The Bement School

Bement is a great school where kids can have many different opportunities in one place. Daily arts, sports, academics, clubs, and more. Teachers really set the school apart and make the student experience meaningful. Kids join the school in all grades, you get to meet new friends every year. There are small classes and lots of events that mix grades and involve the whole school. Great place to get your education started- really prepared me for private high school, college, and professional life.

Principal Zhan's Comments: Bement offers daily art courses, focusing on cultivating children's creativity. It's a school that prioritizes students' social skills and mental health, with a strong school culture. It is quite suitable for children who have not left home before.
In recent years, there have been more applicants from China, making the competition very fierce. Applying early for 4th and 5th grades will likely yield more available spots, while the chances of admission for 7th and 8th grades are very slim.
In terms of cultural heritage, Bement places great emphasis on culture and tradition. Every May, the school requires children to participate in morning classes and art exhibitions with their grandparents. Such activities allow parents to witness their children's growth and help children gain confidence and honor.
Regarding academic development, the school year is divided into three terms, including a three-week short term. Besides teaching students the basic information they should master in each subject, teachers also guide students in developing projects and conducting research, encouraging them to think comprehensively about academics across subjects like English, Math, Science, and History, bringing the curriculum into life for experiential learning.
In terms of community building, the school is like a warm family, fostering children's social skills and caring for their mental health. In this warm, down-to-earth environment, students can freely bake cakes and play with dorm parents' children and pets.
For emotional support, the school places great importance on children's mental health. In winter, the school takes children to play games together on the playground. During this process, teachers guide children to solve problems and face conflicts themselves.

As a current parent, I'd like to share some practical comments. The teaching staff at Bement School are quite good. However, its academic program is not rigorous. In recent years, the quality of students has been inconsistent. This is particularly true after the school admitted some academically weaker Chinese students in recent years, primarily for tuition fees, which has led to an overall decline in standards. The school's biggest drawback is its complete lack of its own facilities, relying entirely on DA (likely Deerfield Academy). The head of sports often fails to find coaches for many sports teams, leaving children to practice without proper guidance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the school showed insufficient care for its students; even very young children were simply dismissed without adequate support. Dorm supervisors also showed a lack of care. Middle school children are still young, and truly self-disciplined individuals are a minority. I've observed that many students who attended American middle schools might have been better off staying in China and applying directly to American high schools. Furthermore, the school does not support students applying to other schools for 9th grade, because Bement itself offers up to 9th grade. From a tuition perspective, they implicitly prefer students to complete 9th grade at Bement and then apply for 10th-grade entry to high school, but this is not openly communicated. This often leads to unsatisfactory application outcomes for students who try to apply elsewhere for 9th grade. Consequently, parents of 8th-grade students seeking a 9th-grade transfer are rarely satisfied, often leaving with significant complaints. However, applying for 10th grade (after completing 9th grade at Bement) indeed has a substantial impact on subsequent university applications, and the timeframe is very tight.

Last month, I visited Bement, and Director of Admissions Kimberly Caldwell Loughlin shared the latest application information for Fall 2023:
1. For the 2022/23 application cycle, female enrollment was oversubscribed, and more admitted female students accepted offers than expected. Next year, unless a significant number of female students decline their offers, the number of available spots for female students will be fewer than in previous years. Currently, male applicants for grades G6-8 have a higher chance of success.
2. For the 2023/24 academic year, applications are still test-optional for now. However, strong test scores as an endorsement for the application will still be favored by the school.
3. This year (2022), the matriculation of 9th-grade graduates to American high schools has been excellent, with many students admitted to top Massachusetts high schools such as Andover, Exeter, NMH, Middlesex, Deerfield, Governor’s, etc.
4. Many families are concerned about Bement's lower-grade admissions. Bement's boarding program starts from G4 (but for international students applying for G4-G5, the admissions officer described it as 'very very few successful cases' – extremely difficult to get in, and even if admitted, they are very likely to be local American students). More boarding spots for international students become available starting from G6.

How to apply to The Bement School? The school wishes to meet with candidates and their families. Therefore, if parents are able to visit the campus in person, the school will invite student families for an in-person interview screening. If students and parents are unable to travel to Bement due to the pandemic or other circumstances, the school will arrange an online interview via Zoom. Additionally, the school welcomes students to submit SSAT scores or WISC assessment reports, but this submission is not mandatory. The materials required to apply to Bement include: application form, application fee, interview screening, transcripts, and letters of recommendation from current teachers. Students in grades 6-9 need two letters of recommendation, one for math and one for English, and a handwritten essay. International students hoping to be considered in the first round of applications need to complete the application process by December 15th.

1. One of the 10 schools in the Junior Boarding School Association, with excellent matriculation results, and a key feeder school for Deerfield Academy.
2. Small boarding capacity, allowing the school to provide more attentive care to boarding students.
3. Redesigned dormitory spaces make it more convenient for students to rest and live.

Bement School, established in 1925, is located in the small town of Deerfield in Western Massachusetts, just a five-minute walk from the renowned Deerfield Academy, and also adjacent to Eaglebrook, another top all-boys junior boarding school.
Bement students often visit Deerfield to share their well-equipped campus and medical facilities, and many students choose to attend Deerfield for high school.
Bement is small, but its campus is beautifully decorated and very cozy, making one feel right at home. The dormitory exteriors are painted in homely light blue, beige, and rose red.
Bement enrolls K-9 students. International students can begin boarding from G6. The boarding rate is 23%, and international students make up 17% of the student body. With just over 200 students in total, the school offers a very high level of individual attention. The school environment is very caring and inclusive, and there have been no bullying incidents throughout its history.

Bement School, founded in 1925, is located in the small town of Deerfield in western Massachusetts. It is just a five-minute walk from the renowned American high school Deerfield Academy and is also adjacent to Eaglebrook, another top American junior boarding school for boys.

Bement students frequently visit Deerfield to share their well-equipped campus and medical facilities. Many students also choose to attend Deerfield Academy for high school.

Bement is a small school, but its campus is beautifully arranged to be very warm and exquisite, making everyone feel at home. The dormitories are painted in homely shades of light blue, beige, and rose pink on the outside.

Bement admits students from K-9. International students can board from G6 (6th grade). The boarding student ratio is 23%, and international students make up 17% of the student body. With just over 200 students in total, each student receives a very high level of attention. The school atmosphere is very caring and highly inclusive, with no bullying incidents reported throughout its history.

Do all boarding students need to quarantine before arriving at The Bement School on September 7th?
All host families should have received extensive information regarding the Bement community's quarantine and testing protocols. If you haven't, please contact the school.

Will the school's new student orientation be conducted in-person or online?
The Admissions Office plans to meet with prospective students and families in person, while also hosting online events and meetings when necessary.

For the 2022 fall application season, will The Bement School's admissions be online or offline?
For The Bement School's 2022 admissions, admissions officers' visits will also be conducted through both in-person and online methods.

Questions about The Bement School's return to campus vaccine and safety protocols for the Fall 2021 semester?
The Bement School's leadership team, faculty, and staff are working together to ensure the school is ready to welcome students back to campus for a safe and enriching year of living and learning.

Does my child need to wear a mask when returning to The Bement School?
Everyone at Bement, regardless of vaccination status, will wear a mask inside school buildings. Please send your child to school with an extra clean mask if your child needs a replacement. We have disposables on hand if necessary. Students will wear masks all day.

Are visitors allowed on The Bement School campus?
All visitors must wear a mask indoors and comply with COVID-19 protocols while on campus. Visitors may enter campus by appointment and after completing a form to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to their campus visit. Bement student families do not need an appointment unless they will be on campus and indoors for an extended period, in which case Bement student parents will also need to complete the form. If parents are taking their child to their building or picking up their child here, no form is required.

I recorded a video to help parents and students learn about this school.
http://www.findingschool.net/virtual-tour/106

We are new students admitted last year, taking online courses domestically due to the pandemic. The biggest feeling is that our child is very happy at Bement. The teachers care a lot about the children, always reply to questions, and there are many activities encouraging children to participate. We hope visas will open this summer so we can go to school to study.

Our family LOVES this school! From the daily fine arts and P.E. classes to the small class sizes and constant communication from my children’s teachers, Bement is all about community building. Our children have attended Bement since kindergarten, and we have been impressed by how the school has supported and encouraged their very different interests over the years. This school values integrity and respect for others, and the faculty model these traits daily.

Bement is a boarding middle school located in the small town of Deerfield. This town has three top boarding schools and a strong academic atmosphere. The reason Bement has relatively few students is not because the school lacks space for accommodation, but because they want to take good care of every student. The dormitories are like a big family, very warm and welcoming. Every evening, students have an hour to call their parents or enjoy free time. On weekends, dorm parents organize many activities and basically provide feedback to parents weekly on students' school life, including sending photos. Bement has a summer school every year, and they might also select prospective students during this period.

A very caring school, highly suitable for junior students studying abroad. Academics are very strong, and there are many activities. School management is very strict, which greatly fosters children's independent character. Chinese graduates have excellent placements; half or more enter top ten boarding high schools in the US, and the remaining all enter top thirty boarding high schools in the US.

For 26 years, Bement has been engaged in student exchange programs with L'Ermitage School in Paris, France. In April, students from L'Ermitage will live with Bement student families and attend classes for two weeks, experiencing French academics and culture, and visiting other French cities and towns.
At the end of the ninth-grade academic year, students can participate in international trips; diverse international students enhance cultural diversity.
For students who are still in the early stages of learning English, specific Latin courses are set up for them. Basic training in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Latin will greatly assist their English learning.
Music: The school has a band that holds regular practices every week, performs annually, and some students also form additional music ensembles. The aim is to inspire students' thinking and unleash their infinite creativity through art.
Drama: Bement offers drama performance courses starting from the lower grades, providing professional guidance in various dramatic performances through improvisation, body and voice expansion. Drama courses for higher grades place more emphasis on students' creative abilities, encouraging active participation in fairy tale adaptations, Shakespearean skits, contemporary drama performances, etc. The annual 9th-grade spring musical is a major performance.
Many of the school's sports programs take place on the Deerfield Academy campus. For example, students' swimming, basketball, and tennis classes are held at Deerfield Middle School (Deerfield Academy).
The school's basketball program is relatively strong.

I personally visited this school twice and was deeply moved by the admissions teachers' enthusiasm. The school is small and adjacent to the top boarding school Deerfield, giving it a very warm feel. Many resources can be shared with Deerfield; for example, students take their swimming, basketball, and tennis classes at Deerfield Middle School.

The school has a student exchange program agreement with L'Ermitage School in France, actively seeking academic diversity and internationalization, and is committed to creating a harmonious, warm, and comfortable learning and living environment for students.

Despite its small size, the school offers many sports programs and rich extracurricular activities. The school's dormitory management is very strict; located a 5-minute drive from the school, it rigorously manages students' mobile phones.

The school's signature courses include Visual Arts, Public Speaking, Robotics, and Electronic Engineering.

In recent years, Chinese students' university placements have been excellent, with some entering schools such as Kent School, Deerfield Academy, Choate Rosemary School, Milton Academy, and The Hotchkiss School.