Berkshire School

Sheffield
Massachusetts
United States

Overview

Founded in 1907, Berkshire School is a co-ed college preparatory boarding and day school for 400 ninth-12th graders and post-graduates, offering a forward-thinking curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities on a 400-acre campus in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Berkshire’s signature programs, including Advanced Math/Science Research, Advanced Humanities Research, and the Sabin Entrepreneurial Prize, are offered along with advanced sections and AP offerings in all disciplines. These programs are designed to expand the minds, provide real-world experiences, and help distinguish our students in an increasingly competitive college process. With a range of artistic and athletic offerings and national recognition for our efforts in sustainability, Berkshire provides an extraordinary setting in which students are encouraged to learn in the words of the School motto: Pro Vita Non Pro Schola Discimus, “Learning—not just for school but for life.” Berkshire is committed to ensuring that each student has a unique and relevant learning experience. By design, every student makes an impact at Berkshire and no student is anonymous. Our enrollment size allows us to cultivate an exceptionally affirming and close-knit residential community. From the foundation of being known well, our students build confidence, which enables them to reimagine their potential in all areas of their development. Berkshire students genuinely care about each other—having a great sense of pride in seeing others do well—a distinguishing element that creates a healthy culture that balances ambition and humility. Berkshire’s dedication to academic, artistic, and athletic excellence has led to record numbers in admissions, success and achievement in every corner of our campus, and nearly 90% of our graduates earning acceptances to the most selective colleges and universities. Upon leaving Berkshire, our graduates are able to communicate effectively and persuasively, think critically and creatively, collaborate with others, and understand that they are part of something larger than themselves. They are a part of a global network of nearly 6,000 alumni, spanning 62 countries and 50 states. Berkshire strives to instill core values—curiosity, integrity, perseverance, inclusion, respect, and resilience—along with the critical skills, initiative, and confidence that will ensure our students’ success in school and in life.

Academics

Summary: Berkshire’s challenging college prep curriculum offers a wealth of advanced and AP courses in every discipline along with unique learning experiences in programs like Advanced Math/Science Research, the Center for Sustainability, Pro Vita Winter Session and Independent Study.

Department Director Brooke Depelteau

Student/Teacher Ratio: 4:1

Average Class Size: 12

Summer Programs: Offered

Full Time Teachers: 64

Number of AP Courses Offered: 17

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 67%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

English

  • Honors

History

  • Honors
  • United States History
  • World History

Religion / Philosophy

  • Ethics

Humanities / Social Sciences

  • Economics
  • Psychology

Sciences

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics

Math

  • Honors Math

Special Programs

  • Community Service
  • Independent Study

Distinctive or New Programs

Advanced Math/science Research Center For Sustainability Independent Study Pro Vita Winter Session

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 9

Average Students Per Dorm: 40

Number of Girls Dorms: 4

Number of Boys Dorms: 5

Dorm Amenities

  • Laundry Facilities
  • Lounge
  • Vending Machines
  • Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Student Life

Residential life at Berkshire is designed to help students develop a sense of responsibility, self-sufficiency, and connectedness unique to boarding school experience. Students at Berkshire enjoy living in a nurturing and safe environment. Dorm parents—faculty members who live in the dorms with students—take on a parent-like role or “in loco parentis” giving each dorm a true family feeling. From helping with homework, giving advice, to hosting movie nights in the common room, dorm parents build strong relationships with the students.

Facilities

  • All-Weather Track
  • Baseball Field
  • Fitness Center
  • Football Field
  • Indoor Basketball Court
  • Indoor Climbing Wall
  • Volleyball Court

Other Facilities

Two Hockey Rinks; Twelve Outdoor Tennis Courts; Ten Indoor Squash Courts; Strength and Conditioning Area; Locker Rooms; Athletic Training Facility

Clubs & Organizations

  • Astronomy Club
  • Chess Club
  • Community Service
  • Debate Club
  • Dorm Proctors
  • Environmental Club
  • Foreign Language Clubs
  • International Club
  • Investment Club
  • Literary Magazine
  • Math Club
  • Model UN
  • Newspaper
  • Outing Club
  • Peer Counseling
  • Peer Tutoring
  • Student Activities
  • Student Government
  • Student Publications
  • Theater Club
  • Yearbook
  • Radio Station

Arts & Athletics

Summary: Arts and Athletics at Berkshire are the foundation of the School's culture: our facilities and programs give students an outstanding platform from which to push themselves, discover new interests and talents, and express themselves to the full extent of their talent, discipline and enthusiasm.

Arts Department Director: Paul Banevicius

Athletics Department Director: Dan Driscoll

Notable Achievements: 20 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in 2018, Jack Harrison '15 Top Pick of MLS SuperDraft, T. Donelan '18 Wins $5K in Songwriting Contest

Arts

Interscholastic Sports

  • Alpine Skiing
  • Alpine Ski Racing
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Crew
  • Cross Country Running
  • Dance
  • Field Hockey
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Ice Hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Mountain Biking
  • Nordic Skiing
  • Rock Climbing
  • Snowboarding
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Squash
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball

Recreational Sports

  • Camping
  • Canoeing
  • Dance
  • Freestyle Skiing
  • Hiking
  • Ice Climbing
  • Kayaking
  • Outdoor Education
  • Snowboarding
  • Weight Lifting

Graduates

Summary: The College Counseling Office at Berkshire has tremendous success finding colleges and universities that best match each student’s talents, interests, and aspirations. College counselors are intently focused on knowing their students well and placing them in a position of strength to choose the school that is the best fit for them.

College Information

Precentage of graduates who attend college: 100%

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

College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

Boston University: 9
Wake Forest University: 10
Middlebury College: 10
Hobart William Smith Colleges: 11
New York University: 13
Elon University: 13
Bates College: 14
Trinity College: 15
Northeastern University: 16
University of Denver: 17
St. Lawrence University: 23
University of Michigan: 6
Union College: 6
Lehigh University: 6
Kenyon College: 6
Cornell University: 6
Columbia University: 6
Skidmore College: 7
Dartmouth College: 7
Colgate University: 7
University of Richmond: 8
Southern Methodist University: 8
Connecticut College: 8
Bucknell University: 8
Bowdoin College: 8
University of Colorado Boulder: 9
Sewanee: The University of the South: 9
Dickinson College: 9
University of Virginia: 5
Tufts University: 5
Syracuse University: 5
Santa Clara University: 5
Providence College: 5
Northwestern University: 5
Georgetown University: 5
Colby College: 5
Wesleyan University: 6
University of Vermont: 6
Tulane University: 3
Johns Hopkins University: 3
Denison University: 3
Boston College: 3
Williams College: 4
University of Pennsylvania: 4
Texas Christian University: 4
Miami University-Oxford: 4
Hamilton College: 4
Carnegie Mellon University: 5
University of Southern California: 2
University of Notre Dame: 2
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: 2
Stanford University: 2
Rutgers University: 2
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: 2
Oberlin College: 2
Duke University: 2
Brown University: 2
Brandeis University: 2
Amherst College: 2
American University: 2
Yale University: 3
Villanova University: 3
University of Connecticut: 3
University of California Los Angeles: 3
Gettysburg College: 3
Quinnipiac University: 1
Princeton University: 1
Michigan State University: 1
King's College London: 1
Indiana University Bloomington: 1
Harvard College: 1
Hanken School of Economics: 1
George Washington University: 1
Fordham University: 1
Emory University: 1
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: 1
Colorado College: 1
Claremont McKenna College: 1
Bard College: 1
Arizona State University: 1
Washington University in St. Louis: 2
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: 1
United States Naval Academy: 1
United States Air Force Academy: 1
The Citadel Military College of South Carolina: 1
Swarthmore College: 1
Smith College: 1
Savannah College of Art and Design: 1

Notable Alumni

Lincoln Kirstein

Class of 1926

Author and Cultural Figure

William Standish Knowles

Class of 1934

Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Calvin Tomkins

Class of 1943

Art Critic

Stephen Malawista

Class of 1950

Lyme Disease Co-Discoverer

William Matthews

Class of 1961

Poet

Dr. Jack Bacon

Class of 1972

NASA Scientist

E.V. Day

Class of 1986

Artist

Ryan Lizza

Class of 1992

New Yorker Magazine

Kendall Coyne

Class of 2011

Olympic Gold Medalist

Quotes From Alumni

“Berkshire exposed me to so many great opportunities. I embraced my love for the arts by participating in studio art photography digital art and choreography. I'm now pursuing a career in fashion!”
-Shannon Rayniece Brown, Class of 2010, Fashion Designer
“Berkshire set the foundation for the most formative years of my life and for any success I achieved after high school. It was a place where I could take risks knowing that I would always be supported.”
-Allison Letourneau, Class of 2007, Associate Head of School for Enrollment Management at The White Mountain School
“Berkshire is so special. I'm still struck by everyone's warmth and encouragement. It gave me the confidence to get involved in Student Government and the Diversity Club all of which shaped my life.”
-Jarrett Mathis, Class of 2004, Founder of Empowering Ourselves Inc.

Interested in Berkshire School?

Vital Information

Student Body Type: Coed

Total Boarding: 371

Total Day: 38

Total Enrollment: 409

Boys: 225

Girls: 184

Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12

Day Grades Offered: 9-12

School Type: High School, Post-grad

Dress Code: Formal

Applications Accepted: SAO, Gateway to Prep

Application Deadline: January 15th

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $66,200

5-Day Boarding: N/A

Day Tuition Fee: $51,400

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 28%

Average Awarded: $48,045

School Finances

Merit Scholarships: Not Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: %

Average Merit Scholarship: $

Current Endowment Amount: $145,000,000

Contact

245 North Undermountain Road

Sheffield, Massachusetts United States

413 229 1003

Director of Admissions: Dana Anselmi

Admissions Phone: 413 229 1003

Fax: 413 229 1016

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.berkshireschool.org

Nearby Schools

Recently Viewed