Head of School

Steve Armstrong, appointed 2018

Mission

The Fessenden School cultivates each boy’s talents and develops in balance his character, mind, and body in an inclusive and joyful community.

Faculty

90 faculty members, with an average tenure of 17 years
70% hold advanced degrees

Student Profile

Students come from 16 countries, 15 states within the US, and 40 communities in MA
24.6% students of color (inclusive of our international boarding population)

School Spirit

Nickname: Fessy

School Colors: Red & Gray

Mascot: Bear

Motto: Labor Omnia Vincit (Work Conquers All)

Guiding Principles and Values

Honesty, Compassion, and Respect

Enrollment

Total: 515

Boarding: 100

Day: 415

Lower School (Pre-K-Gr. 4): 181
Middle School (Gr. 5-6): 133
Upper School (Gr. 7-9): 201
Average Class Size: 12

General Facts

Pre-Kindergarten – Grade 9
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
21 Middle and Upper School athletic offerings (competitive, intramural and recreational)
19 elective offerings, such as robotics, video production, woodworking, and performing and technical theater arts
Parents Association (PA) offers a broad range of volunteer opportunities in conjunction with faculty, staff and parents
11 musical groups
8 theatrical productions per year

Day Entry Points

Pre-K: 28
Kindergarten: 14
Grade 4: 16
Grade 5:10
Grade 6: 10
Grade 7: 3-5

Occasionally openings do become available in other grades too. Please call Admissions (617-630-6300) to inquire.

Learning Resources

Items in library – approximately 20,000 (including print and electronic books, audiobooks, other digital media and instructional devices such as iPads, Chromebooks, and Kindles)
Comprehensive English Language Learners (E.L.L.) program serving approximately 22 international students
SmartBoards/digital projectors in all classrooms
1:3 MacBooks in Pre-K through Grade 4; 1:2 iPads in Pre-K through Grade 3; 1:1 iPads in Grade 4, 1:1 Chromebooks in Grades 5-9
“My Fessy” access to personalized web-based communications tool for students, parents, faculty and alumni

Secondary School Placement

Fessenden students, diverse in talents, interests and families priorities, matriculate at a wide range of outstanding day and boarding secondary schools. Two full-time placement officers work with our students and families to identify the best fit for each boy.

Schools that enrolled ten or more Fessenden students over the past five years:

Noble & Greenough (27)
Brooks School (21)
Milton Academy (20)
Belmont Hill School (19)
Rivers School (16)
Buckingham, Browne and Nichols School (15)
St. Paul’s School (15)
St. George’s School (15)
Phillips Academy (Andover) (14)
St. Sebastian’s School (13)
Tabor Academy (12)
The Loomis Chaffee School (11)

Residential Program

Boarding student-to-residential faculty ratio – 2:1
Weekend Program activities chaperoned by residential faculty each year – more than 800
Number of activities offered to boarders each weekend – 20-25
Dormitory families living on each dormitory floor – 2

Financial Assistance* – $3.3 million

Percentage of Operating Budget – 11.8%
Students receiving assistance – 98 (19% of the 515 total enrollment)

*Inclusive of tuition remission

General Finances

Operating Budget – $27.9 million
Endowment – $48 million

Alumni

Number of alumni with whom we are in contact – 4,800

Fessy Facts