Pomfret School

Pomfret

Connecticut

United States

Overview

Founded in 1894, Pomfret is a private high school for boarding and day students. Set on a stunning 500-acre hilltop in Northeastern Connecticut, we are less than an hour from Boston, Hartford, and Providence, and only three hours from New York City. Brought to life by an exceptional faculty, Pomfret is a more human kind of school. We are both bold and practical in our approach — intensely focused on the interests and needs of our students and pragmatic in our efforts to prepare them for the joys and rigors of college, work, and life. We are intentionally small with 350 students. Our classrooms are vibrant and engaging, our dorms foster deep personal relationships, and our advisory system encourages intergenerational connections that truly distinguish us from many other great schools. With limitless opportunities to explore what excites them, our students emerge confident in their abilities and excited for the future. Our graduates attend some of the world's most selective colleges and universities, and our alumni are literally changing the world. In 2024, Pomfret was ranked one of the best private high schools in America.

Academics

Summary: The aim of the academic program at Pomfret School is to teach students to use their minds well and to develop in them a spirit of optimism, resilience, and empathy. At Pomfret, learning is not just the retention of facts, information, and foundational tenets of a given subject area, but it is the act of students solving problems and persistently asking questions of the world around them. Learning, which is designed and led by Pomfret’s dedicated, experienced, and innovative teachers, is the result of thinking and grappling with content, which is what our curricular program reflects. John Dewey, American educator and philosopher, wrote in the early twentieth century that students “can only think when confronted with a problem.” Pomfret students have a myriad of opportunities to delve into problems that do not have simple right / wrong answers but instead require deep, skillful thinking and application of knowledge.

Department Director 003PH00000Q3CiSYAV

Student/Teacher Ratio: 6:1

Average Class Size: 10

Summer Programs: Not Offered

Full Time Teachers: 57

Number of AP Courses Offered: 0

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 85.0%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

Learning Support

Learning Center

English

Classics
Creative Writing
Honors
Literature
Playwriting
Poetry
American Literature
Composition

History

Asian History
European History
Honors
United States History
World History
African History
Art History

Foreign Languages

French
Latin
Spanish

Religion / Philosophy

Religious Studies
Social Justice
Theology
World Religions

Humanities / Social Sciences

Economics
Psychology
World Issues

Sciences

Anatomy
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Biology
Biotechnology
Botany
Chemistry
Earth Science
Ecology
Electronics
Environmental Science
Health
Marine Biology
Meteorology
Microbiology
Physical Science
Physics
Forensics
Engineering
Robotics
Psychology

Math

Algebra
Calculus
Functions
Geometry
Honors Math
Statistics
Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus

Computer Studies

Computer Programming
Web Design
Robotics
Video Game Design

Music

Band
Choral Music
Individual Instructions
Music Theory
Orchestra
Recording
Voice
A Cappella

Performing / Visual Arts

Acting
Animation
Art History
Ceramics
Choreography
Dance
Design
Drama
Drawing
Film and Video
Graphic Design
Painting
Photography
Pottery
Screenwriting
Sculpture
Studio Art
Theater Arts
3-D Art
Modern Dance

Special Programs

Study Abroad
Community Service
Personal Finance
Independent Study
Leadership
Maker Space
Student Council
Robotics

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 12

Average Students Per Dorm: 12

Number of Girls Dorms: 6

Number of Boys Dorms: 6

Dorm Amenities

Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Student Life

The student life experience at Pomfret is designed to complement the academic journey by offering enriching programs with an emphasis on building character, developing cultural competency, making good decisions, and cultivating socio-emotional fluency. With opportunities for clubs, social activities, co-curricular programs, and health and wellness programs, students build a personal portfolio centered on responsibility and wellbeing at Pomfret and develop skills that will equip them for college and life. The Olmsted Student Union (OSU), which was renovated in 2021, is the hub of activity on the Pomfret School campus. The OSU houses The Tuck Shop, which is a student and faculty cafe offering a variety of food, beverages, and snacks in a relaxed atmosphere, the school store, and student activities office. On weekends, there are a variety of options for the students on campus including dances, trivia events, dodgeball tournaments, and traditions such as our AirBands competition, Halloween Parade, and Form Olympics. In addition to on-campus events, Pomfret provides opportunities for students to get off campus. Trips to Boston, NYC, and Providence are provided throughout the year, as well as mall trips, movie trips, dining at local restaurants, and shuttles to local shopping areas.

Facilities

Baseball Field
Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Football Field
Indoor Basketball Court
Squash Court
Soccer Field
Tennis Courts
Hockey Rink
Lacrosse Field
Turf Fields
Athletic Fields
Dance Studio
Rowing Facility
Weight Room
Cross Country Trails
Ice Rink

Other Facilities

Ropes Course

Clubs & Organizations

Amnesty International
Asian Club
Astronomy Club
Chess Club
Community Service
Debate Club
Diversity Club
Dorm Proctors
Drama Club
Environmental Club
Gardening Club
International Club
Investment Club
Jewish Student Organization
Literary Magazine
Math Club
Newspaper
Peer Tutoring
Photography Club
Sexualities Club
Student Activities
Student Government
Student Publications
Student Radio Station
Theater Club
Weightlifting Club
Yearbook
Yoga Club
Young Democrats
Young Republicans
Radio Station
GSA
Outdoor Activities

Arts & Athletics

Summary: Since the founding of the School, both athletics and arts have played a key role in each student’s Pomfret experience. Many life lessons are taught through the athletic program. Character building, fair play, and appreciation for being a part of a team are goals that we expect every student to experience. The Pomfret athletic program helps students develop self-esteem, promotes their health and wellness, and allows students to develop meaningful relationships through team experiences. Pomfret provides the opportunity to compete on varsity and sub-varsity teams against the best competition in New England. Our 47 athletic teams compete in 17 unique sports. Our varsity squads routinely compete against the best in New England, and we offer great sub-varsity options for developing talent. Whether you play for the love of the game or are bound for college glory, we have a team for you. Our experienced coaches are faculty members who promote sportsmanship, fair play, and team work in every practice and game. They are passionate coaches who value the experience of being on a team as much as the competition. They foster leadership and teach accountability in every activity. All of us are innately artistic. And it is that inner creativity that connects us to our most human selves. At Pomfret, all freshmen take an exciting, fast-paced course that integrates multiple programs in the arts, including theater, music, dance, ceramics, digital media, photography, and painting and drawing. Armed with this experience in self expression and reflection, Arts Immersion will make you a more creative problem solver as you begin to appreciate the practice and process of making art.

Arts Department Director: 003PH00000FVjomYAD

Athletics Department Director: 003PH00000Q3OjfYAF

Notable Achievements: NEPSAC Small School Boys Hockey Champions '17 Class B NEPSAC Girls Basketball Champions '18 Class B NEPSAC Girls Ice Soccer Finalist '17

Arts

Acting
Animation
Art History
Ceramics
Choreography
Dance
Design
Drama
Drawing
Film and Video
Graphic Design
Painting
Photography
Pottery
Screenwriting
Sculpture
Studio Art
Theater Arts
3-D Art
Modern Dance

Interscholastic Sports

Baseball
Basketball
Crew
Cross Country Running
Field Hockey
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Squash
Swimming
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Wrestling

Recreational Sports

Dance
Outdoor Education
Squash
Tennis
Weight Lifting
Fitness

Graduates

Summary: College counseling at Pomfret is a highly individualized process with the goal of producing the best possible match between each uniquely talented student and the college or university which best fits that student. Like much of everyday life on campus, the creation of that ideal match is a very personal, labor intensive, learning experience. Each student works closely with their college counselor to explore the many talents and interests they’ve developed, to set goals based on those experiences, and to research and find the colleges that will help them achieve those goals. Personal attention is the hallmark of the college search process at Pomfret. Three experienced college counselors, aided by the academic registrar and testing coordinator, serve a typical class of approximately one hundred students. While each counselor has multiple opportunities to get to know students in the classroom, on the playing fields, etc., guiding them through their college search is their primary responsibility. By visiting college campuses, attending regional and national conferences, and hosting college fairs and individual college representatives at our school, Pomfret’s college counselors constantly update and expand their knowledge about programs available at colleges.

College Information

Percentage of graduates who attend college: 100.0%

Middle Percentile of SAT Scores	Reading	Math	Writing
25th percentile
75th percentile

College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

US Army: 1

Colgate University: 1

Cornell University: 1

Dartmouth College: 1

Clark University: 1

Colby College: 1

Brandeis University: 1

Brown University: 1

Boston University: 1

Bowdoin College: 1

Amherst College: 1

Bates College: 1

Berklee College of Music: 1

University of New England: 2

American University of Paris: 1

Johnson & Wales University: 2

Plymouth State University: 2

Thomas College: 2

Colby-Sawyer College: 2

University of Rhode Island: 3

Champlain College: 2

Central Maine Community College: 5

St. Joseph's College: 3

University of Maine: 13

US Marine Corps: 2

Dickinson College: 1

Drexel University: 1

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University: 1

Emerson College: 1

Hamilton College: 1

Harvard University: 1

Yale University: 1

Middlebury College: 1

Ithaca College: 1

Stanford University: 1

Purdue University: 1

New York University: 1

Northeastern University: 1

Ohio State University: 1

Penn State University: 1

Michigan State University: 2

Miami University (Ohio): 4

Notable Alumni

Dr. James Rothman

Class of 1967

Sterling Professor of Cell Biology at Yale University Director and founder of the Yale Nanobiology Institute Nobel Prize winner for key molecular machinery discoveries

Felice Mueller

Class of 2008

Won a gold medal in the coxless four at the 2013 World Rowing Championships Finished fourth at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro Took bronze in the 2019 World Rowing Cup in Bulgaria

Malik Ducard

Class of 1991

Chief content officer of Pinterest Spent more than 10 years in leadership roles at YouTube Author of "Henry's Big Win," winner of the Jessie Redmon Fauset Award for best children's book

Chelsea Cutler

Class of 2015

Singer, songwriter, and producer Sold-out nationwide tour for 2020 album “How to Be Human” Over two billion cumulative streams

Thomas Garrison

Class of 1996

National Geographic Explorer Maya archeologist Known for work using LiDAR technology

Sarah Vaillancourt

Class of 2004

Two-time Olympic gold medalist in ice hockey and a member of the Canadian national team and the Montreal Stars Named Ivy League and Eastern College Athletic Conference hockey player of the year while playing at Harvard Led Harvard in scoring and was rank

Alex Gibney

Class of 1971

President of Jigsaw Productions Documentary filmmaker and producer

Zenab Keita

Class of 2010

Played basketball for four years at Yale University, earned an M.A. in management at Wake Forest University, and worked for the Miami Dolphins. She is now the manager of partnerships at The Athletic, a subscription-based sports website. She was recently r

Matt Scanlon

Class of 2007

Co-founder and chief executive officer of Naadam Cashmere

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 4.0%

Average Merit Scholarship: 5,500

Current Endowment Amount: $72,000,000

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Vital Information

Student Body Type: Coed

Total Boarding: 290

Total Day: 54

Total Enrollment: 350

Boys: 177

Girls: 165

Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12

Day Grades Offered: 9-12

School Type: High School, Post-grad

Dress Code: Casual

Applications Accepted: SAO, Gateway to Prep

Application Deadline: January 15th

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $

5-Day Boarding: N/A

Day Tuition Fee: $46,600

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 36.0%

Average Awarded: $42,874

School Finances