Concord Academy cannot help but impress anyone who visits here. It has a historic background and geographic setting are both compelling and inspiring. But of course for students and their parents, it will not be enough for a school to have an interesting history and a serene location. The school must also fill the bill in terms of offering its modern day students solid academics, diverse extra curricula rs and an opportunity to develop all the God given potential one brings to the high school experience. Those who preview Concord Academy may find that their search is over.
A Surprising History. Some who have read a little Massachusetts history may hear the name Concord Academy and connect it immediately with Henry David Thoreau. Indeed during Thoreau’s lifetime there was a school called Concord Academy and Thoreau for a time was there first as a student and later as a teacher. But the Concord Academy of the 1830’s only shares a common name with today’s prep school in Concord, MA.
Opened for the first time in the early 1920’s, today’s Concord Academy, in Concord, MA was actually first opened as a girls school for female students from grades 1-12. Over the years that age group was modified. Students now attend Concord Academy as a college preparatory high school. In the early 1970’s Concord Academy altered their admissions policy to include male students . Today those who attend Concord Academy can attend either as day or boarding students.
The gradual development of the school to its present status as a coeducational, boarding and day, college preparatory high school occurred while the school was simultaneously building its national reputation for academic excellence. Students who have come to Concord Academy over the years have found a school that can prepare them to academically compete for admission to the best colleges in the nation.
A Magnificent Geography. The town of Concord is a nearly idyllic location. With Boston only about 20 minutes away , anyone who is trying to preview Concord Academy, Concord,MA will be surprised at how rural parts of the town of Concord truly are. Either as a boarder or a day student , young people find themselves in an town that is filled with history.
Withing the town of Concord one can find historic Concord Bridge the site of an encounter with the British Redcoats at the start of the American Revolution. One can also find Walden Pond where Thoreau wrote his signature work “Walden”. The homes of such literary luminaries as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ellery Channing, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Louisa Alcott are all in this community. There are nature walks , bike paths, and even some upscale stores, but everywhere there is the real feeling of being immersed in history. No student who attends school at Concord Academy, Concord, MA will need to be concerned about security or location. This community is about as safe as it gets.
Academics Students can also safely rely on the quality of the academic product they will be offered. Concord Academy, Concord, MA is a small school of under 400 students or less than 100 students at each grade level. They are taught by faculty in a ratio of 1 faculty member to every six students. This means that there is thorough attention given to the academic progress of each student in each subject area.
Students who attend Concord Academy ,Concord , MA come here from solid middle school programs . Approximately 65% of the students here come from private, parochial or foreign schools. Students are accepted on the basis academic achievement, standardized tests, teacher recommendation and personal interview and statement. Only about 30% of those who apply to Concord Academy are accepted here. Should you be lucky enough to make the cut you can assume you will be studying a solid curriculum, with other well prepared students in small classes where real academic progress is both possible and expected.
Beyond the Books. Students and parents who are previewing a private prep school like Concord Academy are often concerned that at a small school they might not find the kind of diversity in the student body or in extra curricular activities to balance with the clearly outstanding academic program . At Concord academy the student body is small, but it is also quite diverse. Almost an even number of male and female students now attend Concord Academy. Of those students there is an almost equal division between day students and boarders. A full 20% of students at Concord Academy, Concord, MA are students of color and another 7% are students who are attending Concord Academy from a foreign country. Going to school here more resembles attending classes at a college than at a high school in terms of its student body diversity.
Students thinking seriously about applying to Concord Academy should be assured that despite its small over all size there is plenty of variety in the a sports and other extra curricular activities offered here. Concord Academy participates in interscholastic sports in the Eastern Independent League which has been established to provide competitive sports opportunities among schools of similar size and make up. Concord Academy competes in 22 different interscholastic sports. Most students are able to find their favorites in that selection.
For those who do not choose athletics there are many other options for how to spend your out of class time. There are more than 55 school clubs and organizations from which to choose.
The Bottom Line. It is necessary when looking at any private institution to consider the financial issues involved. Attending Concord Academy, Concord, MA is costly. Boarding Students pay $40,000 while day students are looking at a bill totaling around $ 32,000. This is a private school . Many students who attend here come from families of some money. For example one notable alum is Caroline Kennedy. But not everyone can afford to fully finance this kind of education, for the well qualified there is always the possibility of being granted a scholarship.
Concord Academy is worth a preview. It has a wonderful setting and can also set up its students in their effort to prepare for college.
