveals patterns and relationships, providing a lens through which we can define and address impactful questions.

Whether regular or honors-level, all of our courses challenge diverse learners to think both independently and collaboratively. We nurture a growth mindset, where struggle is part of the process and deep thinking leads to lasting understanding.

A close-up of a student wearing green safety goggles looking through laboratory equipment.

Science

A close-up of a student wearing green safety goggles looking through laboratory equipment.
Science

Building Scientific Literacy and Skills

Prep's science program fosters students' interest in science, scientific literacy, and essential scientific skills. Students explore universal scientific concepts — such as scientific laws and theories, cause and effect, energy and matter, structure and function, and evolution and inheritance — in life, physical, and Earth sciences. They also develop key scientific practices, develop testable questions, make observations and measurements, construct evidence-based arguments, and evaluate information.
 

A teacher in a leather apron helps a student work on a small engine in an engineering lab.

Technology & Engineering

A teacher in a leather apron helps a student work on a small engine in an engineering lab.
Technology & Engineering

21st Century Shop

Students learn to visualize, to prototype, to construct, to troubleshoot, to repair, to build. Their vision, and not just a STEM kit, can be realized in our lab, from concept to object. Through the lens of 3D filament, lines of code, and the burning of a laser, students learn that to do and achieve interesting things, they will spend more time failing than succeeding. We call this iterative failure — the process by which students try, fail, adapt, and try again. The Makerspace classroom is a place for students to get their hands covered in glue, solder, code an Arduino microcontroller, and saw some wood.

Four students wearing theatrical costumes perform a dramatic scene on stage at Santa Fe Prep.

Performing Arts

Four students wearing theatrical costumes perform a dramatic scene on stage at Santa Fe Prep.
Performing Arts

Active Expression, On and Off the Stage

At Prep, Performing Arts come alive! Our program invites students to dive into theatre, acting, music, and vocal performance while building skills in technique and theory. Whether it’s on stage in a full-scale annual musical or drama, or sharing talent in school forums, concerts, and assemblies, every student has the chance to shine and grow as a performer.

A student wearing a clay-dusted apron holds a ball of clay in an art studio at Santa Fe Prep.

Visual Arts

A student wearing a clay-dusted apron holds a ball of clay in an art studio at Santa Fe Prep.
Visual Arts

Educating the Eye

Our art curriculum begins with students' innate curiosity and their drive for self-expression and personal exploration. We aim to equip them with both the conceptual understanding and technical skills needed to express their ideas with clarity and confidence. With an emphasis on high artistic standards, we foster visual awareness and a commitment to craftsmanship, believing that every student benefits from the discipline and insight that come from making art. Our faculty are practicing artists who bring both creative passion and deep teaching experience to the studio. Classes take place in the beautifully preserved historic home and studio of architect John Gaw Meem — a unique setting that offers spacious, well-equipped studios where students can explore a wide range of media, including painting, drawing, printmaking, darkroom photography and ceramics.

Student runners race across a grassy field during a cross country meet at Santa Fe Prep.

Physical Education

Student runners race across a grassy field during a cross country meet at Santa Fe Prep.
Physical Education

Run, Jump, and Connect!

At Prep, we believe that physical activity is vital for a healthy mind and body. Our Physical Education program helps students in grades 7 and 8 discover the joy of movement and build foundational skills. They'll explore a variety of sports, learning the basics that can lead to participation at middle school, JV, and Varsity levels of athletics here. Beyond traditional team sports, students are introduced to diverse physical activities, including hiking, fitness, martial arts, and archery, that can become lifelong passions and help students develop the skills and interests to lead active, healthy lives.

A teacher gestures with his hand while speaking to students at a classroom table at Santa Fe Prep.

History

A teacher gestures with his hand while speaking to students at a classroom table at Santa Fe Prep.
History

Exploring the Past, Envisioning the Future

The discussion-based curriculum of Prep's history classes exposes students to major historical events, figures, and themes — local, national, and international, and from ancient to modern times — so they may develop a diverse and critical understanding of the forces that have influenced today's world. Through thoughtfully crafted assignments and assessments, students learn a robust skill set, including critical thinking and questioning, research, note-taking, thesis-driven writing, citations, close reading, listening, speaking, and collaborative learning, so they are equipped to examine and respond to ideas and events with an open mind and evidence-based analysis. In addition to the required course sequence, the history department offers various electives and an honors history course for juniors and seniors.

Three middle school students sit around a table studying together in a classroom at Santa Fe Prep.

Language & Cultural Studies

Three middle school students sit around a table studying together in a classroom at Santa Fe Prep.
Language & Cultural Studies

Creating Cultural Literacy

The study of world languages begins in 7th grade with Latin, the foundational language of English and the Romance languages. Students continue with an introductory Spanish course, through which they begin developing both communicative skills and cultural understanding. Upper school students can follow an accelerated track beginning in Spanish III, and advanced courses include AP Spanish and Spanish V Honors. For students whose learning profiles make spoken language acquisition more challenging, Prep offers American Sign Language (ASL) as an online alternative.

To assess and support student growth, Prep administers the AAPPL test for Spanish and the Avant STAMP assessment for ASL. These nationally recognized proficiency tests help us document student progress and guide curriculum development.

Learning Services

Santa Fe Prep appreciates diversity among our students. Learning Services supports students’ academic needs in alignment with the school mission. Through a collaborative process that includes conversations among teachers, the school counselor, parents, and students, growth and increasing autonomy are emphasized. The goal is that all students are able to readily access the academic journey and achieve socio-emotional well-being.

Learning Services

 

A student notes with highlights
 
College Counseling

Through our personalized approach, we seek to connect with every student by encouraging them to lead their own unique college search, with parents and counselors in a supporting role. Our partnership with students enables us to curate a balanced list of schools based on their academic and co-curricular interests. We believe in and practice the idea that students should find the college that best fits them not only academically, but also socially and financially. This emphasis on “fit” gives students the best opportunity to experience the transformative power of education. We also know that college may not be the best option for everyone, and we offer support for all students as they plan for life after Prep.
 

College Counseling

 

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