MASSACHUSETTS

The Academy at Charlemont
1359 Route 2, The Mohawk Trail, Charlemont, MA 01339
413-339-4912, www.charlemont.org
Grades 7 - PG
The Academy, founded in 1981, offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum for grades 7-PG in an intimate day school setting. Though The Academy is challenging, academic promise and natural talent alone are not enough to ensure admission. We also look for well rounded students - students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, a sense of humor, an interest in the larger world around them, a desire to learn, a genuine concern for others, and a willingness to participate in and contribute to our school community. The Academy is committed to building a student body that reflects the socio-economic diversity of rural New England; over half our students receive need-based financial aid. We are a public-spirited private school where, in addition to studying hard, students perform over 2000 hours of community service each year. Explore our website at www.charlemont.org. Of course, the best way to get to know us is to call our Admissions Office at (413) 339-4912 and arrange to visit campus.

The Academy at Charlemont does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, handicap, national origin, sex, or sexual orientation in its education, admissions, and financial aid policies, or in any other programs and policies administered by The Academy.

The Belmont Day School
55 Day School Lane, Belmont, MA 02478
617-484-3078, www.belmontday.org
Pre-K - 8th grade
Founded in 1927, Belmont Day School believes that a diverse community where children and adults understand, appreciate, and celebrate differences is an important foundation in education. Belmont Day School welcomes people of all races, religions, family configurations, sexual orientations, economic backgrounds, and cultural identities.

When parents, faculty, and alumni are asked what they most value about Belmont Day School, the invariable response is "the strong sense of community," which can be found in their Sharing Assembly. Each week, classes, faculty, and family members gather to listen to each class share something they have been working on. Sharing Assembly provides students opportunity to display their accomplishments and to practice speaking in front of a supportive audience. Parents see their children's accomplishments and get a sense of the activity going on across the school.

Another highlight is Open Circle, a social competency program developed by Wellesley College, in which students practice specific skills such as listening, cooperating, being a responsive and responsible leader, understanding differences, and problem solving. Once a week, teachers and students move their chairs into a circle in the classroom, an extra chair is included to welcome anyone from outside the class to join in. Orchestrated by teachers and fueled by extensive input from students, Open Circle provides a regular, safe environment for sharing thoughts and feelings and for trying out newly learned skills. For example, students discover that it is often harder to receive than to give a compliment. The school periodically offers social competency workshops for parents who report that using language and strategies at home that mirror those used in school, makes a positive difference in the quality of their relationship with their children.

Brookwood School
One Brookwood Road, Manchester, MA 01944
978-526-4500, www.brookwood.edu
Pre-K - 8th grade
Located thirty minutes north of Boston, Brookwood is a coeducational independent day school for grades Pre-K-8. As its mission states: “Brookwood is a warm, child-centered community of exuberant learners with an unparalleled commitment to both the development of the mind and the development of the self. Through a distinctive balance of challenge and encouragement, the School fosters excellent lifelong habits of scholarship and instills deep respect for others and a healthy sense of self. Ultimately, Brookwood strives to graduate academically accomplished individuals of conscience, character and compassion.” Fundamental to the quality of the educational experience at Brookwood is its commitment to diversity. Brookwood's curriculum is intended to introduce students to a variety of cultures, to develop a respect for many cultures, to impart knowledge of cultural differences and to encourage an awareness of and openness to different perspectives. The content of Brookwood's curriculum carefully and thoughtfully addresses that introduction, respect, knowledge and encouragement. This multicultural perspective is integral to the values of the school community and to the fulfillment of Brookwood's mission.

Cambridge Friends School
5 Cadbury Road, Cambridge, MA 02140
617-354-3880, www.cambridgefriendsschool.org
Pre-K - 8th grade
Established in 1961, Cambridge Friends School (CFS) is a co-educational elementary and middle school (pre-kindergarten to eighth grade). CFS gained national exposure when it was featured in "It's Elementary", the award-winning documentary by Debra Chasnoff and Helen Cohen, whose airing on public television raised controversy when several broadcasting stations refused to air it. The documentary addressed the importance of including gay and lesbian topics in elementary schools and featured CFS celebrating its annual Gay Pride Day-which the school has been celebrating since 1991, A leader in anti-homophobic education, CFS was the first elementary school to march in Boston's Annual Pride Day Parade. Faculty training includes the viewing and discussion of a video about Boston gay and lesbian youth called "Very Queer Kids."

CFS is guided by Quaker principles, the belief that "God is in every person" and his or her direct access to the "light within" is the central aspect of Quaker faith. Seeking the inner light is the basis for Quaker worship and once a week each class has a thirty-minute silent meeting. Children may sit in silence, write, or draw in their journals, and some share thoughts while others listen. CFS graduates say the ability to center, to use the silence, has been of great value throughout their lives. An installment payment plan is available and 30% of CFS's students receive tuition assistance.

Cambridge Montessori School
161 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
617-492-3410, www.cambridgemontessori.net
Preschool - 6th grade
In our 41st year serving families in Cambridge and surrounding towns, Cambridge Montessori School is a dynamic, multi-national community which reflects the diverse culture and rich educational resources of this region and enrolls students from over 20 different countries. We currently offer a complete range of educational programs for children aged twenty-one months through the sixth grade, based on the philosophy of education developed by Dr. Maria Montessori.

Our mission is to encourage independent, self-directed learning for life in a child- centered community valuing peace, respect for others, and pride in individual differences. Cambridge Montessori School is an inclusive community that fosters an appreciation for individual and cultural differences and multiple perspectives. We are proud of our happy and flourishing families which include many configurations, sizes, colors and stories.

Cambridge Montessori School is a place where parents, faculty and staff work together to provide a nurturing environment that allows children to grow and discover their place in our world. Montessori theory embraces individually-paced learning in an environment prepared by the teacher to maximize a child's learning opportunities with equal concern for the child's social, emotional and physical needs. In addition to a complete range of classes from toddlers through the sixth grade, we offer early care, an Extended Day which includes clubs and sports activities, and school vacation programs.

The best way to learn about a school, and the only way to know if it's the right place for a child, is to observe the program in operation, feel its spirit, and watch the supportive interactions that occur each day in every classroom. We welcome you to visit and see for yourself. Contact info@cambridgemontessori.net for more information or go to www.cambridgemontessori.net.

Fayerweather Street School
765 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138
617-520-6703, www.fayerweather.org
Preschool - 8th Grade
Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Fayerweather Street School for children pre-kindergarten through 8h eighth grade, strives for a richly diverse staff and student body with varied backgrounds of race religion, ethnicity, family style, and sexual orientation. Fayerweather actively recruits families with children-of-color, families with gay or lesbian parent(s), as well as staff who are people of color and gay or lesbian. Fayerweather's Diversity Committee, made up of parents, staff and board members, addresses the issues of anti-bias learning and training for the school community. Students and teachers examine the roots of racism, sexism and other prejudices while building an inclusive community within and beyond the school. Weekly All-School Meetings give classes the opportunity to share different areas of study such as Afro-American, Hispanic and Asian cultural studies, Women's History or Gay History.

Parents are closely involved in the life of the schoo1 by participating in the Parent's Association, Board committees, field trips and other activities. Students receive greater attention in small class sizes and mixed-age classrooms foster learning partnerships. Fayerweather fosters independent thinking as we11 as working collaboratively within a challenging, innovative curriculum which changes to meet the evolving needs of students. Students develop a concern for the environment and engage in and learn the importance of community service. Spanish as a second language is taught to Grades 3 - 8 and Fayerweather offers a growth education program where children receive information about human growth and development concerning their bodies, feelings and relationships. In classes facilitated by a growth education specialist, students' questions and curiosities are explored in a supportive, straightforward manner. Before School Care, After School Program and a Summertime Program are also available. Approximately 25% of their students receive some financial assistance. To schedule a tour and interview call the Director of Admissions.

Friends Academy
1088 Tucker Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
508-999-1356, www.friendsacademy1810.org
Preschool - 8th Grade
Friends Academy, established in 1810, is a coeducational day school with Quaker heritage, located on a 65-acre campus, serving 260 children from preschool through grade 8. The rigorous curriculum is enriched by offerings in world languages, art, music, drama, and physical education. Academic resources include the Dorothy Plumb Library, the Russell Science Center, an integrated technology program, and personal laptop computers issued to Upper Division students. The Commons, a 450-seat-capacity auditorium, accommodates a variety of audiences for performances, school meetings, and special functions. The Outdoor Education program offers a state-of-the-art high and low ropes course along campus trails. During the Upper Division's “Outside the Classroom Week,” students participate in camping, travel to New York City, or engage in environmental studies in Chewonki, ME. The diverse student body comes from various Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities. Graduates enter leading preparatory schools. Tuition: $7,400 - $19,600. Need-based financial aid is available to qualified applicants. Cheryl Deane is Director of Admissions (cdeane@friendsacademy1810.org); Andrew Rodin (Columbia University, B.A.; Stanford University, M.Ed.) is Head of School.

Lesley Ellis School
41 Foster St., Arlington, MA 02474
781-641-5987, www.lesleyellis.org
Preschool – 5th Grade

Lexington Montessori School
130 Pleasant Street, Lexington, MA 02421
781-862-8571, www.lexmontessori.org
Toddler - 8th Grade
The Lexington Montessori School community works to create an environment that inspires children to develop inner discipline, self-assurance, and a love of learning. We respect the uniqueness of each student by helping each child to develop skills at periods of greatest readiness and sensitivity.           

Our program provides a creative, adaptive environment that responds to the needs of the children. We seek to balance academic and social development to foster responsibility and cooperation within a supportive learning community.           

Our students learn to view themselves as contributing members of a diverse global community. We respect and value differences and look with an open mind at all members of the community, seeking to understand and value them for who they are. The staff, the parents and the children communicate clearly and openly and treat each other with honesty and mutual respect.

LMS is a co-educational school for children from 21 months to 14 years (toddler thru 8th grade).  We are located in Lexington, MA, about 10 miles west of Boston, just off of route 2.

Tenacre Country Day School
78 Benvenue St., Wellesley, MA 02482
781-235-2282, www.tenacrecds.org
PreK - 6th Grade

The Montessori School of Northampton
51 Bates Street, Northampton, MA 01060
413-586-4538, www.northamptonmontessori.com
Preschool - 6th grade
Founded in 1976, the Montessori School of Northampton is located in the highly-populated-with-lesbians community of Northampton. Students also come from surrounding towns such as Amherst, Hatfield, Easthampton, Hadley, and Hilltowns. The school has a beautiful facility including a well-equipped playground and a garden. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, ethnic origin, disability and sexual orientation.

The school is dedicated to, but not limited by, the innovative ideas of educator, Maria Montessori. Classes for ages 3 to 6 are known as "Children's Houses" and children are free to move about and choose their own materials and activities. Learning materials include sensory-motor, practical life, language arts, art, music, movement, and nature study. Montessori elementary level classrooms permit a varied pace and children may work as long as needed on one project. Language, literacy skills, math, geography, cultural studies, botany, zoology, the physical sciences, the arts, gym and Spanish are introduced to elementary level students ages 6 to 12.

Scholarship funds are available and DSS day care vouchers and Community Partnership Grants are accepted. The school also accepts special-needs children. Contact Susan Swift, Head of School at (413) 586-4538 or email: info@northamptonmontessori.com.

The Pike School
34 Sunset Rock Rd., Andover, MA  01810
978-475-1197, www.pikeschool.org
Pre-K - 9th grade
Established in 1926, The Pike School provides a quality education to
students in pre-kindergarten through grade nine. Pike is a coeducational day school, located on 35 acres of woods and fields in Andover, Massachusetts. Pike students thrive in a community that offers small classes, individual attention, a rigorous curriculum, and a commitment to personal development.  Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in the Pike community.

Pike strives to instill in its students a lifelong delight in acquiring
new knowledge through reading, asking questions, and seeking out the unfamiliar; in taking intellectual risks for the fun of seeing where it takes their minds; and in making conceptual connections that lead them to experience the interconnectedness of ideas. Creative expression is routinely integrated in daily classwork at all levels. Pike's fine arts program affords all students experiences as creators, performers, and observers.

Students at Pike acquire a strong, lifelong sense of social responsibility and respect for others. Visits to senior centers, food and clothing drives, tutoring and computer instruction at the Boys and Girls Club, raising funds to support the library for a school in Uganda, and many other service projects are intrinsic to a Pike education.

Rashi School
15 Walnut Park, Newton, MA 02458
617-969-4444, www.rashi.org
K - 8th grade
A Rashi education is special, vibrant, and long lasting. Students are enveloped in a caring community, guided to be the best that they can be a staff of dedicated teachers.

 Each Rashi student benefits from:

• Differentiated Instruction - Teachers offer different approaches to the material, allowing children to learn at their own pace in a way that is meaningful to them.

• Diversity - Students come from a wide range of types of families and religious backgrounds, and join in an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all.

• Integrated Curriculum - Secular and Jewish studies are interwoven seamlessly, allowing children to build authentic connections among all academic disciplines.

• Social Justice emphasis - Beginning in kindergarten, students embrace their responsibility to help others and to make a difference in improving their world.

• Informed Choice - Rashi is affiliated with the Reform movement, yet each child is encouraged to develop an individual approach to religion.

• Ongoing Professional Development - Teachers benefit from best practices in education and learn from each other as they continually strengthen their ability to enable each child to reach his or her potential.

• Reputation for Academic Excellence - Now in its third decade, Rashi is known for its strong educational program and is a springboard to top quality high schools.

Shore Country Day School
545 Cabot Street, Beverly, Massachusetts 01913
978-927-1700, www.shoreschool.org
Pre-K - 9th grade
Their Mission
An independent, co-educational, PK-9, day school located in Beverly, Massachusetts, Shore Country Day School provides its students with an academically challenging education in an environment which inspires a love of learning, nurtures self-confidence, and encourages personal achievement.

Working in partnership with the family, Shore encourages academic, personal, creative, and physical development consistent with each child's potential. Faculty members are committed to establishing teaching styles which allow students to become critical thinkers, possessing self-confidence and personal integrity.

Diversity at Shore Country Day School
They endeavor to develop responsible, well-rounded students who find strength in diversity, appreciate differences, and recognize the need for mutual respect among all individuals. They pursue diversity in the composition of our student body, faculty, staff, administration, and trustees. It is their belief this richness should extend to all aspects of life within their community.

In striving to provide students an intellectually challenging climate, they commit to examining preconceptions, considering a range of views, and exploring multiple ways of thinking. They believe that one's experience is shaped by many factors including race, religion, gender, age, class, ethnicity, family structure, ability, and sexual orientation. The experience and understanding of such diversity foster students' critical thinking, self-confidence, and personal integrity, preparing them for participation in a closely connected global community. The advancement of diversity at Shore Country Day School strengthens their educational mission, promotes a healthy and vibrant community, and honors the humanity and potential of each of their members.

Shore's Community Code
As a member of the Shore community, I will:

BE KIND: I will be caring and thoughtful of others in my words and actions.
BE TRUE: I will be honest, trustworthy, and own my mistakes.
BE RESPECTFUL: I will take care of myself and be considerate of others.
BE OPEN: I will be open to change, differences, new ideas, experiences, and people.
BE DEPENDABLE: I will be responsible and accountable to my community and myself.
BE MY BEST: I will strive to be curious, courageous, and cooperative.

Tower School
75 West Shore Drive, Marblehead, MA 01945
781-631-5800, www.towerschool.org
Pre-K - 9th grade
Tower School, located in Marblehead, Massachusetts, is an independent, coeducational day school for grades pre-k through 9. Our mission is to spark a lifelong love of learning in our students by providing a stimulating education in a supportive environment. We invite you to learn more about our School by linking to our website www.towerschool.org. Please also feel welcome to tour the campus in person-call us at 781-631-5800. We look forward to meeting you!

Tower School Mission

Tower School aims to spark a lifelong love of learning in its students by providing a stimulating education in a supportive environment. We encourage children to strive for personal levels of excellence and to develop fully across a broad range of academic, physical, creative, and social endeavors. Tower seeks to nourish a spirit of inquiry, to impart an appropriate body of knowledge, to set high standards, to instill strong learning habits, and to help students become secure in themselves while respecting the dignity of others.

Tower School reaffirms its commitment to the core values that have characterized the School since 1912 and are central to its mission:

• The years from pre-kindergarten through ninth grade are of primary importance in sparking a lifelong love of learning in children.
• Skilled and passionate teachers form the backbone of our educational program.
• We educate children in a balanced, well-rounded program. The arts and athletics contribute meaningfully to a child's educational experience.
• Decency, respect, and a sense of joy in learning are hallmarks of Tower School. We promote qualities of good character, support a strong ethical foundation for life, and seek to develop an appreciation of the responsibilities and opportunities for leadership.
• We encourage all our students to see themselves and the world from new perspectives.
• A small school with a sense of community is particularly able to understand and support the abilities of its students.
• Through our various partnerships with faculty, families, and trustees, we work to enhance the education of talented and motivated students.

Our School Code:

All members of the Tower community learn and work together under the School Code:
1. Respect all people: teachers, students, staff, parents, visitors, and others.
2. Respect the rights of students to learn and teachers to teach.
3. Be kind and helpful. Include others.
4. Be honest with yourself and others.
5. Respect the School and personal property, and help keep Tower clean

Philosophy Statement on Diversity

Tower School embraces the value of a diverse, multicultural, and cohesive school community. Central to our mission is our belief in the inherent dignity and humanity of all persons. We are committed to an environment in which differences among all members of our community- including, but not limited to, differences in race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, learning style, age, gender, physical attributes, and ability- are recognized as a vital and integral force in fostering a community of respect and tolerance. Diversity brings multiple perspectives to our environment; it cultivates the exchange and the challenge of new ideas; it honors varied traditions and cultures; and it teaches, in conjunction with our academic curriculum, the humanistic skills necessary for functioning ethically and effectively in our community and in our increasingly complex, global society.