Dahlem shared highlights from the first year of the launch of the strategic plan, “Excellence with Humanity in an Interconnected World.” He provided updates from each of the three pillars of that plan: pursue excellence through innovation; cultivate an ecosystem of connection, well-being, and belonging; and focus on lives of impact and purpose. Beyond this first year of the plan, Dahlem outlined next steps for implementation, which involve setting priorities for a capital campaign, engaging the professional community to set action steps, and developing timelines and resource requirements.

Dahlem shared admission statistics for the upcoming academic year, citing an 18.59% increase in applications and a 10% increase in registered interviews compared to the previous year. He also showcased outstanding college admission outcomes for the Class of 2026, with 97% of students applying early and a 64% Early Decision/Restrictive Early Action (ED/REA) admit rate. Dahlem noted the geographical diversity of the colleges chosen by Rivers students. As of early February, 55% of the class has already enrolled.

Chief Financial Officer Jon Wasserman ’88, P’18, ’21 provided a detailed overview of the school’s financial position, emphasizing the importance of the endowment. The Rivers School’s endowment has seen remarkable growth since the launch of the last campaign, FutureMakers, receiving over $21 million in gifts and pledges since 2019. The endowment recently surpassed a record $48.8 million. While that growth is significant, Wasserman discussed the various revenue streams supporting the 2026 budget and the allocation of resources, emphasizing the importance of annual philanthropy to fill the operating budget gap each year.

Chief Advancement Officer Meret Nahas highlighted the profound impact of philanthropy through stories of alumni supporting science internships and faculty mentorship. She proudly shared the positive growth of The Rivers Fund, which reached $3.58 million last year, noting that 100% of the Board and 86% of the professional community contributed to these efforts. Looking ahead, the school is currently in the feasibility stages of its second-ever comprehensive capital campaign, with a formal leadership phase set to begin in the summer of 2026.

Dean of Academics and Institutional Research Chris Dalton provided an update on the comprehensive schedule redesign, which is being driven by a dedicated design team and informed by over 150 focus group participants to center the students’ experience. At this stage in the process, the school is refining two high-fidelity prototypes: a five-day-per-week model and a rotating-day model. Dalton noted that a single final prototype will be selected this spring for full implementation in the 2026–27 academic year.