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 8 years
70% hold advanced degrees
Student Profile
Students come from 12 countries, 10 states within the US, and 33 communities within MA
35% 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)
Core Values
Honesty, Compassion, and Respect
Enrollment
Total: 537
Boarding: 105
Day: 432 Lower School (Pre-K-Gr. 4): 202 Middle School (Gr. 5-6): 120 Upper School (Gr. 7-9): 215 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)
18 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
13 musical groups
7 theatrical productions per year
Day Entry Points
Pre-K
Kindergarten
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Occasionally openings do become available in other grades too. Please call Admissions (617‑630‑2300) to inquire.
Learning Resources
Items in library – approximately 20,000 (including print and electronic books, audiobooks, other digital media and instructional devices
Comprehensive English Language Learners (E.L.L.) program serving approximately 22 international students
SmartBoards/digital projectors in all classrooms
1:1 iPads in grades K-3, 1:1 Chromebooks in grades 3-9
“My Fessy” access to personalized web-based communications tool for students, parents, faculty and alumni
Secondary School Counseling
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 Fessenden students over the past five years. The number in parenthesis indicates the number of students enrolled during this period:
Beaver Country Day School (12)
Belmont Hill School (33)
Belmont High School (3)
Berkshire School (4)
Blair Academy (4)
Boston College High School (4)
Boston Latin School
Boston University Academy (2)
Brewster Academy (3)
Brimmer & May School (2)
Brookline High School (3)
Brooks School (12)
Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School (8)
Catholic Memorial School (2)
Cheshire Academy
Choate Rosemary Hall (8)
Commonwealth School
Concord Academy (14)
Cushing Academy
Deerfield Academy (9)
Dexter Southfield School (14)
Episcopal High School (VA) (2)
Gann Academy (2)
Groton School (4)
Holderness School (2)
Hotchkiss School (10)
IMG Academy
Kent School
Kents Hill School
Lake Forest Academy
Lawrence Academy (5)
Mercersburg Academy (2)
Middlesex School (10)
Millbrook School (4)
Milton Academy (14)
New Hampton School
Newton North High School (5)
Newton South High School (4)
Noble and Greenough School (42)
Northfield Mount Hermon School (2)
Northwood School
Park Tudor School (IN)
Peddie School
Phillips Academy (Andover) (16)
Phillips Exeter Academy (18)
Portsmouth Abbey School (2)
Proctor Academy
Rivers School (18)
Saint Andrew’s School (FL) (2)
St. Andrew’s School (DE) (4)
St. George’s School (5)
St. Mark’s School (14)
St. Paul’s School (5)
St. Sebastian’s School (16)
Suffield Academy (7)
Tabor Academy (9)
Taft School (9)
Thayer Academy (4)
The American Overseas School of Rome
The Bolles School (FL) (2)
The Cambridge School of Weston
The Governor’s Academy (6)
The Hill School (3)
The Lawrenceville School (4)
The Loomis Chaffee School (10)
The Roxbury Latin School (17)
The White Mountain School
The Williston Northampton School (11)
The Winchendon School
Wayland Academy (MN)
Wayland High School
Wellesley High School (3)
Westminster School (2)
Woodberry Forest School (VA)
Woodstock Academy
Worcester Academy (2)
Xaverian Brothers High School
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* – $5.5 million
Percentage of Operating Budget – 16.3%
Students receiving assistance – 123 (22.9% of the 537 total enrollment)
*Inclusive of tuition remission
General Finances
Operating Budget – $33.8 million
Alumni
Number of alumni with whom we are in contact – 4,800