The School:
- Location: Groton, MA
- Type of School: Coed, boarding
- Number of students: 356
- Grades: 8-12
- Church Affiliation: Episcopal
- Number of faculty: 60
- Tuition: $44,350 for boarders, $33,260 for day students
- Percentage of students receiving financial aid: 35%
- Acceptance Rate: 19%
- Admissions Deadline: January 15
- School Website: Groton School
Groton had its beginnings as an Episcopal school for boys. It has always been a small school with a big impact. Most recently Curtis Sittenfeld set her novel Prep at Groton. It admitted its first black student in 1951 long before integration became fashionable.
A Brief History:
The Reverend Endicott Peabody founded Groton in 1884. He had been educated at Cheltenham College in England. As a result Groton in its early years was colored by Mr. Peabody's experiences at the boarding school which he had attended.
Groton was a boys' school until 1975 when it admitted its first female students.
Academics:
Groton offers 30 AP courses. Central to Groton's educational philosophy is the founder's definition of the purpose of a Groton education which is "to prepare for the active work of life." Accordingly, Groton seeks to prepare its students not just for college but for life.Classics
English
History
Math
Modern Languages
Performing Arts
Religion and Ethics
Science
Technology
Visual Arts
Groton offers hundreds of academic courses across the following departments:
Facilities:
The centerpiece of Groton's campus is St. John's Chapel. The sports center was purpose-built in 1998 and contains hockey rinks, tennis, squash and basketball courts as well as a 25 meter pool.
Groton is a member of the Independent School League, a consortium of 16 distinguished New England schools. The ISL is the oldest independent school athletic association in the U.S.
Finances:
Groton's endowment of $295 million allows it to do wonderful things such as awarding a free education to any deserving student who comes from a family with less than $75,000 annual income. That free education includes books and a laptop computer. The school gave $4 million in direct assistance to its students in 2008-2009.
Matriculation:
Groton's graduates are well-prepared for college level work. The College Matriculation List for 2004-2008 shows acceptances at the best colleges and universities at home and abroad.
Comments:
The thing about Groton which appeals to me a great deal is the small student body size. If I were sending my child to Groton, I would be reassured to know that he would not get lost in the crowd, as there is virtually no way that would happen. That feature, combined with the proximity to the Boston metropolitan area with all its amenities and the first class academic instruction explains why Groton is competitive.