REGIONAL GUIDE TO
PRIVATE SCHOOLS 2020/2021
Finding the Right School for Your Child From the publishers of
BOSTONPARENT
“I was drawn to the
RESULTS THAT COUNT
CDL (Collaborative Design Lab) and also Thayer’s amazing music program. I’m really a techie, and I want to be a musician, so this is a perfect place to grow in both areas.
“
SHAANVEER GUPTA Thayer Academy Class of 2026
W W W.T H AY E R . O R G / R E S U LT S
Join us for our Fall Virtual Events! Learn more at www.thayer.org/results Founded in 1877, Thayer Academy is an independent, coed day school in Braintree for grades 5-12
2
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Our Vision Nuestra Visión
To create a truly significant and lifelong impact on the lives and passions of the children who will shape the future of our society.
What We Do Lo Que Hacemos
Pine Village educates and nurtures each child’s individuality within a culturally diverse bilingual community, so that every child develops a true passion for learning and an ability to engage in any environment and community.
The Results Los Resultados Pine Village launches children on a path to global citizenship and offers
parents of toddlers and preschoolers a modern approach to child development where the seeds of creativity, acceptance, and inclusion are planted and encouraged to grow.
TM
TM
2016 WINNER
2017 WINNER
2018 WINNER
TM
TM
TM
2019 WINNER
2020 WINNER
Our Neighborhood Schools
• Brighton • Brookline • JP - Revere St • JP - South St • Kendall Square
• Needham • Newton Highlands • West Newton • Porter Square • South End
enrollment@pinevillagepreschool.com
617-416-7763 www.PineVillagePreschool.com www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
3
Regional Guide to Private Schools Boston Parents Paper takes the guesswork out of finding the right private school for your child, from start to finish.
contents 6
Why Consider Private School?
22 Tips for a
Great Essay
10 The Private 24 Preparing for the School Search: Where to Start?
14 Basic Timeline for Applying to a Private School
A month-by-month guide to the application process
16 Apply to
a Private School
Interview
26 Making the Most of the Campus Visit
28 Acceptance
and Decision
30 Financial Aid:
Basics You Need to Know
18 Applying After
34 Myths About
18 Shadow Days 20 Entrance
35 Private School
the Deadline
Exams
Financial Aid
53 62
4
Designed and Published by
BOSTONPARENT 841 Worcester Street, Suite 344 Natick, MA 01760 www.bostonparentspaper.com
Profiles
Advertising Sales & General Info sales@bostonparent.com
Private School Directory
Regional Guide to Private Schools is published annually by Boston Parent Š2020
Public and Private School Organizations
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
TM
2020 WINNER
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
5
Why Consider Private School?
M
any parents feel that their children will thrive better in what they believe is a smaller, safer environment with more room for personal attention. And while public schools must follow a curriculum heavily influenced by state standards, private schools have more freedom to customize lessons to students’ individual ways of learning. Private schools can also point to low studentteacher ratios, freedom from state standards and testing, and lots of extras like music, foreign languages, and art that are underfunded or nonexistent in public schools. Rest assured, promise school experts, there is a school out there to suit every child. There are two primary sorts of private schools— independent schools and parochial schools. Independent schools are defined as nonprofit private schools with their own governing board of trustees. While most people commonly refer to independent schools as private, lumping them in with parochial
6
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
Private schools can also point to low student-teacher ratios, freedom from state standards and testing, and lots of extras like music, foreign languages, and art that are underfunded or nonexistent in public schools. and for profit schools, they are distinct because they are nonprofit and self-governing. Parochial schools, where tuition is typically one-third that of independent schools, offer traditional instruction and have solid reputations. Families who are “in-parish,” that is, who live within the schools’ official parish boundaries or volunteer and participate regularly in the parish, get first priority. Otherwise the application procedures are similar to independent schools. >>>
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Excellence in Autism Education DAY AND RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS THREE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS BASED ON EACH CHILD'S AGE AND ABILITY
To Learn More Contact
ON-CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY BASED
Lynne Goyuk,Â
VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Admissions Coordinator
AN EDUCATIONAL FRAMEWORK BASED
508-850-3900
ON SCERTS MODEL
lgoyuk@leagueschool.com
www.leagueschool.org
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
7
Why Consider Private School? cont’d. When considering private school education, think about these benefits: High academic standards Independent schools nurture intellectual curiosity, stimulate personal growth, and encourage critical thinking. A larger percentage of students at independent schools are enrolled in advanced courses than in public schools. Small classes and individual attention Independent schools have low student-teacher ratios that encourage close connections with students. The median ratio in schools that are members of the National Association of Independent Schools in 2019–2020 was 8.5 students to 1 teacher. Excellent teachers Educators usually teach in their areas of expertise and are passionate about what they do. With more autonomy within the classroom, teachers are able to develop a full understanding of how each student learns and what motivates and inspires each individually.
8
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
Greater likelihood of a student completing a bachelor’s or graduate degree education. Independent schools nurture not just students’ intellectual ability and curiosity but also their personal and social growth and civic conscience. Opportunities extend well beyond the classroom to athletic competitions, artistic pursuits, and school leadership experiences. Inclusiveness Schools maintain diverse and vibrant student communities and welcome and respect each family. In 2019–20, students of color were 33 percent of total independent school enrollment nationally. A community of parents who actively participate in their children’s education Independent schools promote regular communication among students, parents, and teachers to ensure everyone is working toward the same goals for the student. The opportunity to choose a school with a mission You can select a school whose philosophy, values, and teaching approach is right for your child.
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
TM
2019 TOP 5
TM
2020 TOP 5
“We LOVE Tender Loving Care. The teachers are like family. They care for each child like their own family. They are knowledgeable in early childhood education as well as the gentle care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers!!� Woburn - 781-281-2983 | Weston - 781-703-5088 www.tenderlovingcarechildcarecenters.com www.BostonParentsPaper.com Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
9
The Private School Search: Where to Start?
W
ith every private school brochure flashing standards imposed on public schools. photos of smiling students thriving in A simple way to begin thinking about which private science labs and onstage, it can be hard to school may be right for your child is to look at how the tell schools apart.Though on closer look, each school school is structured. For example, some schools do not has its own personality, spanning a wider range of assign homework and others group different grades educational styles and often offering smaller classes together in one classroom. By doing this step, it is easy than public schools. to rule out schools that are not of interest. Some schools follow distinct It’s time to start thinking about An easy, simple way educational philosophies like fall of 2021 if your child is about to to begin thinking Waldorf or Montessori. Others begin her last year of preschool or focus on music, offer a girlsis in fifth or eighth grade. Starting about which private only student body, a year-round a year before you actually need to school may be right for can help relieve anxiety as well as schedule, or teach their curriculum your child is to look exclusively in French. There give you time to do you research. are schools with impressive The timeline for what can be a at how the school is art, sports, drama, and science rigorous search for private schools structured. programs. Some are K–5 or K–8, begins with open house events and others only grades 6–8, and still others are K–12. All tours starting in September; applications in December of these schools have the luxury of complete freedom and January; and acceptance or rejection letters in designing curriculum to fit the school’s philisophy in early March. The sooner you can start checking because they are not subject to the state testing out schools that interest you, the better, whether those schools are independent or parochial. >>> 10
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Inspire discover become
Take a Tour Tuesdays, October – December at 10:30 AM Open Houses at Preschool and Elementary, November 12 and December 3 at 6:30 PM Register at www.parkstreetschool.org to attend virtually.
TODDLER–GRADE 6 PRESCHOOL: ONE PARK STREET • ELEMENTARY: 67 BRIMMER STREET 617-523-7577 • PARKSTREETSCHOOL.ORG www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
11
The Private School Search: Where to Start? cont’d.
Parents who have been through the process before recommend the following combination of first steps: • Look hard at your finances to see what kind of tuition your household is willing to handle. Find out if there are extra costs for books, computers, or after-school care, and if the school offers financial aid. • Weed out schools that won’t work because of things like location or early start times. • Learn basic facts like the number of students enrolled and student-teacher ratio. • Consider your child’s particular learning style by consulting with current teachers (from preschool or day care, for example). • Think about your family’s educational philosophy. Ask how students are tested, and how teachers convey expectations, teach classes and administer grades. • Make a list of what matters most to you and your child. Perhaps it’s that the school is diverse, emphasizes the arts, has a grassy play area or a dance studio. It could also be that your child needs before-school care, elementary grades only, or an alternative learning environment. • Talk to families whose children already attend those schools. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions. Ask other families what unique programs their children 12
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
have benefitted from. • If your child is entering kindergarten and has a fall birthday, research schools’ age cutoffs. Private schools usually prefer that children turn five before entering kindergarten. Some use cutoff dates as early as June 1st. • Once you’ve got a list of schools to check out, create a list of admission event dates, application and financial assistance registration deadlines. As parents move through this lengthy process, they should reflect on the desires, needs, and learning styles of their child. This process is different depending on the child’s age. There are things that are clear about a fifth-grader (like how they handle homework and social conflict, whether they favor sports or the arts) that aren’t evident yet with a preschooler. Parents of eighthgraders have the easiest and the hardest time with this. While it’s easier for the parents of a middle-schooler to pinpoint the social tendencies and learning style of their 13-year-old, that teenager often has thoughts of her own about which school to attend. The school search process is a stressful one. However, with some advance preparation and cclear goals, it doesn’t have to be onerous. You might even gain some new insight into yourself and your child along the way. www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Join us and find out why your child will love learning at BISB. BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BOSTON A NORD ANGLIA EDUCATION SCHOOL
416 Pond Street Boston, MA 02130 617.522.2261 www.bisboston.org
• Wed., October 21 • Sun., November 8 • Wed., January 13 For Toddlers through High School Register: admissions@bisboston.org 617.522.2261 | bisboston.org
Austin Preparatory School Experience Excellence • Average Class Size: 15
• More than 60 Clubs & Activities
• 1:1 iPad Program
• Advisory Program
• Rotating Block Schedule
• 10:1 Student to Faculty Ratio
• Bus Transportation Available
• 21 Advanced Placement Courses
• Newly Renovated Dining Hall
• State-of-the-Art Athletic Facilities
Visit our website for a virtual tour of campus, or contact the Office of Admissions at ADMISSIONS@AUSTINPREP.ORG
to arrange for an in-person tour this fall.
An independent, Augustinian Catholic school serving young men & women in grades 6 through 12.
READING, MA | 781.944.4900 | AUSTINPREP.ORG www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
13
A month-by-month guide to the application process.
Basic Timeline
Although not every school follows the exact schedule, many follow similar timetables for admission. The following is a timeline to help you in the admissions process. Many schools are transitioning to virtual admissions events and individual family tours.
AUGUST
(of the year before you want your child to attend)
❑ Define your ideal school. ❑ Find schools that match your child’s needs. ❑ Research and ask questions of schools on your preliminary list.
SEPTEMBER
❑ Browse schools’ websites, look books to learn more about their programs and philosophies. ❑ Request admissions and financial aid material by phone or online. ❑ Create a calendar of pertinent admission and financial assitance deadlines for the schools to which you are considering applying. ❑ Ask elementary schools about their test schedules and make appointments. ❑ Register for any standardized tests required for admission. ❑ Review the test websites to learn about procedures and test dates, see sample questions, and purchase testpreparation books.
14
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
❑ Call schools to schedule individual tours, class visits, interviews, and “shadow days”.
OCTOBER
❑ Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests ❑ Visit schools, virtually if necessary, during open houses, information sessions, and tours. ❑ Finalize the list of schools to which you will apply. ❑ Take required standardized admission tests.
NOVEMBER
❑ Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests. ❑ Continue to watch for admission events you may want to attend. ❑ Request teacher recommendations from your child’s current school. ❑ Start working on applications, financial assitance forms, student questionnaires, and essays.
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
for Applying
to a Private School
DECEMBER
MARCH
❑ Request transcripts at the end of your child’s first semester.
❑ Watch for financial assitance decisions about this same time.
❑ Complete any remaining applications, questionnaires, etc. Some application materials are due as early as December or can be as late as February.
❑ If your student is accepted by multiple schools, decide which school your child will attend.
❑ Continue to watch for any admission or school events of interest.
JANUARY
❑ Pay attention to deadlines: Most schools’ applications are due in January or February, along with tests scores, references, transcripts, and financial assitance forms. ❑ Financial assitance applications are normally due in January or February.
FEBRUARY
❑ For schools with February admissions deadline turn in applications.
❑ Watch for school decisions starting in mid-March.
APRIL
❑ Sign and return enrollment contracts and deposits.
MAY TO SEPTEMBER
❑ Attend events and activities for new parents and students during spring and summer. ❑ Get to know other families in the school. ❑ Sign up for fall sports and clubs
❑ Visit schools applied to again or have your child participate in a student shadow day if you haven’t already.
Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Independent Schools, www.nais.org. www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
15
Applying to a Private School
Y
our first step is to research and visit schools, ideally starting the search at least a year before you plan to submit the application for your child. It takes time to determine which school is the best fit for your child. Navigating the application process can be overwhelming, but it can also be exciting. Here are tips on how to get you and your child into the right school. • After creating your short list of schools, call or email the school’s admissions office to find out about open house events, school tours, private visits, or other events that will allow you to get to know the school as best as possible. The school’s admissions office will also tell you about application requirements, including deadlines and costs. 16
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
While each school has its own criteria for admitting students, the typical application package involves: • A completed application form, usually available from the school’s website, and application fee. • Parent or guardian statements. • A transcript of your child’s grades from her current school. • Results from standardized tests or a schooladministered test. For middle school grades and above, the most common tests are: The Independent School Entrance Examination, or the ISEE; the Secondary School Aptitude Test, or the SSAT; the High School Placement Test, or HSPT, for Catholic schools.
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Depending on the grade to which you are applying, some schools might also ask for: • Student writing samples. • Student portfolios. • A formal interview, though for elementary school students, the interview more often consists of a teacher observation or individual or group-administered diagnostic tests. School admissions officers are there to help you complete your applications in a timely manner. They also want to make sure that the process is a positive experience for you and your child and that there is a good match between your child and the school. Try to avoid: • While admissions officers want to be helpful, don’t call too often, overload them with additional information about your child, or try to impress them with your business or social contacts. • Don’t jump on the bandwagon of applying to a school just because your child’s peers are applying.
Similarly, don’t just apply to a school because it is one of the “top” schools in the area and boasts of its graduates who go to the Ivies. Be realistic about your child’s strengths, interests, and personality. Apply to schools which are a good fit for your child. • Don’t shy away from disclosing vital information about your child or family—notably about any special academic needs your child has or about your family’s financial need for tuition help. While most private schools cannot afford to meet the academic and financial needs of all students they would like to admit, you won’t increase your child’s chances of acceptance by failing to be upfront about certain information. And if the school turns your child down for any special issues, it’s likely the school was not a good fit. • Don’t miss application deadlines. But if you do, some schools have rolling admissions and admit students throughout the school year.
This is GUS.
Where a rigorous education looks different. Pre-K through Grade 8 gus.org www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
17
Applying After the Deadline Don’t give up on a school if you’ve missed the admissions deadline.
“F
inding a school that will accept your child after the normal admissions deadline has passed is not easy. But it can be done,” says Private School Review, an online site, www.privateschoolreview. com, that profiles private schools. “ You suddenly decide in late winter or early spring that you want to get your child into a private school for fall. Or a job transfer makes finding a private school in a hurry an absolute necessity. So, are you indeed too late? It depends.” First, contact the school’s admissions office, state your case, and see how school officials respond. Some schools have flexible or rolling admissions and accept students as long as the school enrollment roster has room, and some schools create waitlists when full. There is a chance that an accepted student may withdraw or cancel, creating an available spot at the last minute. The bottom line? “Ask anyway. You never know, and it never hurts to ask,” Private School Review advises.
Shadow Days
A
fter all the open house events, information nights, school tours, and interviews, the best way for kids to evaluate a school is to spend a day on campus. This year schools are being ceative to allow for safe shadow experiences. Prospective students are matched up with a current student for an individual tour. If school is in session, they go to classes, share time during breaks and lunch, and get an insider’s tour of the campus, experiencing firsthand what it feels like to be a student at that school. Things to know: • Typically, shadow days can be scheduled anytime from October to May.
18
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
• Visitors are often required to respect the school dress code. • Visiting students are usually allowed to shadow a current student they already know, as long as the request is made in advance. • If prospective students do not know any current students, the school will assign one based on interests in academics, extracurricular activities, etc. • Shadow days are just for students; no parents allowed.
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Fall Virtual Open Houses Middle School
Early Childhood
Elementary
Wednesday, October 7
Wednesday, October 14 Wednesday, October 28
Preschool, PK, & TK
7 p.m.
Kindergarten - Grade 4
Grade 5 - Grade 8
7 p.m.
7 p.m.
To receive a Zoom link to these virtual open houses, email admission director Tricia Moran and a link will be sent to you. tmoran@lesleyellis.org 34 Winter St. | Arlington, MA 02476 | lesleyellis.org
INSPIRE. CHALLENGE. EMPOWER. Toddler through Grade 8 Financial Assistance Available TM
2020 WINNER
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Learn more: wellan.org Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
19
Entrance Exam 101
M
ost private schools require students entering middle and high school to take an entrance exam to gain admission to their institutions. The most commonly accepted standardized tests are the Independent School Entrance Examination, or the ISEE, and the High School Placement Test, or HSPT, for Catholic schools. Another often recognized and accepted test is the Secondary School Aptitude Test, or the SSAT. The ISEE and SSAT tests are to middle and high school what the SAT or ACT is to college. They are administered independently at a set time at a specific location with results sent to designated schools. Often schools schedule these tests on their own campuses, and individual entrance requirements usually specify which test to take. The HSPT, however, does not coordinate national testing days, and test administration is the responsibility of individual schools or dioceses, which determine when to offer the HSPT. Now, all three tests offer at home options. These organizations provide students a secure computerbased testing option to be taken at home when group testing isn’t available. On these exams, students can expect multiplechoice questions that test verbal, math, and reading comprehension skills and a portion that assesses writing ability (though not part of the HSPT). Policies vary according by test on taking practice tests and repeated test attempts. The test results often determine course placement, so more schools have begun to offer preparation test programs to better equip entering students for the real thing. Schools may have 20
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
additional or different requirements for international students.
ISEE
Source: www.iseetest.org LOWER LEVEL FOR Candidates for grades five and six. MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVEL FOR Candidates for grades seven and eight (Middle); candidates for grades nine through 12 (Upper).
HSPT
Source: www.ststesting.com FOR Students in grade eight for placement in ninth grade.
SSAT
Source: www.ssat.org
The SSAT is a multiple-choice test designed for students in grades three through 11 and is administered on three levels: elementary, middle, and upper. ELEMENTARY LEVEL SSAT FOR Students in grades three and four. MIDDLE AND UPPER LEVEL SSAT Standard Test (group administered on eight Saturdays), Flex Test (group or individual administered on a different date), Regional Flex Test or Open Flex Test (regional consortia administered). FOR Students in grades 5–7 (Middle) and grades 8–11 (Upper).
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
DISCOVER A SCHOOL AS UNIQUE AS YOUR CHILD
the Wolf School
Private K-8 Special Education School | Open House October 25th | thewolfschool.org
Infant (1 month) through PreK Open Year Round Mon–Fri • 7am-5:30pm
Now enrolling children age 3+ We offer a pleasant mix of fun & education to develop young minds! • Breakfast, lunch & snack served daily • Two age appropriate playgrounds & large indoor play space • Individual classrooms with well-rounded curriculum including: fieldtrips, computers & music class
The Village Pre-School
25 Cummins Highway, Roslindale
617-323-5141 www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
21
Tips for a Great Essay
A
pplication essays provide ways for private school admissions officers to get to know students beyond their grades, test scores, and basic biographical information. They provide insight into a student’s personality and interests—to help determine if the school is the right fit for your child and vice versa. Aside from the interview, writing the essay can be one of the most stress-producing steps in the application process. These suggestions from private school organizations can break the task of writing the essay into manageable steps that guide your child to crafting a work that makes him stand out to admissions officers. READ THE DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY Don’t write a two-sentence essay if the school asks for one page, but don’t write more than one page. And, don’t turn in a typed essay if the school wants it handwritten. TELL THE SCHOOL WHAT IT WANTS TO KNOW Schools often provide an essay prompt, so you need to respond to it. That said, the prompts—such as “recount some activity or event that challenged you in a positive way”—usually allow the applicant lots of leeway to write about a range of topics. START EARLY Do not wait until the night before the application is due to begin writing. Brainstorm and work out ideas with teachers, parents, or others early and give yourself time for revisions. 22
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
TELL A STORY While the essay should have correct spelling and grammar and be legible, it doesn’t have to follow the academic essay formula. A good strategy is to tell a story—even filled with dialogue or vivid description— to get your point across. BE REAL Don’t write what you think an admissions officer wants to hear—because you really have no idea. Write about what you know and what excites you. GET CREATIVE If you are an aspiring writer, for example, ask the school if you can write in verse, instead of the usual narrative. BE CONCRETE Stay away from generalizations, such as “singing by myself in front of my school was challenging.” Instead, provide details or an example of how and why you were scared before that solo singing performance and felt triumphant afterwards. PARENTS, THIS MUST BE YOUR CHILD’S WORK While, as parents, you can provide feedback and help with editing, let your child do all the writing. If you can’t help but get overly involved, consider asking a neutral third party—a teacher, another relative, or a professional consultant—to help your child edit her essay. www.BostonParentsPaper.com
SPARK WONDER Toddler - Grade 8 Join us for a
Montessori Info Session Discover the wonder of a Montessori eduction.
CAMBRIDGEMONTESSORI.ORG www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
23
Preparing for the Interview When students are old enough to be the key subject of interviews, they should be prepared to answer typical questions, such as: • Tell me about yourself: Help your child come up with an answer that doesn’t recite biographical facts but describes his interests and strengths in certain academic areas or extracurricular activities and allows your child to talk up accomplishments. • Why do you want to come to this school? The school wants to find out if the child understands what makes the school unique and whether your child sees it as a match for his own personality, academic strengths, interests, and aspirations. Hopefully, during visits, or in talking to students and faculty, your child has encountered programs or a learning environment that excites him.
T
he idea of your child having to interview to gain admission to a private school sounds downright terrifying. But private school experts say you shouldn’t think of the interview as a high-stakes interrogation. Rather, think of the interview as a twoway conversation that helps everyone involved, school staff, parents and child, determine if the school is the right fit for your child. The structure of the interview depends on the school and your child’s age. Typically, the applicant and family come to the school to look around and talk with an admissions officer or other school staff. The staff might focus on talking with the parents, but with older children and high school students, an admissions officer might speak privately with the child in a formal or more casual situation. Given that the interview is an important part of the application process, and in determining if this school is the best place to educate your child, here are some things you and your child should prepare for so the interview will go well, according to the National Association of Independent Schools and other private school organizations. With younger kids, the school staff will mostly talk to the parents, asking them to describe their child and what they hope their child will gain by attending this school. 24
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
• Talk about subjects or teachers you like: Help your child figure out certain coursework that has recently been engaging, such as a certain book in English class or a social studies field trip to see Egyptian mummies at a museum. Given that the interview is a chance for you and your child to learn more about the school, help your child prepare to ask questions. Look at the school’s website or think back to visits and help come up with a list of questions that reflects how the school might nurture your child’s interests. “Will I be able to do dissections in sixth-grade biology?”“Can I audition for school plays in ninth grade?”“What about your study trips overseas?”“What are different ways I can fulfill my community service requirements?” The admissions officers will likely see your child’s curiosity as evidence of interest in coming to the school. Parents and students should always be honest, experts say. That doesn’t mean you should accentuate your child’s weaknesses, provide too much information about family challenges, or badmouth your child’s current school. Instead, accentuate the positive: A child’s weakness or a family’s challenges are things he is working to overcome; or his current school simply isn’t the right fit for his unique needs and interests.
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Advanced Academics for Gifted and Talented Students in PK-Grade 8
www.sageschool.org • Foxboro, MA • 508-543-9619 www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
25
Making the Most of Your Campus Visit
Y
ou’ve looked at the websites, glanced through the glossy brochures, and even heard friends talk glowingly, or not, about the private schools on your short list. Now it’s time to actually set foot on campus. More than anything else, visiting the school— seeing the classrooms, walking around the grounds, and talking to faculty and students—will give you and your child the best sense of whether this is the best environment for your child to learn and thrive. Because the visit is so crucial to deciding on your child’s school, you should make the most of the opportunity. Private school experts offer these suggestions for what to ask about, look for, and consider before, during, and after the visit. • Do some pre-visit research. Read up on the school’s history, educational philosophy, and accomplishments. Ask for information about student-teacher ratios, teacher experience, arts classes, sports, and other extracurricular activities, special programs for students needing academic support, and expectations for parental involvement. Decide ahead of time if there are specific classrooms, facilities, or departments that you or your child want to visit. • If possible, visit on a regular school day, arrange to observe a classroom, and stay to sample a school lunch. 26
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
• General impressions count, but so do the details. Take note of what the grounds and classrooms are like. Pay attention to specifics: are the bathrooms clean; do staff seemed organized and ready for your visit; what library, science, and technology resources does the school offer? • In the classrooms or on the playground, notice if the students look engaged and well-behaved, including when they transition from one activity or classroom to another. How do students interact with their teachers? Do the teachers seem cheerful and knowledgeable? How do the teachers manage the classrooms or handle discipline? • Talk to as many teachers and students as possible. Find out about homework policies and workloads, the social environment, and opportunities to do arts, sports, and other nonacademic activities. • If the school offers shadow-a-student day for interested students, your child has the opportunity to ask questions of potential schoolmates more freely than if you’re around. • After you and your child finish the visit, jot down your general impressions before leaving. Try to imagine your child in one of the classrooms, or walking the halls. How does that idea look and feel? Remember gut feelings can be important, too. www.BostonParentsPaper.com
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
27
The Acceptance and Decision
T
he application is completed, interviews and shadow • Ask to talk to some teachers. days all done—all that’s left is waiting for the • Talk to graduates or current families of the acceptance letter (or email) and then the big school—especially any who have come from your decision. Usually, acceptance (or rejection or waitlist) child’s current school. notifications go out on a Friday in mid-March, and • Encourage your child to talk to other students. families then have seven days to decide where their child will attend. So how to make the decision? ONCE YOU DECIDE When you learn about your child’s acceptance, you • Be sure to contact the school you choose by the will also learn about financial assistance awards. If the reply deadline. grant you receive does not meet your needs, or if you are • Let all schools where you were admitted know not awarded any financial assitance, contact the school’s of your final decision so they can contact other financial assitance officer to learn about other options. families on their waiting list. The following are tips on choosing a school from the • Return your signed enrollment contract and National Association of Independent Schools. tuition deposit. WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE ACCEPTED IF YOU’RE WAITLISTED • If you’re certain about the school, say yes—but feel free to take the full seven days to sit with the decision • Call the school right away and let admissions to make sure it feels right. officials know that you are very interested. Stay in touch with them throughout the summer. SomeDECIDING ON A SCHOOL times children can be accepted off the waitlist just • Discuss the options as a family. days before school begins. • Make a pro and con list for each possible school. IF YOU’RE REJECTED • Revisit your notes from tours and open houses. Follow • Consider other schools. your heart. Revisit your wish list to make sure you’ve fulfilled your priorities. Be sure that your child will thrive • Ask the school for feedback about what factors in the school community you choose. made the difference. Try to approach the issue in a nonjudgmental way; tell the admissions staff you IF YOU ARE NOT SURE want to get information that can help your child • Consider a second visit to the school; have your child do better in the future. do a shadow day if she hasn’t already. 28
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Celebrating 34 Years of Excellence
Accepting Applications
Infant • Toddler • Preschool • Pre-Kindergarten
EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Full- & Part-Time Childcare • 2 mos. To 5 yrs. Open 8:00am – 6:00pm Infant Care Is Now Available! On-site drop off parking • Fenced-in roof-top playspace Outstanding Teacher-Child Ratios Professionally qualified Early Education Teachers State Transportation Building 10 Park Plaza, Boston MA 02116 • Open to General Public • EEC Licensed #8117338
617-973-8200 http://www.transchildrencenter.org/
KINGSLEY ENGAGES THE MIND, HANDS, AND HEART OF EACH CHILD TO NURTURE RESILIENT EXPLORERS, CONFIDENT LEARNERS, AND EMPATHETIC CITIZENS.
TODDLER–GRADE 6 TO LEARN MORE, VISIT KINGSLEY.ORG www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
29
Financial Assistance: Basics You Need to Know
E
very private school has its own policies about who receives financial assistance, what types of assistance are awarded, and how much assistance a particular family will receive. In most cases, the financial aid office cannot tell you if your family will qualify for financial aid until you submit an application that allows the school to evaluate your unique situation. HOW SCHOOLS DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AID To determine your eligibility for financial aid, you must submit an application form and financial statements. There is no income limit that automatically makes your family ineligible for financial aid. Financial aid officers take into account your income, assets, and expenses, including educational costs for other children. Bottom line: If you feel your family cannot afford to pay the full cost, regardless of your income, it’s worth the effort to submit a financial aid application. 30
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
WHEN TO APPLY Every school has its own financial aid schedule, and the deadlines are different for schools with rolling admissions. In general, most financial aid applications are due in January or February. Check with your school of choice for the deadline. You will receive a financial aid decision shortly after your child is admitted to a particular school. TYPES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE • Grants are the most common type of financial aid offered by private schools. They are awarded annually to students who demonstrate financial need, and students must re-apply each year. Grant money comes from the school’s budget and does not have to be paid back. • Merit scholarships awarded by the school are rare and are usually reserved for students who have a special talent that the school is seeking, such as art, music, or academics. Generally, scholarships are based on financial need. They may be awarded once, annually, or as long as the student meets the scholarship criteria. www.BostonParentsPaper.com
ONE IN 54
CHILDREN HAS AUTISM.
WE CHANGE LIVES ONE CHILD AT A TIME. FOR 65 YEARS, MAY INSTITUTE HAS PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL CARE TO CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS. OUR SERVI CE S A RE B A S E D ON A PPL IED BEH AVIOR A N A LYS I S (A B A ):
Special education schools for autism and developmental disabilities Center-based services for toddlers and young children Early intervention services Home-based services
During this time of COVID-19, May Institute is operating programs at a reduced capacity as needed and with all recommended safety precautions in place. We are also providing telehealth services as appropriate.
TM
800.778.7601 | mayinstitute.org
2020 TOP 5
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
31
• Scholarships from outside organizations are also rare, and often awarded by local chapters of national groups like the Rotary Club. Ask the school for a list of organizations that have provided scholarships to their students in the past, and check the list on parents.nais.org. Each scholarship program will have its own eligibility rules, application, and deadlines. • Tuition loans are personal loans provided by a private lender. You must apply directly to the lender, and your loan amount and interest rate will depend on the lender’s credit requirements. Some use loans to pay for expenses not covered by a grant. • Tuition Payment Plans allow you to make monthly payments rather than writing one or two large checks each year. Schools offer payment plans through a third-party financial services company, which charges a relatively small fee.
32
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
• Sibling discounts are designed to help families with more than one child enrolled in the same school. Many schools are shrinking these discounts, or phasing them out altogether. Even so, it’s worth asking if this situation applies to you. Most families pay for tuition through a combination of these options. The school’s financial aid officer can help you create a financing plan that fits your family’s needs. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and explore all the options available to you.
Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Independent Schools, www.nais.org.
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
TM
2020
Applied Behavioral Learning Services
WINNER
Applied Behavioral Applied Behavioral Learning Services Learnin
Celebrating Y ears of Community Serv ice to the Autism Celebrating 18 Years of Service to17the Autism Behavioral Consultation Virtual Tutoring
Developmental Assessments Functional Behavior Assessment BehavioralProgram Consultation Social Enrichment
Functional Behavior Assessments Social Skills Groups Social Enrichment Program Early Intervention Services Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Groups Home Based Behavior Analytic Programs Early Intervention Extended Year Services Services Home Based Behavior Analytic Programs Extended Year Services Now accepting new students for Virtual Tutoring Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Now Accept ing: Now Accepting: MassHealtand h, BlueCross/BlueShield, and Har MassHealth, Blue Cross/BlueShield, Harvard Pilgrim
TM
TM
2016 WINNER
2017 WINNER
TM
2018 WINNER
Applied Behavioral Learning Ser 617 -467 -4136 www.ablspart ners.org TM
2019 WINNER
TM
2020 WINNER
Applied Behavioral Learning Services 617.467.4136 www.ablspartners.org www.BostonParentsPaper.com Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
33
Myths About Financial Aid MYTH: An independent school education is out of reach for all but wealthy families. REALITY: Tuition can be expensive. But hundreds of private schools offer financial assistance to make sure that the students they’ve admitted have a realistic chance to enroll, no matter what their families’ financial status. MYTH: All schools our child applies to will offer our family the same financial aid package. REALITY: How much assistance you receive may vary a lot from school to school. The amount a school can offer depends on factors such as the size of its endowment, its tuition costs, and its philosophy about providing aid. If your decision to send your child to an independent school depends on getting some financial help, it pays to apply for aid at more than one school. MYTH: The deadlines for admission and financial aid are the same. REALITY: Often the deadlines are not the same. Check with each school (the deadlines are usually on the school’s website), and be sure to keep track of what you must do when. Do not wait to begin the financial aid process until after you receive an admission decision. It pays to complete both admission and financial aid applications at the same time, even if they’re due on different dates; plus many schools require that they be done at the same time. MYTH: The financial aid application process is complicated. 34
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
REALITY: There’s some truth to this one, but schools’ financial aid offices are working hard to make the process as clear and convenient as possible. More than 2,100 schools use SSS, School and Student Services by NAIS, to help them make financial aid decisions. This means you may only have to fill out one form to apply for financial aid at several schools. The form and instructions are available online. In addition, many schools offer financial aid workshops, and staffers welcome your calls any time you have questions. MYTH: If we tell the school our family needs financial aid, this might hurt our child’s chances of being admitted. REALITY: The typical school will not reject a qualified student’s admission application because the child is applying for financial aid. That said: Admission is not a guarantee that the student’s family will receive financial aid. The amount of aid depends on the family’s eligibility and the funds the school has available. MYTH: It’s too intimidating to talk to the school about our private financial matters. REALITY: The school is your very best source of realistic information about the procedures and timelines for getting aid and of advice about the types of financial assistance available. The members of the financial aid staff want you to turn to them for help. Really. Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Independent Schools, www.nais.org. www.BostonParentsPaper.com
The International School of Boston (ISB) is an independent, non-profit, French-English bilingual and international school, and one of the oldest, most respected bilingual schools in the United States. Located in Cambridge, one of the most vibrant metropolitan areas in the U.S., this worldclass accredited academic institution places the development of the bilingual brain at the heart of its mission. Offering a rich experience with rigorous programs and featuring a wide range of both local and international students and faculty, ISB prepares its students for a lifetime of learning and service. Whether students join us in Maternelle, Lower, Middle or Upper School, ISB graduates stand apart from other day schools' graduates, because their knowledge of the world is enhanced by learning across the disciplines in multiple languages and by connecting with diverse classmates from more than 40 countries.
SCHOOL PROFILES
International School of Boston
One of the many beneficial programs offered at ISB is the ISB Internship Program, enabling Upper School students to spend time in a real work environment. They also have the opportunity to study for up to a trimester at a partner school abroad. Our younger students take advantage of all that the Greater Boston area has to offer in terms of culture, arts, and history through experiential learning programs. ISB also has a very strong athletic program that includes its Blue Terriers Varsity Interscholastic soccer, basketball, volleyball and fencing teams. We invite you to sign up for our Virtual Open Houses at isbos.org/admissions.
Our youngest learners (Toute Petite Section, starting at age 2 - grade 1) spend much of the day in the French language. Students in grades 2-5 spend time in both English and French. Middle School students have Ă la carte French or English options by subject. Our oldest students, grades 9-12, can choose a curriculum that is English- or French-based. These students graduate with an American high school diploma and choose between two internationally renowned diplomas, the French or the International Baccalaureate, giving them the opportunity to succeed at leading universities in the United States, France, and around the world.
45 Matignon Road | Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140 | 617-499-1451 www.isbos.org www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
35
SCHOOL PROFILES
Pine Village Preschool
Our Mission As a Spanish Immersion preschool, the Pine Village Mission is to educate and nurture each child’s individuality within a culturally diverse, bilingual community so that every child develops a true passion for learning and an ability to engage in any environment and community. Our CORE values define our choices and hold the truths of what is most important to us as an organization. These four elements cannot stand alone within Pine Village. We need each of them to be present in our schools and our classrooms, as well as within the organization as a whole. When these four elements exist our choices are strong and our approach is clear. Love = Amor Everything we do begins with love. Love is the essence of all that we teach in our classrooms as well basis of all of our relationships. Love is at the root of acceptance and inclusion. ¡Practicamos amarnos y amar a los demás todos los días! Laughter = Risa Children deserve to learn in an environment that is filled with joy and happiness. Laughter is symbolic of comfort, ease, and enthusiasm, which makes learning fun. ¡Nos reímos juntos todos los días!
Locations Brighton 370/400 Western Avenue Brighton, MA 02135
West Newton 1326 Washington Street West Newton, MA 02465
Brookline 15 St. Paul Street Brookline, MA 02446
Newton Highlands 54 Lincoln Street Newton Highlands, MA 02461
JP / Revere Street 1 Roanoke Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Needham 65 Fourth Avenue Needham, MA 02494
JP / South Street 57 South Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Porter Square 2067 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02140
Kendall Square 695 West Kendall Street Cambridge, MA 02142
South End 700 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02118
Learning = Aprendiendo Everyone should seek opportunities to learn. Learning can happen at any moment during the day, and every moment for learning opportunities should be seized. ¡Aprendemos algo nuevo todos los días! Language = Lenguaje Language is the key that opens the door of opportunity. It unites and blends the lines of diversity. Children absorb the language we speak and share it. ¡Compartimos nuevas palabras todos los días! 10 Locations in Greater Boston 617-416-7763 | www.pinevillagepreschool.com 36
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Founded in 1877, Thayer Academy is a coeducational day school in Braintree for grades 5 through 12. Thayer students thrive in an environment distinguished by rigorous academics, a supportive culture, and a vibrant community. The Academy’s schedule is structured so that students do not have to choose one experience over the other — they can be performers, artists, and athletes while still being active and engaged students. In 2019 Thayer unveiled a new sports center as well as a new computer science and robotics wing. Easily accessible from public transportation, Thayer also offers bus routes from Boston, MetroWest, and the South Shore.
SCHOOL PROFILES
Thayer Academy
application to real-world experiences. Students who successfully complete program requirements are recognized as Thayer Academy Global Scholars at graduation. Thayer Academy's mission is to inspire a diverse community of students to moral, intellectual, aesthetic, and physical excellence so that each may rise to honorable achievement and contribute to the common good. For more information, please visit www.thayer.org or call 781.843.3580..
The Academy’s Independent Science Research (ISR) Program, a Grade 11 elective, introduces students to actual research in scientific laboratories in the Boston area with the goal of working in a lab for six to eight weeks during the summer. Thayer’s Global Scholars Capstone Program promotes greater awareness of and engagement in global issues by combining interdisciplinary academic learning with
745 Washington Street | Braintree, Massachusetts 02184 | 781-843-3580 www.thayer.org
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
37
SCHOOL PROFILES
Park Street School
Situated in sunny and spacious facilities on Beacon Hill, Park Street School (PSS) provides a continuous, integrated and experiential education for children Toddler through Grade 6. Park Street School’s robust academics feed students’ curiosity, building strong foundations of knowledge in the early years – an approach that inspires inquiry and life-long learning. Students actively participate in “out of the chair” activities and are enriched by creative hands-on experiences and cross-curricular integration. Students are encouraged to develop a growth mindset, to creatively solve problems as they interact with curriculum, with each other, and demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges. Park Street School students are equipped to become global citizens, armed with a strong academic foundation, confidence, and collaborative and critical thinking skills. More than individualized attention - students are known and loved by Park Street School faculty and staff who want each child to grow academically, socially/emotionally, spiritually and physically. Park Street School students grow in confidence, compassion and empathy. They learn of God’s love for them, show respect for others, take risks in
an affirming setting and learn how to live lives of generosity – in a vibrant community. Park Street School offers small class sizes, a diverse community and need-based financial aid. Park Street School is proud of it talented faculty, its competitive middle school placement, and aspirational college matriculation. Park Street School is a downtown Boston school, within steps of the most famous, wide open green spaces, where students play games, have recess, explore, and utilize for reading, art or even Science class. From Preschool to Grade 6, taking full advantage of its Beacon Hill location, Park Street School faculty and students regularly explore Boston’s educational and cultural sites to enhance and create learning opportunities. Visit www.parkstreetschool.org to learn more! Sign-up at www.parkstreetschool.org for a VirtualTuesday Tour from 10:30-11:30 AM or one of our evening PSS Open Houses: for the Elementary School on November 12 at 6:30 PM, or the PSS Preschool on December 3 at 6:30 PM.
67 Brimmer Street (ELEM)/One Park Street (PS), Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-523-7577 | www.parkstreetschool.org 38
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
An Austin Prep education is preparation for the journey of life. The school’s mission is “to inspire hearts to unite, minds to inquire, and hands to serve.” It’s not the formal curriculum, however, that prepares students to go the distance. It’s the unwritten curriculum of veritas, unitas, and caritas (truth, unity, love) that Austin Prep imprints on the hearts of graduates that guides them on their inner journey. Community has always been at the core of an Augustinian education. “At Austin Prep, we are on a journey that is life-changing and important,” says Head of School, James Hickey Ph.D. “Our patron, St. Augustine, embarked on a journey for the truth. At our core is an institution on the same journey, committed to exemplary teaching and learning.”
101 Willow Street Reading, Massachusetts 01867 781-944-4900 www.austinprep.org
For upcoming admissions events, please visit austinprep.org or contact the admissions office at 781-944-4900 ext. 770.
League School of Greater Boston For more than fifty years, League School of Greater Boston has remained committed to helping children and young adults, ages 3-22, with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by teaching them the skills they need to be as independent as they possibly can in all aspects of their lives: social, emotional, academic, behavioral, and vocational.
300 Boston Providence Highway Walpole, Massachusetts 02032 508-850-3900 www.leagueschool.org www.BostonParentsPaper.com
We uphold this mission through three distinct programs designed to teach social, academic, behavior and community-life skills based on a student's age and ability. Each program includes: content area academics (reading, math, science and social studies); full array of services (social pragmatics, communications, sensory integration, occupational therapy and behavior therapy); adapted physical education, art, music, culinary arts, daily living skills, community field trips and vocational training. Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
39
SCHOOL PROFILES
Austin Preparatory School
SCHOOL PROFILES
Wellan Montessori School Boston-area families choose Wellan for both educational excellence and our warm, inclusive community. Wellan’s preschool, elementary, and middle school programs each placed first as a Boston Parents “Family Favorite” in 2020. Wellan students benefit from the unique balance of freedom and responsibility offered by the school’s Montessori-Progressive curriculum, which promotes both individually-paced academic progress and collaborative project-based learning. Graduates demonstrate strong executive function skills that enable them to succeed at Greater Boston’s top public and independent schools. Empathy, community service, innovation, and social justice are emphasized throughout the curriculum. 80 Crescent Avenue Newton Centre, Massachusetts 02459 617-969-4488 www.wellan.org
Inspire. Challenge. Empower. Join us for a virtual tour at wellan.org Need-based financial assistance is available.
Acera School:
The Massachusetts School of Science, Creativity, and Leadership Be creative and inquisitive! At Acera, a K-9 STEAM school, we love questions. Our students learn by tapping into their intrinsic motivation to inquire about the world around them. Our innovative program includes individual learning plans, ability-based math, hands-on units in our life sciences lab, and creative electives in computing, philosophy, social sciences, and the arts, providing a runway that truly fits each child's interests and potential. Join us at one of Acera's upcoming virtual Parent Information Sessions. Dates and details are online at aceraschool.org/admissions 5 Lowell Avenue Winchester, Massachusetts 01890 781-729-3489 www.aceraschool.org 40
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
SCHOOL PROFILES
British International School of Boston You want the best for your child. So do we. That's why at the British International School of Boston, we educate differently. That's why we use unique curricula. That's why we offer more. That's why our students achieve more.
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF BOSTON A NORD ANGLIA EDUCATION SCHOOL
416 Pond Street Boston, MA 02130 617.522.2261 www.bisboston.org
The British International School of Boston goes beyond traditional education. We provide students, from toddlers through high school, with opportunities and experiences they simply cannot get anywhere else. As a member of Nord Anglia Education, a global family of premium schools, BISB provides its students with enriched curricula through collaborations with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), The Juilliard School, and UNICEF. Your child will discover worldwide learning opportunities through our Global Campus activities, from expeditions and experiences in Tanzania and Switzerland, to summer programs and international sports competitions. You want the best for your child. Come discover it, at the British International School of Boston!
The Wolf School The Wolf School is a private K- 8 special education school located in East Providence, RI. The Wolf School inspires Complex Learners to discover confidence, compassion, and a love of learning to reach their full potential. At Wolf, students experience individualized instruction in small groups, hands-on lessons, along with frequent movement activities to increase focus and ready themselves for learning. Over their time at Wolf, students learn how they learn by uncovering sensory supports that work best for them along with individual strategies for learning and social/emotional regulation. These lessons help to set Wolf students up for success at Wolf and beyond. 215 Ferris Avenue East Providence, Rhode Island 02916 401-432-9940 www.thewolfschool.org www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Wolf educates up to 65 students from Rhode Island and Massachusetts with a variety of tuition payment plans including private pay, out of district placement, and financial aid. Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
41
SCHOOL PROFILES
Village Preschool Open since 1983, the Village Preschool is a community based program offering full day and half day programs. The school is open year round from 7:00 to 5:30. There are individual classrooms and two outdoor playgrounds. The preschool classes use a curriculum created by Resources for Early Learning for 9 months of the year and a teacher developed curriculum the other 3 months. Assessment is done online through Teaching Strategies Gold.
Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131 617-323-5141 www.vpsroslindale.com
Transportation Children's Center TCC was incorporated in 1986 and is a private non-profit early education program providing full day early education programs including Pre-Kindergarten, Preschool, Toddler, and Infant programs located in the MA Transportation Building in downtown Boston. A hands-on approach to learning and discovering, TCC offers a variety of activities and materials that encourage manipulating, experimenting and problem solving. Our curriculum emphasizes a creative arts approach to developing reading, writing and math readiness skills to assure optimum growth and development. Individual and small group activities encourage language development, social skills, selfhelp skills in addition to fostering independence and self-control.
10 Park Plaza, Suite 3330 Boston, MA 02116 617-973-8200 http://www.transchildrencenter.org/ 42
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
The program is developmentally based allowing the children to develop at their own pace and provides a loving and nurturing environment which will enhance his/her self-esteem for future success in school. www.BostonParentsPaper.com
The Mission of Kingsley Montessori School is to engage the mind, hands, and heart of each child to nurture resilient explorers, confident learners, and empathetic citizens.
Campus Locations: 30 Fairfield Street 26 Exeter Street Boston, Massachusetts 02116 617-226-4900 www.kingsley.org
Located in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay, Kingsley Montessori School is a premier independent day school for students ages two through 12. Its unique “Foundational Decade of Learning” is student-centered and focuses on proven Montessori practices. The school strives to make the most of each student’s unique gifts and interests and to empower students to take ownership of their learning so that they may become happy, confident, and successful learners for life.
German International School Boston Welcome & Willkommen! German International School Boston (GISB) is a bilingual independent school serving students from age 3 to grade 12. The child-scaled Lower Campus houses a German immersion program for preschool and kindergarten children with no prior language requirements for entry. The Upper Campus serves grades 1 - 12 in a bilingual setting. GISB graduates attain native-level proficiency in English and German and earn both a high school diploma and the German International Abitur, an advanced degree allowing access to higher education in the US and abroad.
57 Holton Street Boston, Massachusetts 02134 617-783-2600 www.gisbos.org www.BostonParentsPaper.com
The intensive Fast Track program welcomes students entering grades 1-5 with little to no previous German language skills and prepares them to participate in GISB’s regular curriculum within one year. Contact admissions@gisbos.org to schedule a virtual tour! Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
43
SCHOOL PROFILES
Kingsley Montessori School
SCHOOL PROFILES
Lesley Ellis School Lesley Ellis School serves preschoolers through eighth graders in a community that celebrates diversity and is defined by respect for all. From the moment students enter the iconic orange Lesley Ellis doors they know what it means to belong; to be accepted; and to be challenged. Every student’s intellectual, physical, social, and emotional growth is nurtured and expertly guided at Lesley Ellis. The robust and flexible academic program allows faculty to meet individual needs of students, while simultaneously developing foundational social and emotional skills. The Lesley Ellis School program includes: • an arts program that exposes children to the vast canvas of creative expression available to them; • a schoolwide Spanish program, beginning in the earliest years;
34 Winter Street Arlington, MA 02474 781-642-1052 www.lesleyellis.org
• an award-winning anti-bias curriculum that informs all aspects of the Lesley Ellis experience and reminds students that they are part of a larger global community which requires an ever-growing need for understanding and mindfulness. The faculty at Lesley Ellis are committed and enthusiastic and infuse each student’s experience with meaning and joy.
SELA: The International Private School At SELA, we provide each child with a unique and personal learning experience. Every student will receive a full immersion education of the highest academic quality, through an engaging immersion curriculum which inspires and motivates them to strive for knowledge and understanding and prepares them for challenging, higher level work. SELA students will grow to be bilingual, globally competent citizens. SELA is proud to offer the School of Early Global Education for children ages 3 months to 5 years. The Elementary School is for children in Kindergarten through grade 6. Both schools are located in our bright, friendly and safe 20,000 square foot facility, situated in the beautiful Shipyard area of Hingham.
75 Sgt William B Terry Drive Hingham, Massachusetts 02043 781-741-5454 www.suescuela.com 44
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
At SELA, we are Creative; Confident; Bilingual.
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
St. Mary of the Assumption School is a richly diverse Catholic community serving students in grades Pre-K through Eight. We are dedicated to providing each child with a strong foundation academically, socially and spiritually. We strive to create an environment that is characterized by living faith, achieving excellence and acting responsibly.
67 Harvard Street Brookline, Massachusetts 02445 617-566-7184 www.stmarys-brookline.org
In addition to religious instruction, the school challenges students to gain mastery in language arts, mathematics, science and social studies by fostering inquiry, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Teachers develop and support awareness of the connections between subjects by providing opportunities for student projects and presentation with a core belief that the curriculum should be integrated and reflect life experiences. All St. Mary’s students are encouraged to work cooperatively with respect for one another as they experience the excitement that accompanies new learning.
Cambridge Montessori School At Cambridge Montessori School, we partner with our diverse community, using authentic Montessori principles, to reveal each child’s innate love of learning and prepare our children to thrive in a complex world.
161 Garden Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-492-3410 www.cambridgemontessori.org www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Cambridge Montessori School was founded in 1963 to foster a love of learning and to educate children to be caring, socially responsible citizens of their community and world. The educational and supplemental care programs at CMS involve children from twenty-one months through grade 8 in four different programs: Toddler, Primary, Elementary and Middle School. CMS seeks to educate the whole child, applying the Montessori philosophy, in a familyoriented environment. The philosophy is based on the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) whose holistic vision of education focuses on the cognitive, social, emotional and physical needs of the child. For Dr. Montessori, and for CMS, education is preparation for life. Cambridge Montessori School - Work the Mind. Reveal the Child. Unleash the Potential. Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
45
SCHOOL PROFILES
St. Mary of the Assumption School
SCHOOL PROFILES
The Chestnut Hill School
428 Hammond Street Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467 617-566-4394 www.tchs.org
The Chestnut Hill School educates students in a diverse, inclusive, and nurturing community where learning is infused with meaning, purpose, and joy. Believing students do their best when they feel a sense of belonging, we build caring relationships and a strong home-school partnership. At The Chestnut Hill School, our mission to educate children is deeply rooted in a commitment to academic excellence, diversity, and community. As leaders in early childhood and elementary education, we believe these three pillars are interconnected and create a diverse community of intellectually curious, culturally competent and self-empowered individuals who embrace challenge, lead by example, change the conversation.
St. Sebastian's School Committed to the pursuit of truth through faith and reason, St. Sebastian's is a Catholic independent day school for 375 young men in grades seven through twelve. With an average class size of 11 and a student/faculty ratio of 7:1, St. Sebastian's offers a program of academic rigor and spiritual depth with excellence in the arts and athletics.
1191 Greendale Avenue Needham, Massachusetts 02492 781-449-5200 www.stsebs.org 46
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
SCHOOL PROFILES
Waldorf School of Lexington The Waldorf School of Lexington (WSL) serves students from preschool and kindergarten through grade 8 on a historic campus, adjacent to the 185-acre Great Meadows conservation land.
5
WALDORF SCHOOL of Lexington
th
A N N I V E R S A RY
739 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, Massachusetts 02420 781-863-1062 www.thewaldorfschool.org
The Waldorf curriculum is carefully mapped to children’s cognitive, emotional, and physical developmental stages—including creative free play in preschool and kindergarten, providing an unhurried school experience. The school’s educational philosophy and culture instill in students respect for themselves, for each other, and the confidence to engage in a changing world. WSL prepares students for a lifetime of joyful, self-directed learning. Above all, WSL is a school where each child is seen, known, and loved. And that can change the world. For more information or to schedule a virtual tour, visit thewaldorfschool.org.
Walnut Hill School for the Arts Walnut Hill School for the Arts is an independent boarding and day high school offering a transformational educational experience purposefully designed for student artists in grades 9–12, with a postgraduate year also available.
37 Hawthorne Street Norwood, MA 02062 508-650-5020 www.walnuthillarts.org www.BostonParentsPaper.com
We offer unparalleled training in dance; music; theater; visual art; and writing, film & media arts, complemented by a robust and innovative academic curriculum. Every aspect of our program promotes our students' growth as bold artists, curious learners, and mindful citizens. Students from across the country and around the globe come together to form a dynamic community on our scenic campus located in Natick, Massachusetts, just west of Boston. Guided by master teachers and supported by peers from a variety of artistic backgrounds, Walnut Hill students graduate prepared to succeed in college and beyond. Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
47
SCHOOL PROFILES
Saint Catherine of Siena School Saint Catherine of Siena is a joyful, Catholic school of dynamic, formative learning for students in grades preschool through grade 8. Saint Catherine of Siena School has educated students in Norwood and the surrounding towns since 1926. In a personalized, student-centered environment, we celebrate the God-given greatness and unique potential of every child. We help students to develop a deep faith and love of God, and to grow as compassionate, confident, and courageous young men and women, prepared to use their gifts as Christian servant leaders in the world.
249 Nahatan Street Norwood, Massachusetts 02062 781-769-5354 www.scsnorwood.org
Meridian Academy
54 Brookside Avenue Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 617-277-1118 www.meridianacademy.org 48
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
Meridian Academy is a diverse, investigationbased, secondary school that serves students in grades six through twelve. Our families come from Boston and the surrounding communities. By carrying out long-term original projects, Meridian students become experienced problem solvers, nuanced questioners, and engaged community members. Meridian's classes are interdisciplinary and active -- students don't just learn about each subject, they become members of the disciplines: junior historians, mathematicians, writers, artists, scientists, and more. Students head to college as sophisticated writers, learners, and researchers ready to engage with their classmates and professors at a high level. Joining our intentionally small and informal community, Meridian students get to be known well and to contribute to the life of the school in powerful ways developing leadership skills. Meridian students learn deeply, because classes are varied and engaging and because their questions and ideas influence the directions of their classes. www.BostonParentsPaper.com
SCHOOL PROFILES
The Sage School Since 1990, The Sage School has served academically advanced education to gifted and talented students in grades Pre-K to 8. A private school located in Foxboro, MA, Sage provides the flexibility and challenges that gifted and talented students need—beyond what traditional schools provide.
171 Mechanic St Foxboro, MA 02035 508-543-9619 www.sageschool.org
Our students explore foreign languages, humanities, the arts, science, computer science, and math in ways that allow them to make powerful connections. In a nurturing environment, students are challenged to strive, allowed to stumble, and guided to realize their full potential. The Sage School offers an academic program rooted in rich content, depth of study, intellectual rigor, and skills acquisition. Ultimately, with a balanced approach to life and learning, Sage students confidently apply their gifts, creativity, and curiosity to the world beyond Sage. This year, students are learning in person on our campus in Foxboro or remotely online!
Glen Urquhart School Glen Urquhart School is an independent, coeducational day school for students in Pre-K through grade eight. At the core of our challenging academic program is the student - and the excitement of discovery. We believe in the power of curiosity, making mistakes, asking questions to find solutions, working with others to achieve greatness, and working as individuals for the greater good.
74 Hart Street Beverly, MA 01915 978-927-1064 www.gus.org www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Our students are offered a variety of ways to access learning through traditional methods, as well as innovative activities and projects that promote conversation and deeper thinking. We believe in being yourself, building each other up from the inside out, exploring beyond the classroom walls, and thinking outside the box. We believe that changing the world with ideas starts in pre-k.
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
49
SCHOOL PROFILES
Boston Trinity Academy Boston Trinity Academy is a Christian, coed, college preparatory middle and high school. We educate a diverse student body from the greater Boston area and beyond. We are committed to providing an exceptional academic experience that inspires each student to excel in a community where they are known and loved. Our graduates demonstrate the intellect, leadership, and moral character they learn here as they succeed at top universities and in life.
17 Hale Street Boston, MA 02136 617-364-3700 www.bostontrinity.org/
Belmont Hill School Since 1923, Belmont Hill has focused on developing boys in mind, body, and spirit. Through years of practice and research, we know how boys learn best: how they interact, develop, and ultimately thrive as their best selves. Boys are known and nurtured, and are free to pursue their academic interests and their passions in athletics, service, and the arts. Working together with faculty mentors, boys maneuver through challenges, strive for excellence, celebrate difference, and develop friendships that last a lifetime.
350 Prospect Street Belmont, MA 02478 617-993-5220 www.belmonthill.org 50
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
The faculty, administration, and students are dedicated to creating a community that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable. The heart of the mission, always, is to develop boys into young men of great character. Visit www.belmonthill.org or call 617-993-5220 learn more and to schedule a virtual visit. Belmont Hill. Always character. Always together. www.BostonParentsPaper.com
SCHOOL PROFILES
Fay School
Fay is an independent, co-educational school that serves students in Kindergarten through grade nine, with an optional boarding program for grades 7-9. Located in Southborough, MA, our 66-acre rural campus is just 25 miles west of Boston. Fay is recognized around the world for its superior educational program, and our graduates are accepted to top secondary schools, including Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, Deerfield Academy, and Groton School. In addition to the core courses of mathematics, science, English, and history, students take art, music, and world languages. Students also focus on the design thinking process with courses in our 3,000 squarefoot Innovation Lab.
While the School has grown and evolved since its founding in 1866, our central purpose has remained constant: we provide our students with the foundation for a meaningful life. Fay's program empowers students to discover their talents, develop their intellectual abilities, establish essential academic skills and knowledge, and define their moral character - all essential to living a life of meaning and making a positive difference in the world.
Our community members embrace our five core values - Academic Excellence, Honorable Conduct, Dedicated Service, Earnest Effort, and Wellness of Mind, Body, and Spirit - and our school motto, Poteris Modo Velis (“You can if you will�) highlights our community's emphasis on determination, effort, and resilience. Our boarding program, an option for seventh, eighth, and ninth graders, is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of junior boarders. Our boarding students come from across the United States and 24 countries: together, they learn and grow in an environment of care and respect, while developing essential life skills that foster independence and self-confidence.
48 Main Street, Southborough, Massachusetts 01772 www.fayschool.org www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
51
Featured Listings
52
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Enrollment
Affiliation / Notes Languages
Tuition Range Tuition Assistance
SCHOOL LISTINGS
Private Schools
Accreditation/ Associations
Arlington Arlington Catholic High School 16 Medford St Arlington • (781) 646-7770 www.achssas.org
Lesley Ellis School 34 Winter St. Arlington • (781) 642-1052 www.lesleyellis.org See pages 19, 44
9-12 Co-Ed 18:1 435
Catholic Spanish, French, Italian, Latin
$13750.00 FA Available
NEASC
PS - 8 Co-Ed 8:1 211
NonDenominational Spanish
$$10,000 $36,000 FA Available
NAIS AISNE
PK - 8 Co-Ed 6:1 308
NonDenominational French, Latin, Spanish
$27,220 to $42,630 FA Available
AISNE
7-12 Boys Only 7:1 460
NonDenominational Boys Only French, Latin, Spanish
$52,000 FA Available
PK - 8 Co-Ed 7:1 185
NonDenominational Latin, Spanish
$16,400 $36,600 FA Available
AISNE
PK - 8 Co-Ed 9:1 180
Catholic Spanish
$7,990 FA Available
NEASC
6-12 Co-Ed 7:1 240
NonDenominational Latin,French, Spanish
$20,700 $32-500 FA Available
NEASC NAIS AISNE
PK-12 Co-Ed 8:1 440
NonDenominational French, Spanish
$18,600 $37,400 FA Available
NAEYC CIS
PK-12 Co-Ed 12:1 250
German Schools Abroad German, French, Spanish
$21,400 $25,875 FA Available
DAS AINSE MINT
Belmont Belmont Day School 55 Day School Lane Belmont • (617) 484-3078 www.belmontday.org
Belmont Hill School 350 Prospect Street Belmont • (617) 993-5220 www.belmonthill.org
Beverly Glen Urquhart School 74 Hart Street Beverly • (978) 927-1064 www.gus.org See pages 17, 49
The Saints Academy 111 New Balch Street Beverly • (978) 922-0048 www.saintsacademy.org
Boston Boston Trinity Academy 17 Hale Street Boston • (617) 364-3700 www.bostontrinity.org
British International School of Boston 416 Pond Street Boston • (617) 522-2261 www.bisboston.org See pages 13, 41
German International School Boston 57 Holton Street Boston • (617) 783-2600 www.gisbos.org See page 43
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
53
SCHOOL LISTINGS
Private Schools
Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Enrollment
Affiliation / Notes Languages
Kingsley Montessori School
PS-6 Co-Ed 5:1 Toddler; 9:1 Preschool 8:1 Lower Elem; 12.1 Upper Elem 665
NonDenominational Spanish
$23,000 $33,200 FA Available
AMS AISNE
Toddler Grade 6 Co-Ed EL:10:1/ PS:5/1 250
Christian Spanish
$10,300 $30,700
AISNE, NAIS
Toddler PreK Co-Ed Varies Varies
Non Denominational Spanish
Varies
Accredited
Infant-PreK Co-Ed Varies 17
NonDenominational
Varies
NAEYC Accredited
5-12 Co-Ed 6:1 695
Latin, Spanish, French, and Chinese
$51,800 FA Available
NEASC
Toddler PreK Co-Ed Varies Varies
Non Denominational Spanish
Varies
Accredited
PS, K-12 Co-Ed Varies 550
Modern Orthodox Jewish Schoool Hebrew - ; PS-12 Spanish - 8-12
$22,280 33,383 FA Available
Toddler PreK Co-Ed Varies Varies
Non Denominational Spanish
Varies
30 Fairfield Street 26 Exeter Street Boston • (617) 226-4927 www.kingsley.org See pages 29, 43
Park Street School 67 Brimmer Street Boston • (617) 523-7577 www.parkstreetschool.org See pages 11, 38
Pine Village Preschool 700 Harrison Avenue Boston • (617) 416-7763 www.pinevillagepreschool.com See pages 3, 36
Transportation Children’s Center 10 Park Plaza, Suite 3330 Boston • (617) 973-8200 http://www.transchildrencenter.org/ See pages 29, 42
Tuition Range Tuition Assistance
Accreditation/ Associations
Braintree Thayer Academy 745 Washington Street Braintree • (781) 843-3580 www.thayer.org See pages 2, 37
Brighton Pine Village Preschool 402 Western Avenue Brighton • (617) 416-7763 www.pinevillagepreschool.com See pages 3, 36
Brookline Maimonides School 34 Philbrick Road Brookline • (617) 232-4452 www.maimonides.org
Pine Village Preschool 15 St. Paul Street Brookline • (617) 416-7763 www.pinevillagepreschool.com See pages 3, 36
54
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
Accredited
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Enrollment
St. Mary of the Assumption School
PreK-12 Co-Ed Varies 550
67 Harvard Street Brookline • (617) 566-7184 www.stmarys-brookline.org See pages 27, 45
Affiliation / Notes Languages
Tuition Range Tuition Assistance
SCHOOL LISTINGS LISTINGS SCHOOL
Private Schools
Accreditation/ Associations
Catholic Spanish, Mandarin (Afterschool Club)
$7,200$10,125 FA Available
NEASC
$27,58035,990 FA Available
AISNE
Spanish
Cambridge Cambridge Friends School 5 Cadbury Road Cambridge • (617) 354-3880 www.cfsmass.org
Cambridge Montessori School 161 Garden Street Cambridge • (617) 492-3410 www.cambridgemontessori.org See pages 23, 45
Cambridge-Ellis School 80 Trowbridge Street Cambridge •(617) 354-0014 www.cambridge-ellis.org/
International School of Boston 45 Matignon Road Cambridge • (617) 499-1451 www.isbos.org See pages 5, 35
Pine Village Preschool 695 West Kendall Street Cambridge • (617) 416-7763 www.pinevillagepreschool.com See pages 3, 36
Pine Village Preschool 2067 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge • (617) 416-7763 www.pinevillagepreschool.com See pages 3, 36
PreK-8 Co-Ed Varies 150 PreK-8 Co-Ed 4:1 Toddler 10:1 Primary and above 185
Non Denominational Spanish
$23,000 $34,000 FA Available
AMS, AISNE, MSM, NAIS
PS-PK Co-Ed 1:3 for Toddlers, 3:16 for Preschool 100
NonDenominational English, Spanish, French, Mandarin
$13,00041,000 FA Available
AISNE, NAEYC, QRIS
PS-12 Co-Ed 6:1 520
NonDenominational French, English, Spanish, German and Chinese
$21,200$37,300 FA Available
Ministère de l’éducation nationale, CIS, NEASC and IBO
Toddler PreK Co-Ed Varies Varies
Non Denominational Spanish
Varies
Accredited
Toddler PreK Co-Ed Varies Varies
Non Denominational Spanish
Varies
Accredited
3-22 years Co-Ed 2:1 48
Catholic Spanish
CAll for Info. FA Available
PS-6 Co-Ed 5:1 230
NonDenominational Spanish
$24,700$41,600 FA Available
Chestnut Hill The Campus School at Boston College 235 Beacon St Chestnut Hill • (617) 552-3460 bostoncollege/campusschool
The Chestnut Hill School 428 Hammond Street Cambridge • (617) 566-4394 www.tchs.org See page 46
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
AISNE
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
55
SCHOOL LISTINGS
Private Schools
Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Enrollment
Affiliation / Notes Languages
Tuition Range Tuition Assistance
Accreditation/ Associations
Dedham Noble and Greenough School 10 Campus Drive Dedham • (781) 326-3700 www.nobles.edu
The Rashi School 8000 Great Meadow Road Dedham • (617) 969-4444 www.rashi.org
7-12 Co-Ed 6:1 630
NonDenominational Spanish
$52,30058,100
AISNE, ISL
K-8 Co-Ed 5.2:1 310
Reform Jewish English, Hebrew, Spanish
$28,900 $36,225 FA Available
AISNE
K-9 Co-Ed 12:1 220
NonDenominational French, Spanish, Chinese, Latin
$18,600$64,900 FA Available
AISNE, TABS, TEMA, JBSA, NAIS
CAll for Info.
AISNE
Deerfield The Bement School 94 Old Main Street Deerfield • (443) 850-4035 www.bement.org
Dorchester Epiphany School 154 Centre Street Dorchester • (857) 225-2367 www.epiphanyschool.com
Saint Brendan School 29 Rita Rd Dorchester • (617) 282-3388 www.stbrendanschool.org
5-8 Co-Ed 3:1 20
French, Spanish, Chinese, Latin
PK-6th grade Co-Ed 14:1 210
Catholic
$5,600 $8,000 FA Available
NCEA, NEASC
K-8 Co-Ed 4:1 65
NonDenominational
$60,100
MAAPS
PS-9th Co-Ed 6:1 276
NonDenominational English, Spanish, French
$12,500 $23,500 FA Available
AISNE
PS-8th Co-Ed 6:1 155
Spanish
$30,000 FA Available
AISNE
Infant -6th Grade Co-Ed Varies 195
NonDenominational Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, English
Varies FA Available
East Providence, RI The Wolf School 215 Ferris Avenue East Providence, RI • (401) 432-9940 www.thewolfschool.org See pages 21, 41
Fitchburg Applewild School 120 Prospect Street Fitchburg • (978) 342-6053 www.applewild.org
Foxboro The Sage School 171 Mechanic Street Foxboro • (508) 543-9619 www.sageschool.org See pages 25, 49
Hingham SELA: The International Private School 75 Sgt William B Terry Drive Hingham • (781) 741-5454 www.suescuela.com See pages 27, 44 56
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Enrollment
Affiliation / Notes Languages
Tuition Range Tuition Assistance
SCHOOL LISTINGS
Private Schools
Accreditation/ Associations
Jamaica Plain Meridian Academy 54 Brookside Avenue Jamaica Plain • (617) 277-1118 www.meridianacademy.org
Pine Village Preschool 8 Revere Street Jamaica Plain • (617) 416-7763 www.pinevillagepreschool.com See pages 3, 36
Pine Village Preschool 57 South Street Jamaica Plain • (617) 416-7763 www.pinevillagepreschool.com See pages 3, 36
6-12 Co-Ed 5:1 75
NonDenominational Spanish, French
$50 $32,000 FA Available
Toddler PreK Co-Ed Varies Varies
Non Denominational Spanish
Varies
Accredited
Toddler PreK Co-Ed Varies Varies
Non Denominational Spanish
Varies
Accredited
Ages 3-22 Co-Ed 8:1 120
NonDenominational English, Spanish
$78,500 $85, 000
DESE
6-12 Co-Ed 10:1 300
NonDenominational French, Spanish
$27,800 (Middle School Day) to $62,800 (Traditional Boarding)
SSATB
Toddler - 8th grade Co-Ed Varies 194
NonDenominational Spanish
$21,225 $33,615 FA Available
AISNE AMS
PS - 8th Co-Ed Varies 150
NonDenominational Spanish
$7,000– $27,000 FA Available
AISNE AMS
PS - K Co-Ed 6:1 65
NonDenominational French
$8,400 $21,000
6-12 Girls Only 8:1 205
Catholic Latin, Spanish, French
$31,386 FA Available
Lexington Cotting School 453 Concord Avenue Lexington • (781) 862-7323 www.cotting.org
Lexington Christian Academy 48 Bartlett Avenue Lexington • (781) 862-7850 www.lca.edu
Lexington Montessori School 130 Pleasant Street Lexington • (781) 862-7323 www.lexmontessori.org
Waldorf School of Lexington 739 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington • (781) 863-1062 www.thewaldorfschool.org See pages 25, 47
Lincoln The Teddy Bear Club 239 Concord Road Lincoln • (781) 259-0009 www.teddybearclub.org
Medfield Montrose School 29 North Street Medfield • (508) 359-2423 www.montroseschool.org/
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
National School of Character NEASC, NAIS AISNE
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
57
SCHOOL LISTINGS
Private Schools
Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Enrollment
Affiliation / Notes Languages
Tuition Range Tuition Assistance
Accreditation/ Associations
K-12 Co-Ed 11:1 75
Classical Christian Latin
$6,620$7,070 FA Available
ACCS
PK-8 Co-Ed 10:1 80
NonDenominational Spanish
$6,500 for half day $13,000 for middle school FA Available
AMS, MSM
K-8 Co-Ed 5:1 125
NonDenominational Spanish
$13,900 FA Available
AISNE
K-12 Co-Ed 14:1 1047
NonDenominational Spanish
$32,000 K $61,920 Upper Boarding
9-12 Co-Ed 6:1 655
Chinese, French, Latin, Spanish
$44,880 $66,810 FA Available
Middleborough Samuel Fuller School 6 Plympton Street Middleborough • (508) 947-3217 www.samuelfullerschool.org
Millis Woodside Montessori Academy 350 Village Street Millis • (508) 376-5320 www.woodsideacademy.com
Milton Delphi Academy of Boston 564 Blue Hill Avenue Milton • (617) 333-9610 www.delphiboston.org
Milton Academy 170 Centre Street Milton • (617) 898-2509 www.milton.edu/k8
Mount Hermon Northfield Mount Hermon 1 Lamplighter Way Mount Hermon • (413) 498-3000 www.nmhschool.org
Natick RCS Learning Center 6 Strathmore Road Natick • (508) 650-5940 www.rcslearning.org
Ages 3-22 Co-Ed 1:1 42
No cost if accepted
Needham Pine Village Preschool 65 Fourth Street Needham • (617) 416-7763 www.pinevillagepreschool.com See pages 3, 36
St. Sebastian’s School 1191 Greendale Avenue Needham • (781) 449-5200 www.stsebs.org
Toddler PreK Co-Ed Varies Varies
Non Denominational Spanish
Varies
Accredited
7-12 Boys Only 7:1 375
Independent School League English, Spanish, Latin
$50,570 FA Available
AISNE, ISL, IBSC, NAIS, RCAB, SSATB,
Toddler PreK Co-Ed Varies Varies
Non Denominational Spanish
Varies
Accredited
Newton Pine Village Preschool 1326 Washington Street Newton • (617) 416-7763 www.pinevillagepreschool.com See pages 3, 36 58
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Enrollment
Solomon Schechter Day School
Toddler-8th Co-Ed 15:1 400
Jewish English, Hebrew, Spanish
$20,000$30,000 FA Available
Toddler-K Co-Ed 6:1 100
NonDenominational French
$8,400 $21,000
Toddler-8th Co-Ed Varies 260
NonDenominational Spanish
$26,200 – $30,600 FA Available
AISNE, AMS
Toddler PreK Co-Ed Varies Varies
Non Denominational Spanish
Varies
Accredited
PS-4th Co-Ed 7:1 40
NonDenominational Spanish
$9,000$14,000 FA Available
DESE
PK-12th Co-Ed 8:1 85
NonDenominational French, Spanish
$5,650 $16,700
MSM, AMS
PS-8 Co-Ed 15:1 275
Catholic Spanish
$7,750$10,500 FA Available
NEASC
K-12 Co-Ed 5:1 218
NonDenominational French, Spanish, Latin
$25,100$29,800
NAIS, AISNE, ISAM, NEACAC, NACAC, MIAA, NESSA
$9,000 $17,000
AMI, AISNE, MSM
60 Stein Circle Newton • (617) 964-7765 www.ssdsboston.org
The Teddy Bear Club 1466 Commonwealth Avenue Newton • (617) 332-1611 www.teddybearclub.org
Affiliation / Notes Languages
Tuition Range Tuition Assistance
SCHOOL LISTINGS
Private Schools
Accreditation/ Associations
AISNE
Newton Centre Wellan Montessori School 80 Crescent Avenue Newton Centre • (617) 969-4488 www.wellan.org See pages 19, 40
Newton Highlands Pine Village Preschool 54 Lincoln Street Newton Highlands • (617) 416-7763 www.pinevillagepreschool.com See pages 3, 36
Northborough The Fitzgerald Institute 261 Main Street Northborough • (508) 466-8486 www.thefitzgeraldinstitute.org
Norwood Norwood Montessori School 462 Walpole St Norwood • (818) 497-1698 www.NorwoodMontessoriSchool.com
Saint Catherine of Siena School 249 Nahatan Street Norwood • (781) 769-5354 www.scsnorwood.org
Osterville Cape Cod Academy 50 Osterville - West Barnstable Road Osterville • (508) 428-5400 www.capecodacademy.org
Quincy Adams Montessori School 310 Adams Street Quincy • (617) 773-8200 www.adamsmontessori.org
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Toddler-6th Co-Ed Varies 120
Spanish
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
59
SCHOOL LISTINGS
Private Schools
Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Enrollment
Affiliation / Notes Languages
Tuition Range Tuition Assistance
Accreditation/ Associations
Reading Austin Preparatory School 101 Willow Street Reading • (781) 944-4900 www.austinprep.org See pages 13, 39
6-12 Co-Ed 10:1 730
Catholic Latin, French, Mandarin and Spanish
$24,100 FA Available
NEASC
K-8 Co-Ed 14:1 197
Catholic Spanish, Mandarin, Latin
K-8: $7,400, Preschool: $700 Biweekly FA Available
PS Co-Ed 10:1 80
NonDenominational Spanish, Mandarin, Latin
$14,300 $22,100 FA Available
PS-6th Co-Ed 8:1 70
NonDenominational Spanish
$10,500$11,000 FA Available
K-9 Co-Ed 6:1 475
NonDenominational
$26,200 $44,630 FA Available
AISNE
3-22 Years Co-Ed 4:1 105
NonDenominational
Call for Info.
DESE, DEEC, MAAPS, NAPSEC
Infant-K Co-Ed Varies 50
NonDenominational
$12,000$24,000
K-8 Co-Ed 6:1 160
Jewish English and Hebrew
$30,000$35,000 FA Available
Roslindale Sacred Heart STEM School 1035 Canterbury Street Roslindale • (617) 323-2500 www.sacredheart-boston.org
Village PreSchool 25 Cummins Highway Roslindale • (617) 323-5141 www.vpsroslindale.com See pages 21, 42
Royalston The Village School 253 S. Royalston Road Royalston • (978) 249-3505 www.villageschoolma.org
Southborough Fay School 48 Main Street Southborough • (508) 490-8201 www.fayschool.org
Walpole League School of Boston 300 Boston Providence Highway Walpole • (508) 850-3900 www.leagueschool.org See pages 7, 39
Watertown Four Seasons Preschool and Kindergarten 15 Hall Avenue Watertown • (617) 923-4848 www.fourseasonspreschool.com
Jewish Community Day School 57 Stanley Ave Watertown • (617) 972-1733 www.jcdsboston.org
60
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
AISNE, NAIS
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Grades Gender Stud-Fac Ratio Enrollment
Affiliation / Notes Languages
Tuition Range Tuition Assistance
SCHOOL LISTINGS
Private Schools
Accreditation/ Associations
Wellesley Dana Hall School 45 Dana Road Wellesley • (781) 235-3010 www.danahall.org
5-12 Girls Only 6:1 461
NonDenominational Spanish, French, Mandarin, Latin
$51,500 FA Available
NEASC, NCGS, NAIS, AISNE, TABS
PS-6th Co-Ed 15:1 285
Catholic Spanish
$10,600 for Nursery Grade level tuition $7,895
NEASC, ABCSA
7-12 Boys Only 6:1 520
Catholic Spanish, Mandarin, Latin
$22,700 FA Available
NEASC, CSI
PK4-8 Co-Ed 12:1 120
Christian
$4,750 $6,180 FA Available
ACSI
PreK-9th Co-Ed 9:1 580
Christian Spanish
$8,000$14,000 FA Available
NEASC, CSI
PK-8th Co-Ed 15:1 200
NonDenominational Spanish
$7,995 $8,800 FA Available
ACSI
K-9 Co-Ed 6:1 140
NonDenominational
$26,000$28,000 FA Available
7-12 Girls Only 12:1 300
Catholic French, Spanish, Latin
$11,360$15,150 FA Available
West Roxbury Holy Name Parish School 535 West Roxbury Parkway West Roxbury • (617) 325-9338 www.holynameparishschool.org
Westwood Xaverian Brothers High School 800 Clapboardtree Street Westwood • (781) 326-6392 www.xbhs.com
Weymouth First Baptist Christian School 40 West Street Weymouth • (781) 335-6232 www.fbcsweymouth.org
Whitinsville Whitinsville Christian School 279 Linwood Ave. Whitinsville • (508) 234-8211 www.whitinsvillechristian.org
Wilmington Abundant Life Christian School and Learning Center 173 Church Street Wilmington • (978) 657-8710 www.ablifeschool.com
Winchester Acera: The Massachusetts School of Science, Creativity and Leadership 5 Lowell Avenue Winchester • (781) 729-3489 www.aceraschool.org See pages 23, 40
Worcester Notre Dame Academy 425 Salisbury Street Worcester • (508) 757-6200 www.nda-worc.org
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
NEASC, NCEA
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
61
Public and Private School Organizations These local and national organizations offer information on a variety of educational options.
school districts, and data on enrollment, dropout rates and plans of high school graduates.
Association of Independent Schools in New England 781-843-8440; aisne.org Provides services to members, including Massachusetts private schools, promotes educational leadership and offers an online directory of member schools.
Massachusetts Home Learning Association mhla.org The oldest statewide home school organization in Massachusetts is a support, information and advocacy group. Website offers resources on homeschooling, support groups and more.
Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston 617-965-7350; bje.org Central educational service agency for more than 100 schools or school units, youth groups, summer camps and adult education programs.
Montessori Schools of Massachusetts 508-789-6546; msmresources.org Explains the Montessori education method and offers a list of Massachusetts Montessori schools.
National Association of Independent Massachusetts Department of Schools Education Information Services 202-973-9700; nais.org doe.mass.edu/infoservices Provides a database of member schools Provides profiles of Massachusetts public 62
Boston Parents Paper | Guide to Private Schools
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
plus tips for choosing and applying to a school, obtaining financial aid and more. National Catholic Educational Association 800-711-6232; ncea.org
Special Needs Education Support Autism Society, Massachusetts 781-237-0272, ext. 17; autism-society-massachusetts.org The local chapter of this national organization offers information on autism news and research, local treatment services, a calendar of events and more. Federation for Children with Special Needs 617-236-7210; 800-331-0688 (in Mass.); fcsn.org Advocacy, resources and information for parents and professionals. Massachusetts Branch of the International Dyslexia Association 617-650-0011; massbranchida.org Provides recommended reading materials for parents of kids with dyslexia, conducts professional development workshops and more.
www.BostonParentsPaper.com
Information on a private, Catholic education from educators and institutions serving students in elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities.
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 617-740-1600; mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/mcdhh Services for deaf and hard of hearing, including interpreting, case management and technology. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 781-338-3000; doe.mass.edu The State’s education website with information on special education, standardized testing, public schools and related topics. Special Needs Advocacy Network 508-655-7999; spanmass.org Offers support and referrals to Massachusetts special needs advocates and provides special education workshops and training.
Guide to Private Schools | Boston Parents Paper
63
Online & In-Person Fall Math Classes
NOW ENROLLING
The Russian School of Mathematics is an award-winning, afterschool math enrichment program for K-12 students; we help children of all levels build a solid math foundation and develop critical-thinking and problem solving skills. All courses are taught in a live, interactive, virtual classroom setting. Hybrid and in-person courses may also be available; please inquire with the office for more information!
RSM is “among the top 10 schools in the world.� -Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
14 Locations in MA!
Schedule a FREE Math Evaluation!
Fall Classes Now Enrolling!
www.RussianSchool.com
855.MATH.855
