The Hun School of Princeton, founded in 1914 by John Gale Hun — a Princeton University mathematics professor — is one of the most distinguished private schools in the northeastern United States. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, just one mile from Princeton University's iconic campus, Hun occupies a beautiful 45-acre campus of brick colonial buildings, athletic fields, and gardens directly adjacent to one of America's greatest university towns.
The Hun School's proximity to Princeton University is a defining characteristic of the school's culture and identity. Students have access to Princeton's libraries, museums, lectures, and performances. Faculty connections between the two institutions are deep and longstanding. The intellectual atmosphere of Princeton — a town shaped for nearly three centuries by the presence of one of the world's great universities — permeates life at Hun. Students walk to Nassau Street for coffee and bookstores, attend Princeton lacrosse and basketball games, and absorb the culture of a community where intellectual achievement is the highest form of distinction.
Hun enrolls approximately 640 students, including both boarding and day students, from over 30 countries. The school's international enrollment has grown significantly in recent years, with particularly strong communities from South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Spain, France, and Brazil. The school's IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma Programme is one of the most robust of any American independent school — a significant draw for internationally mobile families accustomed to the IB curriculum in their home countries.
The academic program is rigorous and student-centered. In addition to the IB Diploma Programme, Hun offers a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum with honors and advanced courses across all disciplines. The school has particular strength in mathematics and the sciences — a legacy of founder John Gale Hun's own passion for mathematics. The robotics program and STEM initiatives are among the most ambitious of any school in New Jersey.
The arts program is excellent. The Wilf Performing Arts Center houses a 400-seat theater and professional-quality music and visual arts facilities. Hun's theatrical productions, music ensembles, and student art exhibitions are of high quality and draw audiences from the broader Princeton community.
Athletics are pursued seriously. Hun competes in the prestigious Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL) against schools including Lawrenceville, Blair, and other major New Jersey boarding schools. The school has particularly strong traditions in soccer, tennis, and swimming.
From New York City, Hun is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes by luxury SUV. Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) is the most convenient major airport, approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is approximately 45–60 minutes. Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) is just 10 minutes from campus. MyNYSUV provides luxury SUV service from all airports to Hun's Princeton campus and frequently coordinates with families visiting Princeton University and Lawrenceville School in the same trip.