As we closed the chapter on the admission cycle for 2026–2027, I am happy to share that Blair is in a very strong position as we look toward the new year. Our positive momentum from the fall and winter continued through our Revisit Days, which were the largest we have ever hosted, with more than 140 accepted students returning to campus to take a deeper look at our academic, athletic and student life experience. Our community rose to the occasion, highlighting what makes Blair, Blair, through warm welcomes and friendly conversations. It is a pleasure to see students who were just visiting the hilltop themselves take on the role of guide, ushering the next generation of students to find their place here.

Families are more discerning than ever in their decision-making, and Blair’s balance of academic rigor and warmth of community continues to distinguish the School in an increasingly competitive landscape. The School’s mission to know our students well in order to challenge and support them as individuals resonates with so many prospective families at a time when personal connection is paramount, and that translates into a consistent uptick in applications. Receiving more than 1,550 applications for just 160 openings, our admission team has the difficult task of ensuring the right candidates join the community in September.

In the classroom, on the fields and stages, and in the dorm, Blair faculty commit to seeing our students and meeting them where they are. With the introduction of our advanced curriculum, teachers challenge students with new ideas and skills and encourage creative expression while ensuring that students learn how to learn, preparing them to confidently address the demands of college and the 21st-century world. For years, the Integrated Science Research program has been a focal point, where students have the opportunity to engage in original scientific inquiry. I am so pleased we’ve incorporated the equivalent on the humanities side with the Advanced Literary Writing program, showcasing our robust commitment to providing deep dives into various disciplines.

In general, the feedback from our advanced curriculum has been overwhelmingly positive as we offer a breadth and depth to our families and kids while still maintaining the warmth and connection of a student-centered community. As we look ahead, ensuring access to these opportunities remains a central priority. Financial aid will play an increasingly important role in helping us fulfill our mission and attract the talented, high-character students who define the Blair experience. We know that some of the most promising young people may not otherwise have access to a Blair education, and we are committed to ensuring that financial circumstances never stand in the way of extraordinary potential. We seek applicants who are curious and eager to contribute to a community larger than themselves. Looking ahead, it is clear that a sustained and significant strategic commitment to financial aid will be essential to enrolling the caliber of students we seek to attract.

Over the past year, we have seen amazing transformation in our campus spaces with the opening of the Center for Health and Well-Being, as well as the turfing of the Bowl to return it to a central hub of campus life. These spaces are both impressive and enriching, but they are nothing without the people who inhabit them. The admission team is already back to work, canvassing schools and meeting with prospective families to bring the next generation of leaders to the School. It is a privilege to represent this community and to seek out students who will contribute to the culture, character and commitment to excellence that define a Blair education, and I am thankful to the parents, alumni, friends and extended families who support us in this mission.