Meet Mark Anderson, Head of Sanford School in Hockessin, DE

WHAT WILL YOU FIND AT SANFORD?

Yourself. That’s what makes Sanford so special—and what makes me so proud to be part of this creative, inclusive community.

Here at Sanford, we value each student for who you are, what you love and what you want to achieve. It’s this individual acceptance and support that make our school family diverse in its talents and exceptional in its achievements.

Beyond our 100% college acceptance rate, our 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio, and our demanding yet innovative academics, Sanford is truly a place to be yourself, express yourself and challenge yourself.

Our safe community is made up of happy, healthy achievers who live by our Honor Code and champion each other’s successes.
Our outstanding college-preparatory curriculum and stellar faculty challenge students to broaden their ambitions, take risks, set higher standards and develop lifelong habits for achievement.
Our award-winning arts and strong athletics programs empower students to tap into their talents and boldly pursue their own excellence with no fear of judgment.
Our stunning, college-like campus offers the ultimate physical space for learning, both in and out of the classroom, while fostering self-reliance and independence.

WHEN WE SAY “NO TALENT LIES LATENT” AT SANFORD, WE MEAN IT.

That’s why our students and alumni achieve amazing things, like:
Raising record-setting fundraising dollars for charity
Presenting TED Talks to global audiences
Earning national AP Scholar Award recognition every year
Performing in renowned venues throughout the country
Excelling in nationwide competitions.

It’s why our families consistently report that their children are thriving, responding to challenges to do their best, and achieving success.

It’s why our graduates return to us year after year with tales about how they taught their dorm floor how to write a term paper, or how a professor displayed their work as examples. Or even, decades later, telling us that “even after graduate school, it’s been my opinion that the most education I’ve received in life came from my time at Sanford.”

It’s why, once you’re a Sanford student, you’re always a Sanford student. And it’s why I hope that soon you, too, find yourself at Sanford.

Best,
Mark J. Anderson

Mark Speaks to Sanford Families

List of 3 news stories.

Striving to be Exceptional
6/11/2019
As many of you know, my office is in Sanford Hall, which my assistant Loren Yates and I share with the Sanford admission team. Whenever possible, I try to meet prospective parents so that they can put a name and face with Sanford’s head of school. This quick exchange usually happens after each family's campus tour. I like to ask parents for their impressions of Sanford after spending 60 to 90 minutes observing our students and teachers in action. The response I hear most frequently goes something like this: “Wow, your campus is amazing! And everybody seems so nice and friendly. You can tell your people want to be here!”
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Tradition Never Graduates
5/1/2019
Sanford’s Upper Schoold Dean of Students, Assistant Athletic Director, and Head Boys’ Basketball Coach Stan Waterman has a quote I love: “Tradition Never Graduates.” Of course, Stan is referring to the success of Sanford’s basketball programs, which feature teams that graduate terrific talent each year but continue to excel with new faces—through many years and even generations of Sanford students.
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The Icing on the Cake of a Fantastic Education
3/1/2019
Around this time each year, college sweatshirts begin appearing throughout the Upper School. The tradition at Sanford is that students are permitted to wear a school's gear once they are admitted to that particular college or university. I’m always amazed at the variety of colleges our students submit applications to and the plethora of enrollment offers they receive.
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