Waterford is a secular, independent, non-profit school that provides a liberal arts, college preparatory education for students in Preschool through Grade 12.
The 41-acre campus is located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City.
The Waterford School was founded in 1981 by Nancy and Dustin Heuston. The Waterford School was originally established as a research school, pairing the great lessons of a classical liberal arts education with the benefits of the latest computer technology, and proved successful: In 1986, the Heustons moved Waterford from its rented campus in Provo, UT to a newly constructed campus in Sandy, UT, where you find it today.
Nancy Heuston served as the founding Head from 1981-2015. Mrs. Heuston’s extraordinary vision and drive allowed the School to build out its beautiful campus, and to establish the vibrant educational culture that now exists. In 2015, Andrew Menke was appointed as Waterford’s second Head of School, bringing renewed focus to the School’s academics, athletics and arts programs.
The Waterford School is fully accredited by both Cognia and by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS).
Waterford is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), Independent School Data Exchange (INDEX), and the only school in Utah to have the distinction as a chapter member of the prestigious Cum Laude Society.
Board of Trustees
None/Secular
Challenging college-preparatory, liberal arts curriculum with Advanced Placement courses (17 AP courses offered), honors courses, fine arts, performing arts, and athletics.
Preschool through Grade 12: Lower School (PreK-Grade 5); Middle School (Grades 6-8); Upper School (Grades 9-12).
Total student enrollment for the 2024-25 school year: 1071, 48% male, 52% female
Lower School: 492Middle School: 246Upper School: 334Total Enrollment for opening day 2024-25: 1071
39% of the total Waterford student body identify as students of color in 2024-25.
Nearly 17% of students enrolled receive financial aid in 2024-25.
Trimesters; School year typically begins the last week of August and concludes the first Thursday in June. Our Calendar is available here.
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Lower School: Students receive core academic instruction from homeroom teachers; additionally students meet with specialists for 30 to 45 minute periods in science, art, music, dance, physical education, computer lab and library
Middle and Upper School: Students meet for 4 class periods each day (75 minute periods with 10 minutes between classes); 1 hour lunch period. Each class meets 2-3 times per week.
8:1
131 full- and part-time teachers. More than 35% of the distinguished faculty at Waterford has an average tenure of 10 years. 61% of the faculty hold advanced degrees.
Historically, nearly 100% of graduating seniors attend 4-year colleges and universities. See College Counseling for more information about our graduates’ college choices.
Upper School athletic teams participate in the Utah High School Activities Association Division IIA. Waterford holds 60 State Championships in 10 different varsity sports.
Upper School athletics teams include Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse and Rowing.
Middle School athletic teams compete in the Wasatch Athletics Conference (comprised of private schools along the Wasatch front). Competition teams include Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball, Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse, Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country, Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer, and Girls’ Volleyball.
The Arts are an integral part of the Waterford curriculum. Arts education begins in Preschool with dance, art, and music specialists. All Middle and Upper School students are required to complete courses in the performing (music, dance or theater) and studio arts departments.
Waterford School provides three bus service routes to serve families in Salt Lake City, Park City and Utah County. Buses arrive at Waterford by 8:20 AM each morning and leave the school at 3:45 PM. There is also an evening activities bus that departs from Waterford daily at 6:15 PM, making two stops in Olympus Cove and Jeremy Ranch. Please contact the Admissions Office for more detailed route information and the monthly cost of service.
Celebrate 5 years since graduation with your classmates. Reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy an evening of conversation, shared memories, and celebration with fellow members of the Class of 2021. Hearty appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Register for the Class of 2021 Reunion
Celebrate 10 years since graduation with your classmates. Reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy an evening of conversation, shared memories, and celebration with fellow members of the Class of 2016. Hearty appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Register for the Class of 2016 Reunion
Celebrate 15 years since graduation with your classmates. Reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy an evening of conversation, shared memories, and celebration with fellow members of the Class of 2011. Hearty appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Register for the Class of 2011 Reunion
Celebrate 20 years since graduation with your classmates. Reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy an evening of conversation, shared memories, and celebration with fellow members of the Class of 2006. Hearty appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Register for the Class of 2006 Reunion
Celebrate 25 years since graduation with your classmates. Reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy an evening of conversation, shared memories, and celebration with fellow members of the Class of 2001. Hearty appetizers and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
Register for the Class of 2001 Reunion
Come together with Waterford alumni from across the entire 1990s for an evening of reconnecting and reminiscing! This combined reunion is a chance to celebrate the friendships, memories, and moments that made your Waterford years so special. Enjoy hearty appetizers and a variety of drinks, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, while catching up with old friends and sharing laughs about your school days.
Register for the 90’s Reunion
Saturday, May 16 | 7:30 – 11:30 AM | Murray Science Center
We’re bringing back birding! Who remembers the Class IX Bird Project? Don’t miss your chance to join this fun, family-friendly event with Mark Bromley, James Harris, Mike Johnson ‘88, and Bekka Joslin. We will meet at Waterford and take a bus together. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars (we will have extras on hand if you don’t have your own).
Register Here!
Friday, May 15 | 6:30 – 7:30 PM | East Field
We’re excited to see Waterford Alumni at our annual Alumni Soccer Game! This Waterford tradition gives former players the chance to return to the field, reconnect with old teammates, and showcase their skills in a friendly atmosphere. Whether you played with us just a few years ago or several decades ago, we look forward to seeing you back on the field. Make sure to bring friends and family to cheer you on!
Friday, May 15 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM | Main Quad | No Registration Required
Join us for a fun BBQ bash at Waterford with current families and Waterford staff and faculty. It’s a great way to connect with your Waterford classmates and enjoy delicious food before the Alumni Soccer Game!
No registration is needed for the Spring BBQ. Please join us!
Friday, May 15 | 3:30 – 7:00 PM | Haught Visual Arts Gallery at Waterford | No Registration Required
Waterford has always been a place where creativity thrives. Join us for the first-ever Alumni Art Show in the Haught Visual Arts Gallery located in the Visual Arts Building (700), and reconnect with the creative spirit that shaped your time here. This exhibition features work by 16 Waterford alumni artists, reflecting a range of disciplines, perspectives, and practices.
Brief remarks at 4:00 PM will be offered by Gallery Manager and Curator Charlie Tadlock, with insight into the works selected for this year’s exhibition.
It’s a celebration of the artists who began their journeys at Waterford and the community that remains part of their creative journey.
Click here for a campus map
Friday, May 15 | 2:15 – 3:30 PM | Miller Student Commons | Registration Highly Recommended
Ever wish you could go back and sit in your favorite class one more time? This Alumni Weekend, you can. We’re bringing you back “Back to Class” where you’ll have the chance to slip into a real, live Upper School classroom and experience Waterford exactly as it exists today. Same teachers, same energy, same magic. Come relive the feeling.
Friday, May 15 | 1:00– 1:15 PM | Miller Student Commons | No Registration Required
Don’t leave lunch just yet. Immediately following the Kick-Off, Head of School Andrew Menke will take a few minutes to share what’s been happening at Waterford; the changes, the milestones, and the exciting things on the horizon. It’s a chance to hear straight from the source about the school you helped shape and where it’s headed next. No sign-up needed, just pull up a seat.
Friday, May 15 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Miller Student Commons | No Registration Required
Kick off Alumni Weekend the right way — with good food and even better company. Join us in the new Miller Student Commons for Waterford’s all-inclusive dining experience, and spend the lunch hour reconnecting with the faculty who made your time here unforgettable. Pull up a chair, catch up with old favorites, and let the weekend begin. No registration is required for this event.
Friday, May 15 | 1:20 – 2:00 PM | Miller Student Commons | No Registration Required
For many of you, Assistant Head of School, Todd Winters, was the first person who ever showed you and your parents around our 41 acre campus. Now he’s back to do it again! Todd will lead you through Waterford’s beautiful newest additions and recent transformations, giving you a firsthand look at what your years here helped build. Whether it’s your first tour with Todd or your second, you won’t want to miss this one.