The Dunham School

The Dunham School

Main Campus at

11111 Roy Emerson Dr.

Oak Hills Place

Early Childhood Center, pK2

at 9611 Siegen Lane

 Baton Rouge, LA 70810

(225) 767‑7097

dunhamschool.org 

Mascot: The Tiger

Colors: Cardinal, White & Silver

Pre‑K2 through 12 

Enrollment: 910 students

Private, Inter‑denominational Christian day school

Accredited by SAIS

Steve Eagleton, Head of School

steve.eagleton@dunhamschool.org 

Deedra LaPlace, Head of Lower School deedra.laplace@dunhamschool.org

Morgan Barkas, Early Childhood Director

morgan.barkas@dunhamschool.org

Amos Lyso, Head of Middle School,  amos.lyso@dunhamschool.org

Amanda McIlwain, Head of Upper School amanda.mcilwain@dunhamschool.org

  HISTORY / INFORMATION

Founded in 1981 as The Chapel School. The Dunham School combines strong academics, athletics, arts, leadership development, and Christian values in a suburban Baton Rouge setting. With excellent student outcomes, wide-ranging extracurricular activities, and meaningful financial aid, it’s consistently top-ranked in the region.

At Dunham, you’ll find intentionally small classes, where a blend of traditional and innovative teaching is combined with the latest technology to ignite creativity and intellectual curiosity. You’ll discover expert teachers who treasure each child as the individual he or she was created to be, and you’ll find challenging academic, athletic, fine arts, and leadership programs that enable our students to meet their God-given potential now and in the future. 

Recognition. Blue Ribbon School (2005). Apple Distinguished School (continuously since 2011). Performance (Niche & GreatSchools): Niche overall grade A; high marks in academics, college prep, teachers, arts, B+ for sports. 

Numbers. 100 per cent graduation and college acceptance rate; average ACT 26, SAT 1280 to 1290.

Tuition. Approximately PK1 to 1st grade: $13,950 to $17,940; Grades 2-4: $20,060; Grades 5-8: $21,980, and Grades 9-12 $23,300.

Need-based aid. 33 percent of students receive aid; over $2.1 million awarded annually

Facilities. Lower/Middle/Upper school buildings with 89 classrooms. Brown-Holt Chapel Arts Center: chapel, studios, black-box theater. Athletics complex: gymnasiums, weight/training rooms, baseball/softball fields, football–soccer complex, indoor batting cage, golf practice area, McKay Academic Center (MAC) for differentiated learning needs

Athletics. LHSAA Division III. Sports offered: Football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, swimming, tennis, cross-country, track and field, soccer, golf, powerlifting, cheer, softball, wrestling.

Championships. Football (2004), Baseball (1987), Boys’ Basketball (1987, 1998, 2018, 2020, 2021), Volleyball (2005, 2022)

Signature events. Field Day, Homecoming, Senior Blessing, Big Sis/Little Sis, Middle School House Competitions, Americans Alive, Junior Ring Ceremony, Blessing of the Athletes, and more

Organizations. Institute of Leadership, Middle School House System, Lower School Chapel Helpers, Lower School Sunshine Helpers, Peer‑Tutoring, Prefect System.

Student Clubs. Algebros (Mu Alpha Theta), Art Club, Band & Pep Band, Beta Club, Book Club, Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu, Choir & Praise Band, Classics Club, Drama Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, French Club, Literary Journal, National Honor Society & NJHS, Quiz Bowl, Robotics, Spanish Club, Spelling Bee, Tiger Chorus

Arts, Athletics & Leadership. Fine arts: Theater, dance, visual arts, choir, band (supported by the Brown-Holt Chapel Arts Center). Athletics: Rich lineup across grades includes football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, swimming, tennis, cross-country, track and field, soccer, golf, powerlifting, softball, and cheer.

Leadership. The House System in middle school, Institute of Leadership, prefect roles, and advanced student leadership initiatives in upper school. 

After‑School Enrichment and Summer Camps. Aftercare/Study Hall: For PreK–4 and grades 5–8, with supervised homework/study sessions. Enrichment Programs: Includes art, dance, voice/instrument lessons, sports and cheer clinics. Summer camps: Day camp and enrichment camps in arts, academics, athletics, STEAM, and more (for Dunham & non-Dunham students)

Enrichment Trips. Washington, D.C. (7th Grade) — An annual educational trip where students explore American history, government, and culture. A great way to bring classroom learning to life.

Senior Beach Retreat. A focused retreat for seniors that balances community-building, leadership development, and spiritual reflection in a relaxed, beachside setting.

Summer Abroad. International trips offered during the summer to deepen students’ global awareness and cultural understanding. Example: Educational tour to Italy, France and Spain is planned for mid-June 2026.

Language Immersion. Faculty-led immersion trips, highlighting opportunities for language and cultural travel.

Enrollment Process

1. Begin with a Visit and admissions meeting. Schedule a campus tour or virtual meeting with the Director of Admission & Enrollment (Michelle Pricer). Middle & Upper School students may also participate in a shadow day to experience a typical day on campus.

2. Submit Online Application and Fee. Create an account in the admissions portal, complete the online application, and pay the non-refundable $100 fee. Deadline for early decision: Lower School: Nov. 28 Middle/Upper School: Jan. 9. Applications after these dates follow the regular decision timeline.

3. Admissions Testing & Interviews. Early Childhood Center (2‑year-olds): No formal testing. A classroom screening occurs before pK3 enrollment. PK3 – Grade 1: Scheduled testing after application. Grades 2–10: ISEE required; fees paid via ISEE portal using a code from Dunham. Grades 11–12: Submit ACT scores or take ISEE if no ACT test taken. Interviews: Required for Grades 5–12.

4. Submit Supporting Documents. Alongside the application, you’ll need to provide: Principal and teacher recommendations. Report cards from the past two years (grades 1–12). Standardized test scores (grades 1–12). Official transcripts (grades 9–12)

5. Notification and Placement. Early Decision notifications: Lower School by Dec. 15. Middle/Upper School by Jan. 31 Regular Decision offers sent as space is available. Once accepted, you’ll receive an enrollment contract via the admissions portal.

6. International and Alumni Applicants. International Students (Grades 9–12): Must live with a host family and go through the standard process. Alumni Families: Enjoy waived fees, a $1,000 per-child tuition discount, and priority in financial aid. Annual Reapplication & Aid Process Tuition assistance via FAST (Independent School Management) opens on Dec. 15, 2025, for the 2026–27 school year. Priority deadline: Jan. 30. Financial aid awards are not automatic — you must reapply each year. 

Dunham is at 11111 Roy  Emerson  Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70810