Good Private independent middle school around Boston with small class sizes and sports

[Anonymous]

Similar to Field School here in DC, are their similar schools around Boston? Our son has language disorder but able to function in a normal classroom but needs smaller class sizes. He loves sports so a campus with great outdoor fields is very important. Any recommendations of private middle schools around Boston? We would be looking for 6th or 7th grade. We also have 2 other younger kids for which we will need good public schools.

[Anonymous]

Noble & Greenough - 60 kids in middle school
Milton Academy - 75 kids
BB&N


Problem is getting in!

[Anonymous]

I don't know these schools well, but more schools for OP to consider. These may be less competitive than the ones mentioned above.

Dexter Southfield
Rivers
Belmont Hills (boys)
Beaver Country Day School (not sure how strong sports are)

[Anonymous]

Milton Academy is nice. A friend works in the office there.

Landmark School in Beverly is for students with language disorders, so not exactly what you’re looking for. But I observed there during grad school and the class sizes couldn’t be over like 8.... I don’t think you’ll find classes that small anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Oh, also Derby Academy in Hingham. A family friend teaches STEM there. I think they typically have around 14 kids per class. Milton is probably similar. Thayer in Braintree as well.

Some of the public schools have class sizes under 20, but really varies by town and the smaller classes are mostly at the elementary level. When I student taught in Scituate there were 16 kids in the class but when I subbed at the HS and MS there the classes ranged from 20-35. Usually around 20/25 but a popular course could be pretty big. Stoughton has really small class sizes at the elementary level too... the teachers there thought 20 was big. When I mentioned seeing a second grade teacher with no aide and 28 kids in FCPS they were shocked!!

You’re probably smart to go the private route as I think they do a better job guaranteeing small classes. Some of the public’s really try but after elementary it’s harder.

[Anonymous]

BC High is good too... starts at 7th. My friend’s little brother goes there and plays football. His family is hoping this will lead to a full college scholarship. His step brother went there and got a full ride to college. This is how they justify paying the tuition (which isn’t as much as many other privates). I don’t know about the class size here though. But I think it’s pretty good for sports.

Hingham, Milton and Beverley will also have good public schools.

I don’t think Braintree Public is that great, but if you went with Thayer Braintree is near a lot of nicer public districts (Canton, Milton, then down to the south shore there Duxbury, Scituate, Hanover, Norwell, Whitman-Hanson).

BC High is right by the train station (JK/Umass red line, also purple commuter rail). Boston Public is a mess but a lot of students take the train to school. I wouldn’t send the younger kids to BPS but there’s plenty of nice places near the red and purple lines, including Milton and Scituate.

If you’re working in Boston I’d go with Milton. Anything too far on the south shore (or north shore) can be a horrible commute but lots of folks do it. I’m from South Shore so I don’t know other areas as well to recommend much but Beverly, Hamilton, Topsfield likely have good public schools.

[Anonymous]

Re Milton Academy, it is a phenomenal private day/boarding school. While I secretly wish my DC could go (or get in), I also know that it's not for every kind of learner. It seems to be a pressure cooker, on par with BB&N, possibly more competitive?

OP - what kind of language based disorder does your kid have? Just remember, Milton is not for the faint of heart. Heavy amount of writing, even for math/STEM. It does have stellar academics and sports.

All private schools will boast small class size. More important, in my opinion, is how integrated learning resource is to make sure your student is successful.

If you don't need to commute into Boston, how about western suburbs like Newton or Concord? Many great public and private options.

Good luck, and please report back on where you land!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BC High is good too... starts at 7th. My friend’s little brother goes there and plays football. His family is hoping this will lead to a full college scholarship. His step brother went there and got a full ride to college. This is how they justify paying the tuition (which isn’t as much as many other privates). I don’t know about the class size here though. But I think it’s pretty good for sports.

Hingham, Milton and Beverley will also have good public schools.

I don’t think Braintree Public is that great, but if you went with Thayer Braintree is near a lot of nicer public districts (Canton, Milton, then down to the south shore there Duxbury, Scituate, Hanover, Norwell, Whitman-Hanson).

BC High is right by the train station (JK/Umass red line, also purple commuter rail). Boston Public is a mess but a lot of students take the train to school. I wouldn’t send the younger kids to BPS but there’s plenty of nice places near the red and purple lines, including Milton and Scituate.

If you’re working in Boston I’d go with Milton. Anything too far on the south shore (or north shore) can be a horrible commute but lots of folks do it. I’m from South Shore so I don’t know other areas as well to recommend much but Beverly, Hamilton, Topsfield likely have good public schools.

In what world is Beverly HS in the same league as Hingham HS? Beverly is fine for Massachusetts, but Hingham is one of the best in the state. Beverly Farms is beautiful, but everyone I knew that grew up there went to private HS. I grew up on the North Shore and Marblehead, Masco (Topsfield, Boxford, Middletown), Hamilton-Wenham, Manchester-Essex and Swampscott are much better schools than Beverly (which is on par with Danvers, slightly better than Salem and Peabody).