SPS Admissions Viewbook 2023-24

ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL

“

When we talk about educating students, what we mean is that classical sense of drawing forth what is best in ourselves and in each other. It’s a wonderful process to engage in intentionally when you are growing up.”

kathy giles / 14th Rector of St. Paul’s School

Make yourself at home. We can’t wait to meet you.

Founded in 1856, St. Paul’s School is a 100% boarding independent high school where more than 500 students and 100 teachers live and learn together — dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in both mind and character, and committed to building purposeful lives in service to the greater good.

A plaque outside our Chapel proclaims, “All Are Welcome.”

Our diverse, dynamic student body and faculty include individuals from a multitude of backgrounds, identities, ethnicities, faith traditions and perspectives. We learn from each other’s differences, practice kindness and empathy in our daily lives and work to create a sense of belonging for each member of our community. We do this in a safe, supportive residential setting where students pursue their academic passions and discover new ones even as they grow into ethical citizens and leaders, prepared to make a difference in college and beyond.

SPS 360. Live and love school with us.

Here, we greet each other on the walkways, whether we know you or not. Four mornings a week, we attend Chapel as a full assembly of students and faculty: beginning our day together, hearing from one another and from special visitors and sharing in the news of the School. While we work hard in our classes, on the field and the stage, we also leave plenty of room for fun — in club meetings, social gatherings, and special meals and events.

We spend virtually every minute of our days learning from and with each other in this community, where one experience flows into the next as we build lifelong friendships, challenge ourselves, and support each other on our individual journeys. The wraparound support we give one another is an extension of the relationships that define and strengthen our community inspiring us to dare, reach and be brave.

Hudson remembers the moment when he heard the music of John Coltrane, which sparked a passion for jazz. He now occupies the first tenor sax chair in the jazz band and the SPS Orchestra.

experience. I play tenor saxophone and Mr.

told me that

“What really put St. Paul’s over some of the other schools I was considering was the individualized

Pandolfi

at SPS … my learning experience would be individualized to me. I really took that to heart. I knew I was going to get an in-depth and personalized education, so that was really appealing to me.”

hudson / Fifth Former

Read Hudson’s story.

We believe one of the most important outcomes is the graduation of informed, compassionate and engaged citizens of the world who will pursue purposeful lives in service to the greater good. Providing students with dedicated time and space to engage in community service work and supporting them in those efforts is an essential part of that mission.

Our Community Engagement Program is an ideal test bed for you to participate in or lead service projects that benefit organizations and people in the greater Concord area or within your community back home. You can even design an Independent Service Project to help others in ways that are most meaningful and rewarding to you. When you graduate, we hope you will have developed a habit of thinking about how to be a positive force for change in this world.

When we serve others, we bring out the best in ourselves.

Learn about our Community Engagement Program.

Lidia — the recipient of a Sokoloff grant, which funds a student’s Independent Service Project — reached out to local nonprofits to learn how she and other students could contribute in a positive way. She partnered with an organization that provides temporary shelter and resources for families experiencing homelessness. Lidia got to know some families and used her grant to purchase children’s games and toys to bring to these locations.

“I really wanted to make it a sustainable project that could be used by future SPS students. Most of the people we were working with were at one point living in houses and were stable. They don’t necessarily want a ton of help; they just would like resources in order to keep moving.”

lidia / Fifth Former

Everyone is your neighbor. That’s part of the magic.

As one of the nation’s only 100% boarding high schools, community means something different here. Our vertical house system — where younger students live among older students — provides unique opportunities for connection, mentorship and the chance to learn from one another. Friendships and support are just a door knock away. Your faculty adviser is your next-door neighbor and dorm mates become like family, in houses that feel like a second home.

At St. Paul’s School, we are invested not only in our own interests and talents, but in those of the people around us forging deep connections that bring energy and joy to life here on the grounds. We love our neighbor as ourselves, and everyone is our neighbor.

It began over breakfast, when Katie and Lizzie were both visiting SPS after being admitted as incoming Third Formers. “She introduced herself and we stuck together for the whole revisit,” Katie says of how she first met Lizzie. Four years later, the sign they made during their first year still hangs on their wall: “Roommates by chance, friends by choice.”

“It’s really unique because you get the benefits of the college lifestyle, where you get to live in a dorm with all your friends and manage doing work and athletics on top of living with one another, but it’s also the fun of summer camp.”

katie / Sixth Former

“

With the students, the most important thing is earning their trust and letting them know I am here to help them.”

rick pacelli / science teacher and David E. Drinkwater ’89 Chair in STEM

Meet Mr. Pacelli.

“I knew I wanted to be in this fully encompassing, enveloped environment when I realized that learning happens not just in the classroom. I felt as if I could figure out how to be my best version of a teacher here.”

pankti dalal / math teacher, South Asian and Hindu Society adviser, track and field assistant coach

Pursue your own excellence. We’re here to support you.

In an environment brimming with talent and opportunity, we provide a framework that inspires you to address tough questions, sustains you at difficult moments and fosters meaningful engagement with others.

While preparing for college is a key part of that effort, our teachers, coaches and staff members also help students acquire the tools that empower them to live as ethical world citizens. This process takes many forms from encouraging students to uncover their own moral center to modeling behaviors that motivate them to value empathy, practice self-control and maintain an enduring sense of optimism.

With more than 100 course offerings and Independent Study Projects, internships, a Classical Honors program and one of the only high school glassblowing hot shops in the country, our five academic areas of study offer abundant opportunities to go deep on your current passions and encounter new ones.

At St. Paul’s School, Lucas is far from his family in Beijing, China, but he feels right at home in the Lindsay Center for Mathematics and Science, where his interest in STEM is matched with advanced classes, state-of-the-art facilities and the opportunity to undertake an internship through the School’s Applied Science and Engineering Program.

“I’m looking at new ways to apply PCR testing, which has been used to detect the COVID-19 virus, to analyzing the DNA of different cancers. Because we have a qPCR machine in our science building, I’ve been able to practice techniques for testing the amount of DNA and RNA in cells and will be able to jump right in with both feet.”

lucas / Fifth Former

Explore our Catalog of Course Offerings.

A member of the SPS Classical Honors Program (CHP), Devin has made it her mission to recast the story of the snake-haired Medusa, a figure often villainized in Greek mythology and popular culture, into one of female strength. Devin’s SPS project about Medusa got the attention of museums and universities across the country —  and helped her think about her own role as an activist.

“It all came out of this love for the classics and the belief the CHP instilled in me that I could pursue any interest and engage in this high-level work as a high school student. It’s been an amazing education and it’s really reshaped my perspective about what it means to learn and what it means to lead.”

devin / Sixth Former

Head of the Languages Department and Chinese teacher Zhaohong “Jenny” Li knows that the best time to teach is when students want to learn — and for Fifth Former Sebastian and his peers in the Chinese language program, she is eager to accommodate their busy schedules.

as a

and as a person. And with SPS being fully residential, we [can] have office hours at 7 or 8 p.m. in the library, even as a class. That’s an opportunity that I have never had before. Ms. Li puts in so much effort and cares so much about me

“I see Ms. Li all over campus and feel that she really does care about me

student

improving, so it matters to me and to her that I really give it an effort. She has taught me to really enjoy learning.”

sebastian / Fifth Former

Bring your creative passions. And discover new ones as you go.

Recognizing that regular exposure to the arts has a powerful and liberating influence in the world, the fine arts, theater, dance and music programs are led by professional, practicing artists. SPS offers a variety of studio and performance-based classes, courses in the history and theory of the arts, and frequent exposure to a diverse group of visiting artists. Several exhibition and performance opportunities also are part of the academic calendar each year.

The ability to align her artistic interests with her high school experience is what drew Lauren to St. Paul’s School. A member of the SPS Ballet Company, she can pursue her passion for dance alongside her other academic courses, all in one place. That made all the difference.

“I can’t say enough about how great the ballet program is here. We have amazing teachers, amazing visiting artists who do special choreography, and everyone who’s in the dance program is just so supportive of everyone else. Some nights we do ‘BC din’ — all the members of the ballet company eating together.

It’s kind of like a family.”

lauren / Fourth Former

Go inside Lauren’s day.

“I had great mentors and knew I wanted to pass on that information and knowledge. I want to open different avenues for students to look at themselves and the wide representation of artists and art genres. I am interested in blurring the separation of art and everyday life within my teachings while still promoting academic excellence in creating art.”

eugene sarmiento / fine arts teacher

Become Big Red by giving your all for the team.

Sportsmanship, respect and kindness are at the core of our coaching and playing, whether at the club, junior varsity or varsity team level. On the field, court and ice, students step into leadership roles, taking as their role models the coaches who also serve as their classroom teachers and house advisers. Our Athletic and Fitness Center serves the entire St. Paul’s community, helping all students prioritize their physical well-being no matter their athletic interests or skill level.

Follow @SPSAthletic on Instagram.

Craig Vandersea, SPS varsity football coach and associate dean of admissions, is much more than a coach. He invites his athletes to BBQs at his home and meets with them during the off season to help them pursue their goals. That matters to students like Fifth Former Carson.

carson / Fifth Former

“

What sets him apart from other coaches

I’ve had in the past is that he’s more of a mentor. A lot of times, a coach is a coach on the field … but I might not see him as much off the field. Coach Vandersea has really helped me a lot. … I’ve met a bunch of college coaches and he’s helping me set up for the next level of play.”

reaching for the next level

For coach Kelli Mackey, teaching at St. Paul’s School provides an opportunity to work with students who are committed to pushing themselves to the next level — and who still manage to find the fun in playing and competing.

“Being a teacher really enhances the experience of being a coach for me. We have really great kids here, kids who want to do the right things, work hard and excel in all aspects of their school experience.”

kelli mackey / humanities teacher and girls varsity ice hockey coach

Watch Ms. Mackey talk about teaching.

Are you ready to say ‘Yes!’ to SPS?

We are eager to support you on this exciting journey to find your right match for high school — one that will no doubt change your life. It starts with a visit to our campus, or a virtual meeting if you cannot join us in person. Your completed application is due by January 15, and our admissions decisions will be emailed on March 10. We are here for you every step of the way — to answer questions, provide support and continue to help you get to know our incredible community of students and adults. Let’s begin!