Rooted in Values Campaign

Dawson aims to create a learning environment reflective of the dynamic Las Vegas community, its surrounding areas, and a diverse global society. When students see themselves represented in their school, they are more likely to reach their full potential.

• Tuition assistance 
• Support of scholarship grants and programs 
  • Crescere Foundation
  • Windsong Trust

We strive to instill an inclusive and healthy mindset in our student-athletes regarding competitive activities. As important representatives of the School's Mission and Core Values, they proudly embody our values both on campus and in the broader Las Vegas community.

• Coaching stipends
• Equipment 
• Game officials 
• League fees
• Recognition items such as championship celebratory shirts and sweatshirts, ribbons, and trophies 
• Team uniforms
• Scorekeepers
• Scorevision 
• VEO Live live-streaming and recording services

Our 33 acres of desert beauty provide exceptional indoor and outdoor spaces that inspire curiosity and support personalized learning. We are committed to preserving our unique buildings and grounds for future generations. Safety and security are top priorities and a key reason families choose Dawson. We work closely with faculty, staff, and the community to maintain and enhance our facilities, policies, and best practices.

• Campus Access Control
  • Completion of cell phone smart key implementation for classroom doors
  • Completion of centralizing the remote lockdown of campus
• Completion of mylar bullet-resistant security film and forced entry protection film on campus windows
• Improved Security Equipment and Training
  • Advanced weapons training 
  • Crisis Prevention Intervention instructor training  
• Early Childhood Building
  • Upgraded flooring in lobby and hallways
• Installation of upgraded cameras to the exterior roadway/property line areas 
• Lower School 
  • Upgraded the lobby by replacing the pond with shared meeting and tutoring spaces
  • Upgraded the Kiva flooring with learning and tutoring nooks
  • Replaced and striped the playground asphalt and installed two new basketball hoops, pickleball courts, and a kindergarten sandbox  
• Middle School 
  • Final installation of flexible seating and other collaborative workspaces throughout the lobby
• Fine Arts
  • Polished concrete flooring in common areas and hallways
• Gym floor refurbishment 
• Ruffin Organic Garden
  • Installation of a precision irrigation system to efficiently water the Garden’s products 
• Solar panel installation along the main roadway to harness clean and sustainable energy 

Our emphasis on modern learning fosters real-world connections, teaches future-ready skills, and promotes Project-Based Learning initiatives. Dawson offers a transformative education that empowers teachers to engage in creative and collaborative thinking and learning.

• Continuing education through conferences and programs
  • American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages 
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools 
  • ASU+GSV Summit
  • Challenge Success 
  • Council for Advancement and Support of Education
  • Enrollment Management Association 
  • Everyday Math
  • Finalsite 
  • Human Growth & Development 
  • International Literacy Association
  • Learning and the Brain Education 
  • LifeLab
  • National Association of Independent Schools Annual People of Color Conference 
  • National Business Officers Association 
  • National Chinese Language Conference
  • National Science Teaching Association 
  • Northwest Association of Independent Schools
  • NV Urban Agriculture Conference 
  • NV Extension, University of Nevada at Reno
  • Photoshop World
  • Toward Greater Belonging 
  • Triad Consulting Group for leadership development 
  • Social Thinking 
• Host school for the first-ever national ECPBL Conference 
• Curriculum writing for grade-level and departmental projects 
  • Curriculum overviews 
  • Course competencies
  • Common assessments
  • Scope & sequence
• Instructional technology tools training
• Project-Level Team Task Forces
  • Advisory
  • Core Values & Learner Profile
  • Information Technology
  • Project-Based Learning 
  • Social-Emotional Learning 
  • Teaching & Learning 
• Safety & Security training 
  • Comp TIA: Information Technology Training
  • Crisis Prevention Intervention Training 
  • CTT Solutions
  • InfoSec World Cybersecurity Conference 

Unrestricted gifts support everything your family values at Dawson, covering all school-related needs—from everyday items our students use to major expenses like nationally recognized speakers who engage with our community.

• Additional support given to fundraising designations: Access & Affordability, Athletics, Facilities & Campus Safety, and Faculty Professional Development
• Professional writer commissioned for founder Girard B. Henderson's biography 
• Digital education resources such as Canvas, IXL, Zearn, Duolingo, Flipgrid, NearPod, NewsELA, and SeeSaw
• Knowing Technologies educational technology audit to ensure an enhanced student learning experience 
• Student field trips and off-campus learning experiences 

As an independent, not-for-profit school, Dawson does not receive state or federal funding and relies solely on tuition, the Alexander Dawson Foundation’s bond payment, and community donations. Tuition does not cover the full cost of education for each student, meaning many families pay less than what Dawson spends on their education. This leaves the school dependent on alternative funding sources, particularly the Annual Fund.

 This includes:

• Debt service
• Depreciation expenses
• Facilities and dining expenses
• General, administrative, and fundraising expenses
• Personnel expenses
• Technology and other instructional/auxiliary expenses
• Tuition assistance

This is why recurring giving is essential. Each year, we work to close the gap between the actual cost of a Dawson education and our tuition price. This support enables us to provide the equitable academic experience we promise to our students today and to future generations.