Groton School

Groton is a very traditional and typical New England boarding high school. Its campus is small and close-knit, emphasizing holistic development and a spirit of "service and leadership." It boasts a low student-to-faculty ratio and strong curriculum depth. Tradition coexists with modernity, and the academic atmosphere is strong. A high proportion of graduates go on to prestigious universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford. The school values inclusivity and financial aid, with approximately 44% of students receiving scholarships. Of course, alumni and current families are also welcome to contribute to the school, and legacy families are highly valued. Geographically located in a tranquil small town, it is suitable for families who prioritize academics and a sense of community belonging. Most current students report rigorous academics, strong mutual support within the culture, and a powerful alumni network.

Groton is a prestigious boutique boarding school that emphasizes both spiritual growth and academic excellence. It is renowned for its educational philosophy of "service and leadership" and its strict yet warm community culture.
School Highlights:
Elite Scale, Personalized Guidance: With only just over 380 students in the entire school and a student-teacher ratio of approximately 4:1, all teachers reside on campus, fostering a highly close-knit learning and living community.
Rigorous and Humanistic Curriculum: The curriculum emphasizes classical literature, philosophy, history, and Latin, while also offering over 20 AP and advanced academic elective courses.
"Spirit of Service" Permeates Campus Culture: Groton's motto "To Serve is to Reign (Cui Servire Est Regnare)" is reflected in the daily actions of every student. The school emphasizes social responsibility and participation in public affairs.
Outstanding College Admissions Performance: Students are consistently admitted to Ivy League schools, MIT, the University of Chicago, and others. Throughout the college application process, counselors provide students with one-on-one in-depth planning.
Recommended For:
Ideal for students with a strong academic foundation, a propensity for deep thinking, and who value community spirit and personal growth, especially applicants who wish to establish a strong foundation in humanities and leadership qualities during their secondary education.

Headmaster Zhan's Review: Groton is a relatively traditional top-tier high school with a very high admission threshold, enrolling students who are outstanding in all aspects. The school provides students with significant academic support, but since admitted students already possess strong self-management and self-planning abilities, the school, like a university, grants students a great deal of autonomy.
Groton's admission rate is extremely low; merely being academically excellent makes it difficult to get admitted. The school is more interested in student-athletes with outstanding achievements in sports such as ice hockey, tennis, and swimming.
In terms of cultural heritage, the school has a prefect system for 12th graders, where every 12th-grade student helps dormitory supervisors manage younger students, serving as role models for their juniors.
Regarding academic development, Groton's curriculum is very engaging and emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving. The school is gradually phasing out AP courses and offers a wide array of electives and special topic courses for 12th graders, allowing students to choose based on their interests and circumstances.
In terms of community building, you can get to know everyone at school, and everyone will know you. The school provides many opportunities for children to get to know each other thoroughly, allowing them to study and live together, forming strong friendships.
For emotional support, the school arranges four morning chapel services each week to start the children's day. This is a comfortable, challenging, and peaceful period that brings spiritual relaxation to students.

Groton School
places a strong emphasis on leadership, cooperation, and mutual assistance. Due to the Headmaster's life experiences, over the past decade, the school has been very keen on advocating for equality, inclusion, and anti-discrimination. Inclusion is a very important principle for the school. Additionally, the school is very concerned with sustainable development, and many of its facilities and buildings feature corresponding eco-friendly designs.
After 9th grade, students can join the GRACE Summer Program, an academic enrichment summer school specifically provided for Groton students.
Academically, the humanities are very strong, and the school has its own electronic publication, "Zebra Tales" https://www.groton.org/zebra-tales/2023-24/allen-24

5. **Arts:** All students can participate in drama courses, including those with little or no experience; three-quarters of Groton students take applied courses in various music disciplines. They sing in the school choir; collaborate with the Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Steel Drum Ensemble; join various small music, jazz, and choral groups; and take private lessons with 22 members of our music department, many of whom are members of prominent music ensembles and schools in Boston; the Dillon Art Center boasts state-of-the-art facilities designed to foster the creativity of budding artists.

6. **Sports Facilities:** Well-equipped sports facilities: The Sports Center's indoor athletic space includes: 12 international squash courts, 8 indoor tennis courts, 3 indoor basketball courts, 2 ice rinks, locker rooms, training rooms, an elevated indoor running track, a multi-purpose/dance studio, and a four-lane, 25-yard swimming pool, spanning over 250,000 square feet. External facilities include seven sports fields, including an artificial turf field, and 10 outdoor tennis courts.

7. **Advisors:** The most important way teachers collaborate with students is through the advisor system. In the first year, each student is assigned a faculty advisor who will provide guidance on various matters. Advisors keep all aspects of school life in focus for parents, teachers, and advisees. They inform students of their grades, help them plan course selections, resolve daily issues, and arrange weekend activities.

1.Academic Excellence: Average SAT score 1440, average ACT score 33, 78% of students achieve AP scores of 4 or higher, 97% of students achieve AP scores of 3 or higher.
2.Location: The school is situated in Groton, a small town in northwestern Massachusetts. The town is not large, with a population of just over 10,000 people. Besides Groton School, it also hosts another boarding school, Lawrence Academy. Driving from Boston to Groton takes about 1 hour, which is not far. The school's campus is built around a central circular lawn, which was meticulously designed by the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
3.GRoton Accelerate Challenge Enrich (GRACE): Provides students with an opportunity to use the summer after their third year (9th grade) to accelerate their academic progress. GRACE enhances the flexibility of the Groton curriculum, ensuring that every student can fulfill their full potential in Mathematics, Chemistry, English, and Latin.
4.Notable Alumni: Groton School places great emphasis on alumni relations. One of Groton's most famous alumni is Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. Franklin Roosevelt's great achievements in American history continuously inspire students. Currently, many inscriptions from U.S. Presidents, including George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and former President Barack Obama, hang in the corridors of Groton's main building.

Groton School data: 380 students; 94 teachers; 86% boarding students; average class size 11; 46% students of color; 9% international students; student-teacher ratio 4:1; 80% of teachers hold advanced degrees; 2022 average standardized test scores: ACT 31, SAT 1420.

Admitted students are either smart or rich.
Language is a distinctive feature.

[Geographic Location] Located 35 miles northwest of Boston, an hour's drive from Boston, Architectural Digest named it the most beautiful private school in the state;
[School Honors] Ranked 3rd nationwide, it is one of the top boarding schools in the United States;
[Curriculum Design] Offers a very rich curriculum, providing AP courses in mathematics and science fields, with English and history courses designed by the school itself;
[Academic Excellence] Average SAT score 1425; average ACT score 31; students took a total of 2383 AP exams between 2016-2020, with 90% scoring 3 or higher, and 72% scoring 4 or higher;
[Arts Focus] Offers 32 art courses, 1 darkroom, 7 open mics, 8 grand pianos, 1 music technology lab, 160 music lessons per week, 2 music recording labs, 2 art galleries, 1 dance studio;
[Graduate Destinations] Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, University of Chicago, Princeton University, Stanford University, Boston College, Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, University of Virginia, Brown University, New York University, Dartmouth College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, etc.
[Notable Alumni] Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, the only president in American history to serve four terms. His famous New Deal helped the American economy recover.

Groton School boasts a long history and a stellar list of alumni, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. Due to its excellent education, the school was listed among the "50 Best High Schools in the World" by The Wall Street Journal. Located 35 miles northwest of Boston, the school spans 480 acres, centered around its beautiful circular building. Architectural Digest named it the most beautiful private school in the state. Designed by the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the circular building deliberately opens to the west, with the mountain views hinting at infinite possibilities.

Last week, I just visited Groton School. Kellie Walsh, the Director of Admissions, shared a lot of the latest news about the school with me, especially advice on various aspects of applying for Asian students, which is what we parents care about most. Here are my visit notes:
1. The school has nearly 100 teachers, with close to 80% holding master's or doctoral degrees. Each grade level averages over 70 students. For Grade 8, they admit 20+ students, with 4-5 being international students, making the G8 application highly competitive.
2. Groton emphasizes holistic education and has high requirements for applicants. International students must achieve a TOEFL score of at least 100 to be considered for admission.
3. In terms of admissions preference, in addition to basic academic ability, the school also particularly values students' leadership, favoring students who already possess leadership qualities. At the same time, admissions officers also highly value whether students possess the quality of "kindness."
4. Groton provides many different leadership positions for every 12th-grade student, such as head prefect, admissions prefect, prefects for different subjects, etc., aiming to allow every student to fully exercise and demonstrate their leadership skills before graduation.

The school values the cultivation of leadership skills, pays attention to the development of every student, emphasizes fostering a resilient character in students, and helps them achieve all-round development in moral, intellectual, and physical aspects. It not only prepares students for university applications but also encourages them to actively participate in social life.

Groton School's mission is "to build a diverse, inclusive, and intimate community dedicated to inspiring students to shape character, scholarship, cultivate leadership, and a spirit of service." Groton's mission statement is intentional. As Groton School's founder, Endicott Peabody, recognized, achieving the school's educational mission largely depends on the quality of the students' living and learning environment. As the mission statement clearly emphasizes: what we teach our students (to pursue a life of character, scholarship, leadership, and service) and where they develop these traits (in a diverse, inclusive, and close-knit community) are intertwined. Lacking one makes the other unattainable.

Groton School is an independent, co-educational boarding secondary school located in Groton, Massachusetts, USA. The student-to-faculty ratio is 4:1. Currently, there are 379 students enrolled.

The school offers over 36 extracurricular clubs, 14 sports activities, and 31 art courses.

The school believes that global awareness is more important than ever. Its mission is to help Groton students become compassionate, ethical, and knowledgeable global citizens. Through its Global Education teaching program, the school provides students with geographically and culturally diverse experiences, integrating them with the curriculum whenever possible. All students are eligible to participate.
Groton Accelerate Challenge Enrich (GRACE) offers students an opportunity to accelerate their academic studies during the summer after 9th grade. The flexibility of the GRACE program ensures that all students can fully develop their potential in mathematics, chemistry, history and social sciences, English, and Latin.

College Admissions: The average SAT score for graduates of this school is 1425, and the average ACT score is 31. Former graduates have matriculated to prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Princeton University, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Columbia University, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, and Brown University.

Groton School, established in 1884, is a co-educational boarding school. The school's mission is to build a diverse and close-knit community dedicated to inspiring students to develop character, learn, cultivate leadership, and foster a spirit of service.

Groton School has two very distinctive programs:
1. Global Education Program
Groton School's Global Education Program helps students understand cultural, socioeconomic, and political differences around the world, helping them become caring, ethical, and knowledgeable global citizens.
2. GRACE Summer Program
The GRACE (GRoton Accelerate Challenge Enrich) Summer Program provides an opportunity for outstanding students who are about to enter 10th grade to use their summer vacation to get a head start on the upcoming academic year's curriculum. The GRACE Summer Program typically lasts four weeks. Students can not only pre-study courses for grades 10 to 12, but the school also arranges recreational and sports activities to ensure students have a healthy and fulfilling summer.

Share:
Groton in the Eyes of an Admissions Officer (Part 3):
Now, let's talk about the school's campus environment. Approximately 85% of our students are boarders, which means Groton has a very vibrant campus. Other schools might only have half their students boarding, which could lead to the campus being quite quiet when classes aren't in session. In contrast, Groton's campus environment is very lively; even on weekends, students choose to stay at school and spend time with their classmates. International students are also matched with local host families to help them with daily life matters. Each new student will have a dedicated guidance counselor, as well as two senior students (typically one male and one female) to assist them, ensuring a smooth and successful integration into Groton life. We create all conditions to ensure that their life at Groton is healthy and happy.
Furthermore, we do our best to provide students with opportunities for an international education. For example, we have a cooperative program with Yale University that allows students to use their holidays to travel to regions such as South America, Africa, and Asia for field research and study, focusing on their interests and desired areas of research.

Share:
Groton in the Eyes of an Admissions Officer (Part 2):
As time has progressed, Groton has also gradually become a more modernized and advanced place. Raymond Clark, Father Peabody's successor, placed great emphasis on the school's diversity. We were one of the first schools in the United States to begin admitting African American students, and we are also the only school that ever invited Martin Luther King Jr. to speak on campus. This is a point of great pride for Grotonians – long before all schools began to emphasize campus diversity, Groton had already made long-term efforts towards it.
Our current headmaster, Mr. Temba Maqubela – an outstanding educator – is also of African descent. He was born in South Africa and later came to the United States with his wife and children, dedicating himself to education ever since. In his educational philosophy, inclusivity has always held a very important position. If you have ever attended his lectures or read his writings, it's very likely you would learn about his fondness for China. He has visited China 40 times on behalf of Andover (his previous school) and Groton. He once stated that his deep affection for China stems from the friendly relationship between China and Africa, believing China to be a world power and the only friendly nation that generously extended a helping hand when Africa was struggling with issues such as race and hunger.

Share:
Groton in the Eyes of an Admissions Officer (Part 1):
Groton spans 415 acres, situated in a relatively remote area away from the city, offering a very calm and safe campus environment. The school's actual usable area is about 200 acres, with the remaining 200-plus acres surrounding the school's academic zone as a "buffer zone." Last year, the school invested in purchasing these surrounding lands, which can be used as a parking lot for the local community and also provide further assurance for campus safety. This geographical location first and foremost provides our school with a safe and quiet environment, making our life at school quite comfortable most of the time.
Groton was founded in 1884 by the highly visionary Reverend Endicott Peabody, who himself worked at the school for 56 years, during which he continuously established and optimized the school's educational philosophy and mission. Because our founder was a Christian reverend, religion holds a certain position at Groton. However, I want to emphasize that this does not mean you must be a Christian to apply to our school, nor does it mean you must study religious doctrines upon coming to our school. Coming to Groton simply means you will be exposed to some universal values found in Christianity, such as fraternity, inclusivity, and helpfulness, which are valuable and meaningful anywhere in the world.

Groton School was founded in 1884 by Rev. Endicott Peabody. The school's purpose was to cultivate students' resilient character and foster their comprehensive development in moral, intellectual, and physical aspects. The school emphasizes leadership development, focuses on the growth of each student, not only preparing them for college but also encouraging active participation in social life. Groton is currently a co-educational boarding school. The school maintains rigorous academics and focuses on each student's personal growth and development, setting high standards in academics, intellectual development, moral awareness and conduct, athletics, and service to others. The school is nationally renowned for its excellent teaching, and outstanding alumni are numerous, including President Roosevelt. The school recruits excellent students from across the United States and around the world, with current students hailing from 23 countries and 28 states. The campus boasts a beautiful, tree-lined environment with various facilities such as basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, a library, an arts center, and science laboratories.

Global awareness is more important than ever! Groton's mission is to help students become caring, ethical, and knowledgeable global citizens. Groton's Global Education Opportunities (GEOs) help students understand cultural, socioeconomic, and political differences around the world. Students travel to Peru, the heartland of the Inca civilization, to participate in community activities such as teaching art, music, dance, and sports to young children. During the trip, students will also visit Machu Picchu and the Inca capital of Cusco, and embark on some thrilling hikes. At the end of the program, students will take a day tour of Cusco, the Inca capital, where they will experience firsthand the convergence of two different civilizations – the conquerors and the Incas. In addition, students also have the opportunity to visit different countries such as Tanzania, India, China, France, Greece, Italy, and more.

Groton School is a century-old prestigious school with approximately 350 students, admitting students from grades 8-12.
Over 80% of Groton School teachers hold master's or doctoral degrees, with the vast majority graduating from Ivy League universities, MIT, and other top institutions.
Admission to Groton is highly competitive, with an annual acceptance rate of around 15%, including both domestic U.S. and international students.
In addition to considering students' individual academic abilities, extracurricular activities, and leadership, the school also takes into account students' family backgrounds.
We have multiple admissions every year; students typically have TOEFL scores of 110+, SSAT scores of 95%+, and outstanding characteristics in academics, arts, and sports.

### Overall Situation:
- A top academic school with a very rich curriculum.
- 9th and 10th-grade courses are relatively fixed. 12th grade offers a large number of elective courses, but 12th-grade courses are generally semester-based. Students need to combine their course selections according to their preferences and circumstances. It is recommended to choose courses that are related to each other as much as possible to systematically learn knowledge in a certain field.
- Math and science still retain some AP courses, while English and history courses are entirely designed by the school itself, with some difficulties not inferior to AP.

### Academic Strengths/Features:
- Tutorial: Designed for 12th-grade students who want to delve deeper into a specific field of study and research. The scope covered is very broad, involving a wide array of areas. It typically accounts for one academic year and one credit. However, if a student has already taken 5 courses and wishes to pursue independent study in addition, they can apply to the school for it to be counted as a 0.5-credit course.
- Classical Languages: Before 2019, Groton required all students in 9th and 10th grade to study classical languages for two years. Starting from the 2019 academic year, the mandatory requirement was abolished and became a strong recommendation. On one hand, classical languages are the foundation of modern languages and can, in turn, promote the learning of English. On the other hand, Groton's classical language program is its strength, so it is still recommended to study classical languages for at least two years if possible.

### Shangxue Mingde Student Feedback:
- The school's academics are very strong, and the competition is fierce. For many Chinese students, especially 9th-grade newcomers, English and history courses are relatively more challenging.
- The arts are also good, especially music courses, which have complete equipment and excellent teachers.

This is a century-old school with a beautiful campus environment. The school is located on a 415-acre campus, featuring a beautiful environment, lush greenery, and various facilities such as basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, a library, an art center, and science laboratories, fully meeting students' diverse needs.

The school boasts a long history and illustrious alumni, aiming to cultivate political figures. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, once attended this school.

Groton School was listed among the "50 Best Schools in the World" by The Wall Street Journal for its excellent education.

The school emphasizes the development of students' leadership abilities and focuses on the character development of each student, not just preparing them for college.

The school has a strong humanities program: history, religion, and various literature courses are very rich, and the school places great importance on Latin and Greek. A dedicated classics department has been established for Latin and Greek.

Groton School's advantageous academic programs include: Mathematics and Computer Science, Science (including Physics and Electromagnetism, AP Biology Lab, AP Chemistry Lab), Applied Physics, Engineering, Performing Arts, Visual Arts courses, and more.

The school's art program is also excellent. Due to a small number of international students, the school provides high attention to them. The school has its own gallery, showcasing students' works from previous years.

Upon entering Groton School, one is deeply influenced by its distinctive humanistic character. The school boasts an extremely rich academic atmosphere, emphasizing the preservation of traditional language and culture, with students required to take either Greek or Latin. While maintaining its traditional essence, the school also innovates. Students' academic standards are exceptionally high, and Groton has very strict requirements for students' language abilities. Therefore, to stand out at this school, excellent writing skills are essential. Students need to far exceed standardized requirements, bringing their language proficiency to an exquisite level.

1. Boarding school ranking 4-6
2. Student population 380, boarding rate 85%
3. Located in MA, 45 miles from Boston
4. Strong academic programs: Mathematics and Computer Science, Science (including Physics and Electromagnetism, AP Biology Lab, AP Chemistry Lab), Applied Physics, Engineering, etc., Performing Arts (e.g., acting, AP Music Theory, choir, etc.), Visual Arts courses (e.g., 3D Sculpture and Integrated Practices, Art and Design, etc.)
5. Offers 8th grade. Many students transferring from public schools or other middle schools choose to repeat 8th grade due to concerns about keeping up with the academic pace.
6. Extremely high academic difficulty, intense curriculum, and high pressure, evidenced by classes held even on Saturday mornings.
7. Excellent facilities: Groton School boasts world-class educational resources. The McCormick Library houses 200,000 volumes. Additionally, the school has a performing arts center, a black box theater, and two visual arts centers. The athletic facilities are first-rate, featuring two ice rinks, two swimming pools, two baseball fields, an indoor track and field facility, and a multi-purpose turf sports field.
8. Extensive alumni network: President Roosevelt.

Groton School was founded in 1884, located in Massachusetts, 45 miles from Boston. The campus environment is beautiful, built around a central circular lawn. The school has a total of 380 students, with a teacher-student ratio of 1:5, international student ratio of 10%, and boarding rate of 85%. The school maintains rigorous academics, focusing on the personal growth and development of each student. It sets high standards in areas such as learning, governance development, moral awareness and behavior, sports, and service to others. The school is renowned for its excellent teaching, with numerous distinguished alumni, including President Roosevelt. One of Groton's most important academic traditions is the academic advisor system. Every new student is assigned an academic advisor, whom they can consult with any questions regarding their studies or daily life. The school offers a rich variety of sports programs, including field hockey, basketball, squash, ice hockey, baseball, rowing, tennis, and soccer. It emphasizes cultivating students' leadership and teamwork skills. Student dormitories are divided into single, double, and triple rooms, which are spacious, comfortable, and fully equipped with furniture and facilities.