FAQs

Thaden serves students entering Grades 6-12.

We aspire to create a dynamic and diverse community of students. In considering prospective students, we look for a candidate's academic readiness and desire to participate fully in the life of the school and the local community. Among the many qualities, we hope to find and cultivate in our students are curiosity, creativity, open-mindedness, independence, ambition, and dedication. 

305 students are enrolled at Thaden School for the 2022-23 academic year. The school will grow incrementally, and at full build-out, the campus and its structures will support as many as 500 students, although the size of each instructional section will remain small. 

Our graduates have been accepted to over 130 universities and colleges. See the list below and visit our College Counseling page or read our College Profile to learn more.

Agnes Scott College, Alfred University, American University, Arizona State University, Arkansas Tech University, Augustana College, Austin College, Bard College, Baylor University, Boston College, Bryn Mawr College, Butler University, Carleton College, Carthage College, Case Western Reserve University, Centre College, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Chapman University, Clemson University, Colgate University, College of the Holy Cross, Colorado State University, Columbia College Chicago, Creighton University, Davidson College, Denison University, DePaul University, Dickinson College, Dillard University, Drake University, Drexel University, Eckerd College, Elon University, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Furman University, George Washington University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Gonzaga University, Hampton University, Hartwick College, Hendrix College, Howard University, Iowa State University, Jackson State University, Kansas State University, Lafayette College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Lehigh University, Lewis & Clark College, Linfield University, Loyola Marymount University, Loyola University Chicago, Lyon College, Middlebury College, Mount Saint Mary’s University, Muhlenberg College, Northeastern University, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Northwest Missouri State University, Occidental College, Oklahoma State University, Oral Roberts University, Oregon State University, Pace University, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Pepperdine University, Pitzer College, Pomona College, Providence College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rhodes College, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rockhurst University, Ryerson University, Saint Louis University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Seton Hall University, Sewanee: The University of the South, Smith College, Southwestern University, Spelman College, St. Olaf College, Stevens Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, Temple University, Texas Christian University, Trinity College, Trinity University, Tufts University, Tulane University, University of Arkansas (5), University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, University of British Columbia, University of California Davis, University of California Santa Cruz, University of Central Arkansas, University of Colorado Boulder (2), University of Dallas, University of Denver, University of Glasgow, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Memphis, University of Missouri, University of Missouri Kansas City, University of Montana, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of North Dakota, University of Oregon, University of Puget Sound, University of Redlands, University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Tulsa, University of Victoria, University of Virginia, Vassar College, Villanova University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Wartburg College, Wellesley College, Westminster College, Whittier College, Xavier University

Thaden School has not adopted the College Board’s Advanced Placement curriculum because our required course of study, consistent with our mission, is designed to prepare students for success at even the most challenging colleges and universities. Most of our core departments and programs, including English, Mathematics, Computer Science, History, Social Sciences, World Languages, and Visual and Performing Arts, offer advanced courses that are especially challenging and comparable to college-level work. Of the more than 90 courses offered at Thaden School, approximately 21% are accelerated and/or equivalent to college-level; these advanced course offerings are denoted on the transcript.

To learn more about our curriculum, visit the Academics page or view our Middle School or Upper School Curriculum Guides.

Each year our students earn international, national, and regional distinctions.

• Three graduates earned full four-year scholarships through the QuestBridge National
  College Match program. Another earned the prestigious Jefferson Scholarship, covering
  the full cost of attendance plus expenses at the University of Virginia.
• Five students participated in the National Security Language Initiative for Youth summer
  programs. Another earned a full scholarship for The Paideia Institute’s Living Latin in
  Rome High School program.
• Two choir students performed at Carnegie Hall as part of the Honors Performance Series.
• Three students performed in the Arkansas State Band and Orchestra Association’s junior
  and senior high orchestras.
• Five students formed the world’s first competitive high school gravel cycling team.
• One student was recruited as a Division I NCAA Track and Field athlete and earned a scholarship to compete at the University of Montana.
• Student-athletes on the volleyball, basketball, cross country, and track and field teams earned state-level recognition, including two state champions for track and field.
• Two students were among the top 20 finalists in a field of 6,000 submissions for the 2019 NPR Student Podcast Challenge.

Thaden School cannot modify the curriculum, but can make some accommodations for students with documented needs. 

Classroom Accommodations:

• Assistive Technology: Calculator

• Assistive Technology: Dictation/Speech to Text

• Assistive Technology: Grammarly

• Extended Time: Math

• Extended Time: Reading

• Extended Time: Writing

• Noise-canceling Headphones

• Not Asked to Read Aloud

• Not Graded for Spelling

• Peer Notetaker

• Preferential Seating 

• Audiobooks/Text to Speech Support (Speechify)

• Copy of Class Notes/Slides

• Reduced Copying

• Allow Frequent Breaks

• Break Assignments into Manageable Steps

• Frequent Checks for Understanding

• Redirection to Task

Testing Accommodations:

• Formula Bank

• Word Bank

• Preferential Seating

• Extended Time at 150%

• Small Group Testing (Our classes are considered small groups, so we would not test students in a group other than their class)

75% of our current students receive an Indexed Tuition. All families pay well below the cost of a Thaden education, even those at the maximum rates. To learn more about indexed tuition, complete this form or visit our Afford page.

Although the trimester system has not been widely adopted in the region, our academic calendar begins on or near the same date as most public and charter schools in Northwest Arkansas and is aligned with sports seasons, national holidays, and traditional breaks. The Thaden year has a one-week Thanksgiving break, two-week winter and spring breaks, and celebrates special occasions such as Louise Thaden Day.