| The Fessenden School, Founded 1903
Bringing Out The Best In Boys
250 Waltham Street, West Newton, Massachusetts 02465
617-964-5350 • www.fessenden.org
The Fessenden School, located ten miles west of Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest all boys, junior boarding school in the country. In addition to intellectual diligence, a Fessenden education is based on high standards for personal behavior. Core values underscore a strong academic, athletic and arts program designed specifically for boys. After 108 years, Fessenden continues its focus and commitment to the education of boys and the curriculum, facilities, and programs are designed with the necessities of boys in mind. The Fessenden program encourages boys to become responsible young men of character who are interested in contributing to a vibrant school community both in and outside of the classroom.
Facilities on the tree-lined campus include a central academic building connected with dormitories, dining hall, library, administrative offices and an arts wing housing a performing arts center, woodworking shop, and music and fine arts classrooms. Additionally, the campus is home to a state-of-the-art athletics facility, numerous sports fields, outdoor pools and tennis courts and an ice hockey rink.
Headmaster
David B. Stettler, appointed 2011
Mission
The mission of The Fessenden School is to teach, nurture and celebrate growing boys; cultivating each student’s individual potential and developing in balance his mind, character, heart and body in an inclusive and joyful community that, through rigor, friendship and service, reflects Fessenden’s traditional values of honesty, compassion and respect.
Enrollment
| Total |
475 |
| Boarding |
100 |
| Day |
375 |
| Lower School (K-Gr. 4) |
157 |
| Average Class Size |
16 |
| Middle School (Gr. 5-6) |
121 |
| Average Class Size |
12 |
| Upper School (Gr. 7-9) |
197 |
| Average Class Size |
12 |
General Facts
- Kindergarten – Grade 9 (New Pre-K Program Launch 2012)
- Oldest all-boys, junior boarding school in U.S.
- Seven and five-day boarding options available in Grades 5-9
- 41-acre campus in metropolitan Boston
- Academically challenging curriculum structured to educate and foster the specific learning styles of elementary and middle school boys
- Character education infused program
- Middle and Upper School athletic offerings - 23 (competitive, intramural and recreational)
- Upper School electives offered - 18 (such as robotics, video production, woodworking, and performing and technical theater arts)
- Faculty, student and parent led forums for furthering Fessenden’s inclusive community - 6
- Theatre Arts productions per year - 7
Day Entry Points
| Pre-K (2012) |
15 |
| Kindergarten |
30-32 |
| Grade 4 |
10 |
| Grade 5 |
13 |
| Grade 6 |
15 |
| Grade 7 |
5 |
Learning Resources
- Items in library - approximately 20,000 (including books, audiobooks, DVDs, iPods, chromebooks, and Kindles)
- Comprehensive English as a Second Language (E.S.L.) program serving approximately 22 international students
- SmartBoards - 44 (98% of classrooms are equipped)
- Computers - 440 (315 for student/classroom use)
- “My Fessy” access to personalized Web-based communications tool for students, parents, faculty and alumni
Faculty
- 68 full-time faculty members with an average tenure of 19.2 years
- Male faculty - 42%
- Female faculty - 58%
Student Profile
- Typically students come from 13 countries, 12 states within the US and 56 communities in MA
- Children of alumni - 31 students
- 23% students of color (inclusive of our international boarding population)
- New students - 112
Secondary School Placement
In the last five years, 75% of Fessenden ninth graders who have declared a first choice have been admitted to their first choice school. 90% gained admission into more than one school and the ninth grade average is four admits per student.
Schools that enrolled the most graduates from Fessenden (2006-2011):
| Brooks School |
Phillips Exeter Academny
|
| Deerfield Academy |
St. George's School
|
The Governor's Academy
|
St. Mark's School
|
| Loomis Chaffee School |
St. Paul's School
|
| Middlesex School |
Suffield Academy
|
| Milton Academy |
Tabor Academy
|
Noble & Greenough
|
Williston Northampton
|
Residential Program
- Boarding student-to-residential faculty ratio - 2:1
- Friendly family dogs living on campus - 19
- Weekend Program activities chaperoned by faculty each year - more than 800
- Number of activities boarders choose from each weekend - 20-25
- Dormitory families living on each dormitory floor - 2
Admissions Statistics
| Applications Submitted |
286 |
| Boys Enrolled |
112 |
| Lower School |
38 |
| Middle School |
31 |
| Upper School |
43 |
Tuition
| Average Day |
$27,915 |
| Average 5-Day Boarding |
$43,175 |
| Average 7-Day Boarding |
$49,175 |
Financial Aid and Remission - $1,900,000
Percentage of Operating Budget - 11.4%
Students receiving aid - 70 (14.7% of the 475 total enrollment)
General Finances
Operating Budget - $21 million (as of 6/30/11)
Endowment - $34,000,000 (as of 6/30/11)
Alumni
Number of alumni with whom we are in contact with - 4,800
Number of alumni who give - 600
Guiding Principles and Values
Honesty, Compassion and Respect
School Spirit
| Nickname |
Fessy |
| School Colors |
Red & Gray |
| Mascot |
Bear |
| Motto |
Labor Omnia Vincit |
|
(Work Conquers All) |
|