The Rivers School, Weston, MA
EXCELL with
HUM A
LENCE Rivers
inspires every student to
pursuit of excellence is a journey of personal
pursue excellence, thrive in a community of
and collective growth—as well as one of
connection and belonging, and create their
wonder and delight.
own path to a life of impact and purpose. At Rivers, you’ll grow academically, athletically, Guided by our philosophy of Excellence with
and artistically through a rigorous learning
Humanity, we value integrity, perseverance,
experience made even more powerful by the
empathy, curiosity, and joy. These principles
collective enthusiasm of our students and
guide our every action, reminding us that the
dedicated professional community.
NITY.
Rivers
is an independent
day school for grades 6 through 12 with approximately 530 students, small class sizes, extraordinary faculty, a 55-acre campus, cutting-edge facilities, and endless possibilities.
Middle School
Explore
courageously in
an environment of supported risk-taking. Rivers’ Middle School curriculum emphasizes real-world applications, interdisciplinary connections, and inquiry-driven learning. You’ll experience stimulating classes and labs, opportunities for artistic self-expression, and meaningful daily interaction with teachers and classmates. Beyond acquiring discipline-specific skills, you’ll learn to think abstractly, ask generative questions, reason with evidence, form conclusions, and wrestle with complexity—all with growing independence and a community-oriented mindset. By the end of Grade 8, you’ll be ready for the next level of challenge, equipped with the skills and habits of mind that you will apply in your Upper School courses.
Upper School
Excel
academically while
building lasting relationships rooted in a shared pursuit of excellence in the classroom, community, and beyond. Rivers’ comprehensive Upper School curriculum will ignite your curiosity and teach you to be an independent, creative, critical thinker. You’ll be challenged in a core curriculum that’s differentiated to stretch each student and maximize your growth, including through a variety of honors-level, AP, and post-AP courses. You’ll also have the chance to explore your passions in Rivers’ signature special programs in areas such as bioethics, creative writing, and scientific research, just to name a few. These opportunities are proven to prepare our students for selective colleges and universities—and for lives of impact and purpose.
At
Rivers, meaningful relationships
empower you to engage deeply with learning that is both challenging and relevant to your life. Every individual is a vital part of our community, and our shared commitment to Excellence
with Humanity makes us who we are.
WE ARE
INTERCO
NNECTED
Our Approach to Teaching and Learning
The
Rivers curriculum features
rigorous core academics with the infusion of arts and athletic requirements. You’ll be challenged to think critically and analytically, write logically and incisively,
DEVELOP AUTONOMY You will develop independence, resilience, and ownership of your learning by taking risks, making choices about your path, and reflecting on your growth.
BUILD BELONGING
and speak articulately and persuasively. Each grade level at Rivers will present you with opportunities to challenge yourself, discover new passions, and dig deep through project-based learning with real-world applications. Our expert faculty will be there every step of the way to help
You will grow and build confidence in a supportive,
you meet our high academic standards,
inclusive environment that prioritizes relationships as
ensuring you’re prepared for each new
the foundation of all learning and development.
level of your educational journey.
CULTIVATE PURPOSE You will forge a strong sense of identity, purpose, and meaning by connecting what you learn to your own life and the world around you.
EXCELLENCE IN
ACADEMIC
CS
Signature Academic Experiences
By the Numbers
Middle School Milestone Projects Grade 6 Water Presentations Grade 7 Storytelling Project Grade 7 Sustainability Presentations Grade 8 Humanities Project Grade 8 Speeches Grade 8 Portfolio Presentations Upper School Special Programs Advanced Topics in Life Sciences Research Cádiz: At the Intersection of History and Contemporary Spain* Community Engagement Fellows Global Education Scholars Global Impact Leadership Program Grade 9 English Seminar Grade 10 STEM Seminar McCartney Scholars (math program) Special Program in Bioethics* Special Program in Creative Writing* Special Program in Visual Arts Capstone Seminars Honors History Seminar Honors Science Research Seminar+ Honors Computer Science Seminar Topics in Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus * Designated as an Upper School Interdisciplinary Studies course + O ffered through the Stan-X program, founded by a team based at Stanford University
11 81% 97% 50 94%
Average class size
Percentage of 4+ scores on AP exams last year
Percentage of 4+ scores on AP Physics C: E&M, AP Chemistry, and AP Calculus BC exams last year
Number of Upper School honors/accelerated courses
Percentage of students from the Class of 2026 admitted to one or more colleges by Feb. 1 of their senior year
Excellence in Performing Arts
The
Rivers campus is home to the
world-class Rivers School Conservatory. Throughout your time at Rivers, you’ll have unmatched opportunities to explore the performing arts individually and as an ensemble member. All Middle School students participate in performing arts courses—chorus, chamber music, jazz band, filmmaking, theater arts, or musical theater—during a dedicated performing arts block three times per week, and the Upper School arts curriculum includes the option to pursue performance in a variety of ensembles. For an even deeper experience, students in both divisions may apply to the co-curricular Conservatory Program, which inspires and challenges students to reach their loftiest artistic goals by providing robust training in classical music, jazz, or musical theater to complement Rivers’ rigorous academic curriculum. You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to explore performance, choreography, costume design, and tech crew through twice-annual stage productions in both the Middle School and Upper School.
Excellence in Visual Arts
Visual
arts offerings at
Rivers will empower you to communicate your ideas and perspectives through visual expression and to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the arts. Middle School students are enrolled in visual arts every year, and Upper School students continue their visual arts journey with foundation courses in Rivers’ core studio art disciplines: ceramics, drawing, photography, and sculpture. Through active participation and critique, you’ll develop your imagination, confidence, and self-discipline. You’ll be encouraged to experiment with a range of studio art disciplines, and along the way, you’ll enhance your visual literacy by exploring multicultural contemporary and historical art and considering how works of art communicate effectively. Beyond Rivers’ curricular offerings, you’ll have the chance to engage with a professional artist each year through The Rivers School Visiting Artist Program, which brings an exemplary visual artist to campus to exhibit work and engage with the community.
Excellence in Athletics
Our
success in athletics mirrors
our success in the classroom. Over the past five years, Rivers has garnered 14 NEPSAC championships and five ISL championships, and we’ve sent over 100 athletes to play at the collegiate level. Our campus features 12 acres of playing fields, six tennis courts, a hockey rink, an indoor turf field, an NCAA-regulation basketball court, spacious locker rooms, and a two-story fitness center. Through our partnership with Bando Performance, you’ll also have access to elite team and individualized athletic performance training at Rivers to elevate your game. Our coaches and trainers will push you to achieve your best in athletics, and, like all instructors at Rivers, they will challenge you to be your best self.
Connection, Well-being, and Belonging
At
Rivers, we believe that cultivating
a caring, respectful, and collaborative learning environment takes commitment and conscious effort. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are infused throughout the Rivers experience, and each year the community engages in programming on a new equity and engagement theme that challenges us to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. Students lead the way in social justice-oriented clubs such as BRIDGE (Building Real Intercultural Dialogue to Generate Engagement) and GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance), as well as in affinity spaces, which are designed to support healing, affirmation, and connection for students with marginalized identities. The student leaders of these clubs and spaces are agents of change within our community, facilitating discussions and engaging in school-wide conversations to foster an appreciation for and understanding of diverse perspectives, experiences, and identities.
Opportunities on Campus and Beyond
Becoming
a part of
the campus community at Rivers is just the start. As a Rivers student, you will learn to be a global citizen who engages deeply with the world around you. You’ll develop a community-oriented mindset, connecting with the local community through academic work, athletics, clubs, and student-led initiatives with partner organizations beyond our campus. In the Community Engagement Fellows program and in clubs like Rivers Givers, you’ll address community needs and make a tangible difference through volunteering and philanthropy. In the Global Education Scholars program, you’ll employ a truly global mindset by leading discussions with your peers, organizing campus events, and actively fostering global awareness within the Rivers community. Last but not least, Rivers’ travel programs will give you the opportunity to study ancient culture in Greece and Italy; language and cultural exchange in France, Spain, or China; the Civil Rights Movement in the American South; and music in Cuba and New Orleans.
Keeping
EXCELLENCE WITHIN REACH Our
goal is to make a Rivers education accessible to every admitted
student, and we encourage all prospective students to apply regardless of economic background. Rivers has access to over $7 million in assistance, and awards range from $1,000 to the full cost of tuition. We also offer a program to support non-tuition expenses. To apply for financial aid online, just follow the instructions on our website.
Ready to Start Your Rivers Journey? The admission process is easy to access, and we’re here to help.
1. CREATE AN ACCOUNT Go to ravenna-hub.com and choose
4. SCHEDULE YOUR ENTRANCE EXAM
The Rivers School. Everything you need
We accept ISEE for grades 6–8 and SSAT
will be on your admission checklist.
for grades 9–12.
2. S CHEDULE YOUR TOUR Pick a date and time from the schedule shown.
5. C OMPLETE YOUR FORMS Please submit all requested information by January 15.
3. ATTEND AN ADMISSION EVENT Join us for an upcoming event! Go to rivers.org/admission for more information.
Want to know more? Contact us at admission@rivers.org
333 Winter Street Weston, MA 02493 rivers.org/admission
EXCELLENCE with HUMANITY