History | The Dunham School, Baton Rouge, LA

History

Group of students from the 1981 school year when Dunham was The Chapel School.

Celebrating 40 Years and More of Dunham

In 1981, the Koch, Love, Michaelson, Snoddy, and Tabb families joined together to form a college preparatory school grounded in Christian faith and principles. As they began the complex task of founding a school, they established three pillars of purpose—academics, arts, and athletics—all resting upon a foundation of faith. Their bold dream formed the vision behind The Dunham School’s mission to educate minds and hearts for Christ.

Through three locations, four name changes, seven heads of school, countless prayers, and, above all, God’s incredible provision, the faith of the school’s founders has become a reality. Today, The Dunham School is recognized not only as a leader in Christian education, but also as one of the most innovative and technologically advanced schools in the country.

 

The Dunham School
Timeline

Dunham choir performance from the 1981 school year.

1981

The Chapel School building on Lanier Drive.

1982

Students in front of the Trafton Academy sign

1986

Dunham high school basketball athletes celebrating 1987 championship win.

1987

Students in front of the Chapel Trafton School sign

1988

A portrait painting of Katharine O. Dunham

1996

Dunham high school students discussing literature around a round harkness table

1999

Four high school students with Tiger mascot celebrating National Blue Ribbon School award

2005

Exterior photo of the Mckay Academic Center

2007

Dunham elementary school students using Apple Macbooks in classroom

2009

Exterior photo of the Brown-Holt Chapel Arts Center at night

2012

Interior photo of the Dunham Competition gym with a tiger eye banner in the background

2014

Dunham students with Gallup research staff members

2018

Dunham students and Dunham staff holding Apple MacBooks celebrating 7 time Apple Distinguished School award.

2019

Dunham elementary school student learning at home during COVID-19 pandemic

2020

Dunham early childhood students smiling while learning with teacher

2021

Large group of Dunham high school students smiling for a photo in front of the Brown-Holt Chapel Arts Center

2024

 

1981

The Chapel School officially opened at The Chapel on the Campus Church on the LSU Campus with an enrollment of 89 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. In that same year, Trafton Academy opened its high school on Roy Emerson Drive, the current site of The Dunham School.

 

1982

The Chapel School moved to a new location on Lanier Drive. By 1985, the school had outgrown that campus and began searching for a new place to call home.

 

1986

The school purchased the property occupied by Trafton Academy off Roy Emerson Drive in the Wimbledon Estates neighborhood. The school was renamed to The Chapel Schools/Trafton Academy.

 

1987

The first state championship victory for the school was won back in 1987 when the Tigers won 41-39 after going into triple overtime becoming the Class 2A Louisiana State Champions. In the spring of the same year, the Tigers won the state championship in baseball. Today, the athletic programs offered at the school include over 13 varsity sports. The athletic facilities now include two full-size gymnasiums, a 12,000 square foot athletic center with weight and training rooms, a football and soccer stadium, a baseball complex with an indoor batting pavilion, and a softball field.

 

1988

The name of the school officially changed to The Chapel Trafton School

 

1996

The school was renamed to The Dunham School in honor of longtime supporter Mrs. Katharine O. Dunham.

 

1999

The Harkness method is implemented. The Harkness method utilizes collaborate learning where students share their insights, explore ideas from an assigned reading, and equip to support their claims with textual evidence. The students work hand in hand together to solve problems and uncover truths.

 

2005

The U.S. Department of Education names The Dunham School a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence based on exemplary performance and overall academic achievement among students.

 

2007

The McKay Academic Center for Excellence (MAC) opens. Since its inception, the MAC has helped support students who learn differently to receive the support they need to succeed academically. 

 

2009

A 1-to-1 technology program in partnership with Apple, Inc. begins.
Because of the innovative thinking behind the school and the strong foundations of classical curriculum, Dunham has been able to enhance student learning and engagement utilizing cutting-edge technology.

 

2012

The Brown-Holt Chapel Arts Center opens. Brown-Holt is home to the school’s theater auditorium, Black Box Theatre, and includes band, choir, and art studio spaces. Expanded offerings among the band, choir, art, and dance programs have given students the ability to find their voice using creative expression. Annual school produced Broadway-caliber musicals have been performed in the theatre and have included well known titles such as Les Miserables, Oklahoma, Mary Poppins, and The Wizard of Oz. Weekly school chapels convene in Brown-Holt where students, faculty, and staff come to worship the living God.

 

2014

The Dunham competition gym opens. Since 2014, the Varsity Boys Basketball team has taken home three Division III State Championship titles (2018, 2020, 2021). Varsity Volleyball has taken home a Division III State Championship title (2022) along with a 2018 District Championship title win. Varsity Girls Basketball has taken home a 2018 District Championship title win.

 

2018

Cited as one of the ten most innovative schools in the country, Dunham is selected to participate in national research projects by Gallup, Inc., and Apple.

 

2019

The school receives its seventh consecutive Apple Distinguished School Award.

 

2020

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Dunham quickly and seamlessly transitions to distance learning in March before fully reopening face-to-face learning at the start of the 2020-2021 school year in August with 760 students in PK3-12th grade.

 

2021

At the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, The Dunham Early Childhood Center for two-year-old students was launched. Inspired by Reggio Emilia, the center’s theme-based curriculum includes age-appropriate instructions in early literacy, math, science, Bible, technology, music, and movement.

 

2024

Today, The Dunham School stands 830 students strong with more than 2,000 alumni across the country. 

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For more than 40 years, The Dunham School has educated minds and hearts for Christ.

Serving ages two through 12th grade and recognized as one of the most innovative schools in the country, Dunham offers an individualized approach to learning, small classes, 1:1 technology, and amazing teachers who are committed to helping students reach their full God-given potential.
 
We invite you to schedule a campus tour to learn more about what makes Dunham the leading private school in Baton Rouge. We can’t wait to meet you!