The Field School

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Location
The Field School

"Aude Sapere" (Dare to Know)
Washington, D.C.
Information
Head of school	Dale Johnson
Enrollment	310
Type	Independent School
Grades	7-12
Campus	Urban
Athletics conference	Potomac Valley Athletics Conference (PVAC)
Mascot	Falcon
Established	1972
Homepage	The Field School

The Field School is a preparatory school in Washington, D.C., located in the old Cafritz mansion on Foxhall Rd. The school teaches 7th-12th grade, with about 310 students attending.

1 History
2 Philosophy
3 Campus
4 Notable alumni
5 References

[edit] History

The Field School was founded in 1972 by Elizabeth Ely. Originally housed above Regina Cleaners in the Washington, D.C.'s Dupont Circle neighborhood, the school had 44 students. Two years later, in 1974, the school's student population had more than doubled to 97, which the school's small location could not accommodate. Field found a new home, an old house nearby, but movers were not in the budget. That spring, students, faculty, and parents carried the school's belongings, including the furniture, up the street to the new location.

Field continued to grow at its new location. Field bought another house across the street, and the two houses were used for the now 220 of Field's students. In 1993, Field was accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. This accreditation came with publicity and credibility for the school, but also the requirement of a new campus, according to the Association. The school began frantically raising money, and in 1998, discovered the Cafritz mansion and the 10.5 acres of land that accompanied it.

Field began construction on the new campus and began using it in 2002. The new campus included a gymnasium and playing field, firsts for Field, as well as new science labs and dedicated studio spaces for art, photography, ceramics, and, later, music. In 2004, Dale Johnson was appointed to the position of Head of School, and in 2006 Elizabeth Ely retired. In 2007, a three-year strategic plan was created by school leadership with assistance from the community as a whole, which encouraged Field to:

Teach students expansively
Achieve diverse community
Celebrate the faculty
Proclaim the school
Establish financial strength

In late 2007, the school's new logo was released. The logo depicts the facade of a part of the original Cafritz mansion.

[edit] Philosophy

The school was founded on principles of "mutual respect", close relationships with teachers, and independent thinking and learning.

[edit] Campus

The Field School is located on the grounds of the Cafritz mansion. The campus has four buildings:

The Aude building, named for the first word of the school's motto, which contains the main office and other administrative offices as well as faculty offices, classrooms, an art room, and a publications lab.
The Cafritz building, the original mansion of the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz. This building contains administrative and faculty offices, classrooms, the school's library and media center, and gathering spaces, including the original Cafritz living room and the middle school lounge.
The Sapere building, named for the second word of the school's motto. This building contains faculty offices, classrooms, and science labs, as well as a 350-seat blackbox theater and gym.
The Wonder building, named after the school's original campus. This "building", which is really the basement of the Sapere building, is home to science labs, locker rooms, a photography lab and darkroom, a music room and recording studio, and the school psychologist's office.