Brimmer and May School

brimmer.org | 617-566-7462

Brimmer and May School is a pre-K through grade 12, all-gender, independent day school that fosters active learners, compassionate leaders, and ethical global citizens. The ideal size of the school allows for personalized instruction in a student-centered, project-based learning environment. The school is big in terms of its ambitions for each student’s growth, academic achievements, and leadership skills. It is broad in terms of its diversity, strengthened by a commitment to equity and anti-bias education. It is huge in terms of the breadth, depth, and variety of curricular options and extracurricular opportunities. Yet Brimmer remains small enough for students and faculty to have a true feeling of connection with one another, small enough for each member of the class, group endeavor, athletic team, and community not only to participate but also to shine.

Stop by the campus in historic Chestnut Hill and see why Brimmer might just be the perfect fit for your family. Visit brimmer.org to learn about the open house on Oct. 18 as well as other admissions events throughout the fall.

Cushing Academy

cushing.org | 978-827-7300

Cushing Academy develops curious, creative, and confident learners and leaders. Founded as a coeducational institution in 1865, the school is located one hour west of Boston and draws students (grades 9 through 12 and postgraduate) from more than 30 countries and 30 states to its rural, 162-acre campus in Ashburnham, Mass.

Combining outstanding academics with a robust program of athletics, arts, and cultural offerings, the academy’s dynamic faculty leads a holistic, student-centered approach to learning. At Cushing, students build confidence and intellectual curiosity; they are pushed by their teachers and peers to explore and elevate their unique range of talents, abilities, and interests.

Community plays an essential role in the Cushing experience with 96 percent of students living on campus, and the school’s academic, social, and athletic support is singularly designed to promote opportunities for leadership and personal growth. At its core, Cushing Academy empowers students in all aspects of their lives and builds a foundation for a lifetime of independence, learning, and the pursuit of excellence.

Dedham Country Day School

dedhamcountryday.org | 781-329-0850

Dedham Country Day School (DCD) believes that balance matters — in learning and in life. It combines challenge with support, pedagogical tradition with innovation, and robust academics with outstanding arts, athletics, and service opportunities to create a holistic and balanced program. Children learn who they are as diverse individuals and as part of a broader community, where acceptance is a given and students find encouragement in every connection they make. It’s a community that nurtures, nudges, and gives.

From the school’s 20 acres of outdoor space to its brand-new theater, updated health office, multipurpose room, music room, and library, DCD offers an active, immersive environment where children build confidence and grow. In this supportive setting, students get more than 40 public speaking opportunities before graduation, participate in 34 service-learning projects, and choose from 45 middle school arts electives.

From pre-K through grade 8, students tackle hands-on projects, collaborate, take risks, solve problems, and, most of all, find joy in learning. Join a classroom observation to see a day in the life and tour the newest spaces at DCD. Visit dedhamcountryday.org/admissions or connect with the admissions office to learn more.

Fay School

fayschool.org | 508-490-8201

Fay School serves 475 students in kindergarten through grade 9 on a 66-acre campus in Southborough — just 25 miles west of Boston — with convenient bus stops in Chestnut Hill, Wellesley, and Natick.

Fay was the first junior boarding school in the country, and today 150 of Fay’s students are 5- and 7-day boarders in grades 7 through 9. Fay’s boarding students hail from more than 25 countries and from across the United States, making its community lively, diverse, and truly multicultural.

Fay students thrive in an engaging program that features a schoolwide Creativity and Design curriculum and Vox Inventum, which fosters public speaking, presentation, and organizational skills, develops self-advocacy, and emphasizes effort, civility, and kindness.

Fay graduates are exceptionally well prepared. They are incisive thinkers, creative problem solvers, strong writers, and confident public speakers. They have strong study skills and know what they need to do to be successful in and out of the classroom, and they matriculate to top secondary schools around the world.

Learn more about Fay at an admission open house on Sunday, Nov. 1, from 1 to 3 p.m. Tour the campus, meet the dedicated faculty, and experience the community firsthand.

The Fenn School

fenn.org | 978-318-3606

The Fenn School is tailored for boys in grades 4 through 9 who are ready for more responsibility, challenge, independence, and opportunity. Recognizing that boys thrive when active, Fenn’s customized schedule and curriculum, 39-acre campus, and abundant outdoor time provide an ideal learning landscape. Four days of athletics per week, complemented by performing and visual arts, public speaking, service learning, student leadership, and more round out the experience.

Since 1929, Fenn has inspired students to rise to the promise of its motto “Sua Sponte.” Loosely translated as “It’s in your hands,” it asks them to take ownership of themselves, their education, and the well-being of others. Core values of honesty, respect, empathy, and courage further anchor the character education Fenn provides.

Small-group team teaching in grades 4 and 5 provides targeted support in reading, math, and executive function, plus enrichment opportunities for boys seeking additional challenge, while project-based learning sparks creativity and collaboration schoolwide. A 9th-grade capstone partnering students and nonprofits to solve real-world challenges is also a signature program.

Welcoming families from more than 40 communities, Fenn offers transportation and tuition assistance. Learn more about this unique school for boys by connecting with the Admissions team or attending the Fall Open House on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 10 a.m.

Jackson Walnut Park School

jwpschools.org | 617-969-1537

For 60 years, Jackson Walnut Park School (JWP) has partnered with families to provide an exceptional educational foundation for children from 18 months old through grade 6. The school empowers students to develop their full potential in an environment where academic excellence and character growth are inseparable. Located in Newton, JWP seamlessly unites an accredited Montessori early childhood program with a dynamic kindergarten through grade 6 independent elementary school.

The school’s 6th-grade graduates are consistently accepted to the best Boston-area secondary schools. Not only do they excel academically but they internalize empathy, resilience, and purpose. 

Students benefit from small class sizes, highly personalized instruction, and a robust, values-based curriculum that includes meaningful community service. Weekly specials include visual art, music, STEAM workshops, Mandarin, Spanish, and Latin. Diverse after-school programs range from competitive sports to culinary arts, coding and game design, ancient Greek, and much more. Focusing on educating the whole child, JWP builds lasting foundations of confidence and compassion.

Guided by the school’s mission of “love God, love learning, and love one another without distinction,” JWP welcomes families of all faith backgrounds and is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. Join an upcoming open house on Oct. 8, Oct. 25, or Nov. 17.

Lexington Christian Academy

lca.edu | 781-766-2162

Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) is school as it should be: while many schools are narrowing, LCA is expanding what is possible for students. For over 80 years, LCA has partnered with families and treated faith and learning as inseparable, helping students become who God created them to be. Through experiences that stretch and support them, LCA students graduate equipped to lead and serve with distinction, impact, integrity, and faith.

The school boasts a 100 percent college acceptance rate, which means every senior is prepared for the school that fits them best, including top institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard, Princeton, Northeastern, Babson, and Boston College. Its student body reflects a wide breadth of culture, with 68 percent of students identifying as students of color and representation from more than 25 countries.

Student life is enriched by competitive athletic teams in the Eastern Independent League and NEPSAC, led by nationally ranked coaches. A robust Spiritual Growth curriculum engages students through service pods, weekly chapels, and faith integrated into the classroom, while Career Exploration Trips connect students with local companies and industries including Massachusetts General Hospital, the New England Crime Lab, the Boston Police Department, and the Massachusetts State House. A fully equipped boarding facility is a welcoming home for more than 40 students from a dozen countries.

Montrose School

montroseschool.org | 508-359-2423

What if “college-ready” meant more than a high GPA? Colleges often refer to the gap they see between the skills most schools teach and the habits students actually need to thrive in college and beyond — like cognitive flexibility, creativity, and sound judgment. Montrose School closes that gap.

It starts with the LifeCompass™ Program, the school’s nationally recognized character and leadership program woven into everything they do. In Habits of Mind class, 6th graders explore brain science to learn how they learn best. Seniors take on a capstone project, wrestling with complex issues and proposing realistic solutions. And every girl benefits from having a personalized mentor in her corner, serving as her coach and guide.

Whether students are reading Dante, studying metaphysics, or building robots, Montrose’s liberal arts foundation teaches them to reflect deeply upon life’s enduring questions. This is what greatness of mind, heart, and character looks like.

Attend the Montrose School Open House on Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. and Curriculum Night on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. Located in the heart of historic downtown Medfield, Montrose is a school for girls in grades 6 through 12, guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart

newtoncountryday.org | 617-244-4246

Inspired by courage and confidence, which are the values now at the heart of the school’s mission, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat founded the first Schools of the Sacred Heart in France in the early 1800s. Her bold vision was to educate girls who would change the world. That legacy continues to thrive at Newton Sacred Heart and across a global network of Sacred Heart Schools in more than 40 countries.

At Newton Sacred Heart, girls in grades 5 through 12 thrive in a welcoming community of students and faculty of all faiths. United by intellectual curiosity, active compassion, and joyful traditions, students engage in a dynamic academic program that challenges them to think deeply, collaborate boldly, and explore widely. From project-based learning and discussion-based classes to extensive opportunities in the arts, athletics, leadership, and service, students both develop existing talents and discover new strengths.

As members of the international Network of Sacred Heart Schools, students participate in global service initiatives and academic exchanges that broaden their perspectives and deepen their sense of purpose. Graduates leave Newton Sacred Heart with the courage, confidence, and character to lead meaningful lives and contribute thoughtfully to their communities and the wider world.

The Rivers School

rivers.org | 781-235-9300

Founded in 1915, The Rivers School is an independent day school for grades 6 through 12 set on a 55-acre campus. Serving approximately 530 students from over 80 Massachusetts communities, Rivers inspires every student to pursue excellence, thrive in a community of connection and belonging, and create their own path to a life of impact and purpose. Guided by the school’s philosophy of “Excellence with Humanity,” Rivers community members embrace integrity, perseverance, empathy, curiosity, and joy as core values. 

Rivers’ dynamic and challenging curriculum fosters independent, critical thinkers through project-based learning with real-world applications. Middle School students make interdisciplinary connections and pursue inquiry-driven learning while engaging abstract thinking and a community-oriented mindset. Upper School students are challenged in a comprehensive core curriculum that’s differentiated to stretch each student and maximize their growth, including in a variety of honors-level, Advanced Placement, and post-AP courses. Beyond the classroom, students explore their passions in signature programs across bioethics, creative writing, scientific research, championship athletics, and world-class arts.

St. Sebastian’s School

stsebs.org | 781-247-0125

Offering the best of the Catholic and independent school traditions, St. Sebastian’s School serves 390 boys in grades 7 through 12 in an inclusive community of academic rigor and spiritual depth.

The order of the day at St. Sebastian’s is to love God, work hard, and take good care of one another. Every boy is known, loved, and called to greatness by dedicated teachers. A small average class size of 10 enables students to pursue excellence in every discipline within the school’s structured liberal arts curriculum, while exceptional writing and chapel speaking programs empower students intellectually and spiritually.

St. Sebastian’s commitment to diversity and its $5.5 million in need-based financial aid attract bright, promising boys from many communities and backgrounds. Graduates leave prepared for and excited about the challenges they will face in college and beyond. Learn more at the open house on Oct. 8 at 5:30 p.m.

Tenacre Country Day School

tenacrecds.org | 781-235-2282

Tenacre Country Day School’s mission — “Tenacre nurtures and challenges each child, every day” — permeates everything the school does, from its academic program to social development, leadership training, and community-building. Coupled with a commitment that “as a community, we strive to work hard, to find joy, and to be kind,” Tenacre’s mission allows the school to bring out the best in each student, from 4-year-old pre-K learners to 12-year-olds nearing graduation. 

Small classes and flexible groupings allow teachers to meet each student’s needs and provide the appropriate balance of nurture and challenge. Curriculum extensions enrich children’s learning and provide scaffolding for emerging talents. Special subjects — science, Spanish, technology, music, art, library, and physical education — play an important role in Tenacre’s program, and all students, pre-K to grade 6, participate in each subject.

Tenacre students graduate as confident learners, caring citizens, and critical thinkers. Parents looking for a positive school environment can find it at Tenacre, where a supportive community and strong parent involvement provide an excellent foundation for children to thrive.

Families are invited to learn more at Tenacre’s Open House on Nov. 8 or its virtual Curriculum Night on Nov. 19. Visit tenacrecds.org for details.

Wellan Montessori School

wellan.org | 617-969-4488

Discover the power of hands-on learning at Wellan, where students are inspired, challenged, and empowered to reach their highest potential. Located in Newton Centre, Wellan Montessori School is an independent, all-gender school serving students from age 15 months through grade 8. This community-oriented school draws families from diverse backgrounds and currently includes students from nearly 40 surrounding towns.

Wellan’s Montessori-Progressive curriculum grants students the agency to forge their own personalized path, guided by thoughtful, highly trained educators. Engaging co-curriculars like athletics, performing and visual arts, woodworking, and technology are incorporated into the daily schedule. Wellan emphasizes innovation, community service, social justice, and empathy throughout the student experience. Graduates emerge as capable leaders who demonstrate strong academic skills that enable them to succeed at top-tier independent and public high schools. Interested in learning more? Visit wellan.org or contact Admissions directly at [email protected]. Need-based financial assistance is available.

Worcester Academy

worcesteracademy.org | 508-459-5841

Worcester Academy inspires students to discover their strengths, ignite their passions, and shape their futures with purpose — right in the heart of New England’s second-largest city. A coeducational day and boarding school for grades 6 through 12 and postgraduates, Worcester Academy builds on nearly 200 years of tradition while preparing students to become compassionate leaders and global citizens.

Guided by the motto “Achieve the Honorable,” Worcester Academy challenges students to live out the values of scholarship, fellowship, leadership, craftsmanship, and sportsmanship. The city of Worcester becomes part of that journey, extending learning beyond the classroom. Students learn alongside the community — drawing insight from its universities, government, and cultural institutions, engaging with its theaters and museums, and contributing through service. Signature experiences like the Middle School Minimester and Senior Discovery Projects connect knowledge with practice, preparing students not only for college but for lives of impact.

From championship athletics to extraordinary arts, from robotics to student leadership, Worcester Academy gives students countless ways to explore, take risks, and grow. Faculty mentors know and support each student, ensuring that every Hilltopper is both challenged and inspired.

Rooted in history yet focused on the future, Worcester Academy is where ambition meets opportunity.