12 Private Schools Helping Students Reach Their Full Potential

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Editor’s Note: Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, open houses and school reopenings may be rescheduled or moved online. Parents are encouraged to contact schools for more info.

Finding the right school for your child can be a daunting task, especially with so many excellent options in the Greater Boston area. Besides academics, you’ll want to consider opportunities outside the classroom—such as athletics and extracurriculars—that will provide your child with a well-rounded experience. Whether you’re looking for a school to challenge your gifted high-school student or get your preschooler started on the right foot, the following schools can help you start your search.

Cambridge Friends School
Camp Birch School
Cape Cod Academy
CATS Academy Boston
Fayerweather Street School
Inly School
The Meadowbrook School
Russian School of Mathematics
Teddy Bear Club
Wellan Montessori School
Worcester Academy
Xaverian Brothers High School

Cambridge Friends School

Cambridge Friends School is dedicated to engaging students in meaningful academic learning within a caring community strongly committed to social justice. CFS is an independent day school in Cambridge, MA, that provides an education guided by Quaker principles for grades pre-K through 8. Students develop their intellectual and creative potential to become active and lifelong learners. CFS graduates are exceedingly well prepared both academically and socially to take on the rigors of high school and beyond. cambridgefriendsschool.org | 617-354-3880

Camp Birch Hill

Nestled in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, Camp Birch Hill offers an elective-based program for boys and girls ages 6 to 16. This classic New England overnight summer camp sits on 106 acres of private, lakeside land where campers from across the globe attend for two, four or six-week sessions. The program empowers children, allowing the campers to create personalized schedules with opportunities to discover new interests. Camp Birch Hill continues to provide a safe, positive and welcoming environment where campers are free to explore, engage, create, connect with nature and develop lasting friendships and memories. campbirchhill.com |  603-859-4525

Cape Cod Academy

Cape Cod Academy is an independent, college preparatory school for students in kindergarten to grade 12. Situated on 46 acres in Osterville, the school features outdoor classrooms, multiple athletic fields, two gymnasiums, state-of-the-art science labs, and a black box theatre. Camp Cod Academy instills a love of learning in students as they pursue academic excellence and develop life skills in a safe, values-centered community. Students are inspired to become inquisitive learners, leaders in their communities, and eventually, leaders in our global community. One-hundred percent of Cape Cod Academy seniors are accepted to four-year colleges! Learn about CCA’s personalized tuition program by visiting their website. capecodacademy.org | 508-428-5400

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CATS Academy Boston

During the summer months, CATS Academy Boston welcomes students from across the globe to participate in its range of summer programs. All programs are held at the school’s state-of-the-art campus, located in the academic heart of the United States of America. CATS Academy Boston summer programs offer a variety of subjects, including coding, illustration, theater, engineering and much more. catsacademyboston.com | 857-400-9700

Fayerweather Street School

Founded in 1967, Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge is a pre-K to grade 8 school with an emphasis on progressive education. The school strives to help students connect with their own curiosity and find joy in the learning process. The vibrant classrooms are filled with passionate teachers and engaged learners. They offer an anti-bias curriculum with a focus on social responsibility. They have a diverse student population, plus a co-teacher model with mixed-age classrooms. The offerings include Spanish, music, art, woodshop, library, and physical education. fayerweather.org | 617-876-4746

Inly School

An innovative learning community on the South Shore, Inly School inspires students to be creative thinkers and self-motivated, lifelong learners. Inly’s toddler, preschool, full-day kindergarten, elementary, and middle school programs blend proven Montessori curriculum and educational best practices at all levels. A year-round program for toddlers and preschoolers offers flexible scheduling options for working families. Hands-on, experiential learning, world languages for all ages, and an arts-rich, integrated, rigorous academic curriculum prepare Inly students to be independent, forward-thinkers who succeed at their choice of secondary schools and in real life. In addition to academic excellence, Inly grads receive intangible benefits—confidence, independence, and social and interpersonal responsibilities. inlyschool.org | 781-545-5544

The Meadowbrook School

What’s the value of a great education? How about a lifelong eagerness to challenge the intellect, a spirit that’s never satisfied with “good enough,” and the drive to move the world. The Meadowbrook School is a coeducational independent day school in Weston that inspires and challenges learners in grades junior-kindergarten through 8. Their talented teachers engage students in an advanced curriculum from the very beginning, building deep personal connections to spark the potential of every child. There, innovation goes beyond technology and engineering or even the latest curricular approach. It’s a deliberate mindset of always seeking a better way. meadowbrook-ma.org | 781-894-1193

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Russian School of Mathematics

Russian School of Mathematics understands that each student’s learning needs are unique. Summer math programs are a great opportunity for students to learn and advance without the typical pressures of the academic year. The math enrichment summer program is an intensive six-week course that builds, develops, and reinforce the work done over the academic year and prepares the student for the year ahead. The program is a great way for new students to introduce themselves to the Russian School of Mathematics approach and prepare for the full year courses. The program schedule is designed for students of all levels, including kindergarten, Calculus, and SAT preparation. russianschool.com/our-programs/summer-school | 855-MATH-855

Teddy Bear Club

Founded in 1993, Teddy Bear Club was born out of the desire to layer a well-rounded academic curriculum over a socially focused preschool experience, in a bilingual French-English environment. The program’s aim is to instill confidence and self-esteem in its students while building a solid foundation for their future academic success in primary school and beyond. Teddy Bear Club is widely renowned for its long-tenured team of caring and enthusiastic teachers—all of whom are bilingual—its gorgeous campuses, its wide-ranging curriculum, and its internationally diverse student body. Teddy Bear Club has locations in West Newton and Lincoln, MA, and serves families with children 21 months through kindergarten from all over the Greater Boston area. teddybearclub.org | 617-332-1611

Wellan Montessori School

Wellan Montessori School (formerly Newton Montessori School) is an independent, coeducational school for students age 15 months through grade 8, located in Newton Centre. At Wellan, educators harness the power of each child’s intrinsic motivation; all students are known, cherished, and given the opportunity to achieve their greatest potential. Students benefit from hands-on lessons and structured curricula while working toward mastery in all subject areas. Graduates emerge as capable leaders with deep self-knowledge, sharply tuned academic skills, and empathy for others, well prepared for the area’s top public and independent schools. Schedule a tour through their website to see their immersive education firsthand. wellan.org | 617-969-4488

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Worcester Academy

Worcester Academy is an exceptional co-educational independent school for day and boarding students in grades 6-12 and postgraduates. Through an innovative and thoughtfully designed curriculum, Worcester Academy instills in its students a lifelong passion for learning and a foundation of core values that enable them to achieve honors as leaders and world citizens. The curriculum is designed within a global, multicultural context that helps students develop the independence, confidence, and world-readiness they need to succeed in college and beyond. Worcester Academy prides itself on top-flight academics, arts and higher-level athletics; its connectivity within the Worcester community; and a unique five-day boarding program within a structured residential setting. worcesteracademy.org | 508-754-5302

Xaverian Brothers High School

At Xaverian Brothers High School, boys in grades 7 through 12 discover the true meaning of strength in a community where the dignity of each person is respected so that all can thrive. In an educational environment that values character, strength is defined by taking responsibility and giving credit where it’s due, knowing when to speak out and when to hold back, doing the right thing even when it’s not popular, and having faith in the face of doubt. With a high-caliber college-preparatory curriculum, devoted teachers, and state-of-the-art facilities, students are empowered to achieve beyond their expectations and share their gifts with a world in need. xbhs.com | 781-326-6392.