Education: The Duke Steps Down

In the auditorium of the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., one night last week, a tall, courtly gentleman of 63 rose to address an assembly of parents and masters. What he had to say came as a shock: after 29 years, Headmaster George Van Santvoord announced that he is retiring.

For the thousands of boys and men who have known him, it was difficult to imagine Hotchkiss without The Duke. Though the school already enjoyed a solid reputation when he took over, he has kept its prestige steadily mounting. Of all U.S. prep schools, few, if any, can beat the standards Hotchkiss...