About
THADEN SCHOOL, AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN BENTONVILLE LAUNCHED WITH THE SUPPORT FROM THE WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION. THE SCHOOL CURRENTLY SERVES MORE THAN 335 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-1 AND 6-12. BY THE 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR WE WILL OFFER GRADES K-12
Our school is named in honor of Iris Louise McPhetridge Thaden (1905-1979). Born and raised in Bentonville, she was a proud Arkansan and one of the greatest aviators of her time. Her childhood home (McPhetridge House), which originally stood on West Central Avenue in downtown Bentonville, was saved from demolition in 2017 and now serves as our Office of Admissions. Our 30-acre campus also has a rich history: it served as the home of the Benton County Fair for nearly 80 years and, prior to that, was the site of other educational institutions, including Bentonville High School when Louise McPhetridge was a student there in the early 1920s.
Her pioneering and innovative spirit inspires our efforts to create a school that gives students roots and wings as they build strong foundations and soar to new heights in pursuit of their dreams.
The Independent School Difference
- Small Class Size
- Mission-Driven Education
- Privately Funded
- Governed by a Board of Trustees
- Teacher Credentials
- High Academic Standards
- Active Parent Community
- Post-Grad Success
- Inclusivity