The following words by our school founder, Sawney Webb, articulate The Webb School’s mission. Our mission is “to turn out young people who are tireless workers, and who know how to work effectively; who are accurate scholars; who know the finer points of morals and practice them in their daily living; who are always courteous.” These guiding principles have been in place at Webb for over 140 years, and they continue to provide direction and guidance today as we strive to learn and grow on a daily basis. 

Head of School Blog

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Webb's future is intimately connected to the values of its original visionaries. The school supports six enduring understandings based upon these founding values. They are:

   Integrity is a cornerstone of a flourishing life and community.

   Learning is an enjoyable and ongoing process.

   Respect for self and others is essential to a harmonious society.

   Self-discipline and autonomy are essential to success.

   Each person has unique gifts and capacities and a responsibility to develop them.

   Each person shares the responsibility and honor of serving others.

The School

The School

Founded in 1870 by noted scholar William R. "Old Sawney" Webb, The Webb School is the South's oldest continuously operating boarding school. We offer a college-preparatory education for grades 6-12. Our small private boarding school community comprised of 300 boarding and day students and our emphasis on honor truly creates a "Character of Home." 

 

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Greetings from The Webb School!

Guided by our core values of honor, integrity and civility, the goal of The Webb School is to motivate young men and women to fulfill their promise. The community of more than 300 male and female students is small by design, to create lifelong connections while fostering greater involvement and individual growth.

Prospective boarding and day students have many choices for middle school and upper school education. Webb is a private, independent school. Schools in this category have many similarities including: small class size, an excellent faculty, a strong curriculum, athletic programs and afternoon clubs.

What is the Webb difference?

  • Honor and Character

Webb’s honor code, the inspiration for the well-known honor code at Princeton, has been a hallmark of the school for more than 142 years. Our students take pride in upholding its tradition by signing a pledgebook each year promising to not lie, cheat or steal. 

  • Personalized Education

Webb’s flexible curriculum and small class size challenge students who are National Merit Finalists as well as students of all abilities. Advisors, classroom teachers, and others who take a personal interest in each student help provide an education for each student that is meaningful and challenging.

  • Writing

Webb has always had an emphasis on strong writing across the curriculum. As we move forward in the 21st century, the value of excellent communication skills is essential. Our middle school students focus on grammar and writing. In the upper school, higher-order thinking skills such as analysis and critical thinking become greater emphases.

  • Public Performance

Public performance has always been a part of Webb. At different grade levels, students declaim written works and their own prose, compose and perform musical selections and demonstrate skills. Through the years, our students gain confidence and improve their public speaking.

  •  Global Education

Webb has students from many different states and 12 foreign countries. Global education is built in at Webb – each class, each activity and each meal is an opportunity to learn about the world. With a legacy of service and with graduates active in the global marketplace, Webb impacts the world. 

  • Outdoor Programs

Webb’s Outerlimits and Wilderness Instruction and Leadership Development (W.I.L.D.) programs combine the classroom with the outdoors. The programs teach teamwork and self-confidence on our campus ropes course and on day, weekend and vacation backpacking, camping and rafting trips. Students have real opportunities to experience the wilderness of Tennessee and beyond.

We encourage you to visit our campus to see what makes our school so special. And, at the end of the day, you will see for yourself the Webb difference.

Ray Broadhead
Head of School

Contact Admissions

Toll Free: (888) SEE-WEBB
(888) 733- 9322

Campus Map and Tour

Click here to view an aerial map of The Webb School campus.


Click here to view a guided campus tour on AdmissionsQuest

The Webb Impact 

"The senior presentation has really helped me in college already! You can tell who had to do public speaking for school and who did not."

   – Claire Coop, Class of 2012, Ole Miss Freshman 

"Webb has strongly prepared me academically for college classes, as well as encouraged a strong personal character that has shaped me into a person that I am proud to be."
   – Paige Spivey, Class of 2010

“Webb truly changed my life for the better. I learned so much during my time there- more than just history or literature. I learned about people, the world, life, and myself.”

   – Caitlin Roberts, Class of 2003

 

“Webb has taught me the importance of virtue and how far it will get you if you live by it.”

   – Aurora MacDougall, Class of 2010

 

“Webb is a place that opens up the world to you. You learn about different possibilities, different professions. I just don’t think I would have considered as many options as I did if I hadn’t gone to Webb School…. I owe my whole life to Webb”

   – Retired TIME Magazine editor Charles Alexander, Class of 1968

 

“The teachers here strive to inspire young minds. They are the reasons I love Webb.”

   – Mary Patsimas, Class of 2010

 

“It (The Webb School) showed me I could …”

   – Henry O. Whiteside, Class of 1960

 

“Learning to accept other individuals for whoever they are and learning to discipline myself both in behavior and academics impacted me most at Webb.”

   – Rion Steele, Class of 2010

 

“The (Webb) Honor Code has influenced my life for 60 years.”

   – William B. Gregory, Jr., Class of 1950