the browning school
Today’s Boys and Tomorrow’s Men
a note from the head of school John Botti
Why was I drawn to Browning? Simply put, because I believe that this school helps shape better men. During the time our boys spend here, we invite them into a lifelong conversation about what it means to be a good man—which means opening them, and us, up to a wide variety of ideas, perspectives and experiences. That conversation launches an intellectual journey that will include lively classroom discussions, both victories and defeats on the athletic field, clubs and service projects that cultivate each boy’s unique talents, strengths and curiosities—and all the dizzying possibilities offered by our home in the center of New York City. And all of this takes place at a moment in which boyhood and masculinity are increasingly complicated. We believe there’s a singular advantage to placing your son in the care of a school that knows boys. We know how they learn, we know what they need and we provide a safe and spirited space where they can discover and develop their best selves. If that’s what you’re looking for, Browning is the place you’ll find it.
let ’ s start by talking about boys ’ sc hools
New York City is filled with all types of boys. Brush aside cliques and classifications—here you’ll find boys eager to be agents of their own education. Boys who value character as highly as intellect. Boys who have the meaningful capacity to become active classroom partners, thoughtful mentors, compassionate friends and empathetic advocates—and who derive energy and inspiration from modeling that behavior for each other. Forget the outdated stereotypes of the boys’ schools of old; today’s all-boys institutions attract students who earnestly seek kindness and honesty, and value the dignity of every person. At Browning, we are proud to be at the forefront of redefining what makes these schools unique.
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Browning is a community of boys who aspire to a contemporary definition of an increasingly uncommon word: gentleman. We know, the word feels old-fashioned. But in our bold, modern and hopeful definition, a Browning gentleman is one who feels not only comfortable but also confident expressing his full, true self. Our boys win robotics tournaments as part of a club they founded themselves. They’re scoping a “phenology trail” of observable plant species around The Pond in Central Park; writing sonnets and editorials and college essays; fielding competitive sports teams; and filling our halls with music: orchestral, jazz, rock and hip-hop. The boys who come to Browning—with the support of skilled teachers, state-of-the-art facilities, and a closeknit community of parents, alumni and neighbors— emerge smart, ethical citizens and leaders.
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now let ’ s talk about browning 5
“ At Browning, we are proud to be at the forefront of redefining what makes boys’ schools unique.”
what kind of boys does the world need ?
There’s no question the world needs good men. Men who listen as well as act. Men who value vulnerability and empathy alongside courage and perseverance. Men who lead from the back as comfortably and intentionally as they do from the front. At this moment, 415 of those young men are developing within these halls and within the bodies of boys—some boisterous, some buttoned-up, others a dynamic combination. They’re questioning, debating, deepening their understanding of key concepts across disciplines. They’re forming friendships, discovering their passions, navigating the complex developmental moments that will come to define them as men. And they’re interacting with young men and women from other independent schools through the Interschool consortium. Our Head of School, John Botti, says, “Our job is to help send boys into the world to live and lead ethically.” That’s what the talented, dedicated faculty do here at Browning, every day—and we believe New York City, the country and society as a whole are better for it.
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SOME FACTS ABOUT BROWNING Founded in 1888 400+ boys, grades K–12
A SELECTION OF MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL CLUBS African American Affinity Group
RECENT BROWNING ALUMNI HAVE MATRICULATED TO TOP COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INCLUDING:
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American
Amherst College
A CaPanthers (a cappella)
3 divisions: Lower, Middle and Upper Schools Financial aid awarded to 1 in 5 students and available to families at all grade levels 7-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio 1 of 8 schools in NYC’s Interschool consortium
Affinity Group Chess Club
Bowdoin College
Debate Club
Brown University
Gender and Sexuality Awareness
California Institute of
Green Team (sustainability)
38% are students of color
Grytte (newspaper)
Advanced-level courses across disciplines
Jazz Ensemble
World languages beginning in Grade 3 K–12 Makerspace
Boston College
Technology University of California, Los Angeles
La Sociedad Latina (affinity group)
Carnegie Mellon University
Middle School Chorus
University of Chicago
Model UN
Columbia University
After-school programs offered 5 days a week for Lower School boys
Ovation Orchestra
Dartmouth College
Public Speaking Competition and Poetry Contest beginning in Grade 3
Robotics
Duke University
Student Governments
Emory University
Upper School Chorus
Georgetown University
1:1 Chromebook program beginning in Grade 5 Annual junior and senior college trip
Middlebury College University of Pennsylvania
More than 30 clubs and organizations, including 6 affinity and alliance groups 2 indoor gyms and Lower School outdoor playground Lower School Club Hockey League
ATHLETIC TEAMS AND OFFERINGS Baseball (5/6 Intramural, 7/8, Varsity)
K–12 service-learning curriculum and opportunities
Basketball (5/6, 7/8, JV, Varsity) Cross-Country (MS, Varsity)
9,000 volume library
Golf (Varsity)
422 steps to Central Park
Indoor Track (Varsity)
302.6 square miles of adventure offered by NYC
Princeton University Rhode Island School of Design Rice University University of St Andrews Stanford University Williams College Yale University
Soccer (5/6, 7/8, JV, Varsity) Squash (Varsity, Club) Tennis (Varsity) Track (MS, Varsity) Winter Running (7/8, Club)
For more facts about The Browning School, our programs and facilities, visit browning.edu. 8
t h e b row n i n g s c h o o l 52 e ast 62 n d stre et , n ew yo rk , n y 10065, us a @BrowningSchool
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