Founded in 1923, John Burroughs School is a private, non-sectarian preparatory school with 600 students in grades 7-12. Its 47.5 acre campus is located in Ladue, Missouri, an affluent suburb of Saint Louis. It is named for U.S. naturalist and philosopher John Burroughs.OverviewJohn Burroughs has long had a school philosophy of liberal and progressive education. It has been recognized as one of the nation's premier preparatory schools. The school ranked among the nation's top 50 in sending graduates to eight top universities in a December 2007 survey by the Wall Street Journal.The school operates on a campus of 47.5acre. Facilities include a main classroom building, a performing arts center, a library, a science building, an athletic center, and a fine arts facility. Burroughs also operates an outdoor education and biology facility in the Ozarks known as "Drey Land".AcademicsThe faculty includes about 88 full-time and 31 part-time members. Since 2009, the Head of School has been Andy Abbott, formerly an English teacher and the school's head of college counseling. He replaced Keith Shahan, who held the job for 23 years.Each class contains about 100 students, for a total student body of about 600. The primary admission level is grade seven, but applicants are considered for grades eight through 10 as openings permit. Admission is based on school records, recommendations, entrance examination results, and a personal interview. The school is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States.Tuition for the 2014–2015 school year is $24,690. Twenty percent of students receive tuition aid annually in the form of grants and loans. The average award covers more than 70 percent of tuition.