Pomfret School

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. In each subject area, students are expected to master the content and skills of the discipline; but, more importantly, students are encouraged to combine what they have mastered with their drive and passion for learning in order to solve meaningful problems. Through their active and engaged participation in learning, we expect our students to use content to produce new understandings about the world.

Increasingly, our academic program is becoming personalized such that students have a voice and choice in their learning. We want students to participate consistently in the design of their learning as they currently do during Project: Pomfret. We want students to connect their interests, passions, aspirations, and unique strengths to their learning process and to the learning objectives designed collaboratively with their teachers.

It is apparent to the observer who walks the halls of Pomfret that our students are participating in active inquiry, debate, and exploration. These activities distinguish Pomfret from other schools because they grow from innovative curricular programming and learning practices. We believe strongly that learning at Pomfret helps students anticipate, embrace, and prepare for their futures in ways that are unlike what is offered at other boarding schools. We encourage you to join us in this closely-connected community of learners and learning.

Summary: Since the founding of the School, athletics has 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 42 athletic teams compete in 15 different sports. Our teams are comprised of college-bound athletes as well as novices picking up a sport for the first time. 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.

Every student can benefit from the experience of creating art. The creative thinking skills acquired by making art can be used throughout one’s life and are crucial to a twenty-first century education. Pomfret School provides a compelling and comprehensive arts program in which students can use their imagination, discover a passion, and gain an appreciation of how the arts enrich and give meaning to life.

Pomfret features art courses in fine art, digital art, technology, design, and performing art.