In 1890, The Taft School was founded with a broad but singular mission: to educate the whole student. At its core, the mission means that education is personal, moral, and ethical, as well as academic. In essence, Taft values high scholarship and intellectual endeavor along with a belief that character, above all else, determines success in life. While the world and the school have changed dramatically since the founding, its fundamental values endure: work hard, without regard for public acclaim; develop all of your talents, academic, artistic, and athletic; and most important, give of yourself to others.