Pomfret School
Overview
Founded in 1894, Pomfret is a small independent boarding and day school serving grades 9–12 plus postgrads. Set on a stunning 500-acre hilltop in Northeastern Connecticut, our students hail from 25 states and 21 countries. Our mission is to empower students to pursue lives of meaning and purpose, and our vision is to inspire the next generation of change makers and problem solvers. Brought to life by an exceptional faculty, 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. In doing so, we are deeply committed to fostering an atmosphere of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for all of our students, faculty, and staff.
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 Doug MacLeod
Student/Teacher Ratio: 6:1
Average Class Size: 12
Summer Programs: Not Offered
Full Time Teachers: 57
Number of AP Courses Offered: 0
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 85%
Number of IB Courses Offered: 0
Learning Support
- Learning Center
English
- Classics
- Creative Writing
- Honors
- Literature
- Playwriting
- Poetry
- Composition
History
- European History
- Honors
- United States History
- World History
- African History
Foreign Languages
Religion / Philosophy
- Ethics
- Faith
- Religious Studies
- Social Justice
- Theology
- World Religions
Humanities / Social Sciences
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Psychology
Sciences
- Anatomy
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
- Ecology
- Electronics
- Environmental Science
- Health
- Marine Biology
- Meteorology
- Microbiology
- Paleontology
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Sports Medicine
- Forensics
Math
Computer Studies
- Computer Programming
- Web Design
Music
- Band
- Choral Music
- Music Theory
- Recording
- Voice
- A Cappella
Performing / Visual Arts
Special Programs
- Study Abroad
- Community Service
- Independent Study
- Leadership
- Student Council
- Maker Space
Campus Life
Dorm Life
Number of Dorms: 12
Average Students Per Dorm: 12
Number of Girls Dorms: 4
Number of Boys Dorms: 8
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-curriculum programs, and health and wellness programs, students build a personal portfolio centered on responsibility and well-being 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, local restaurants, and shuttles to local shopping areas.
Facilities
- Baseball Field
- Basketball Court
- Fitness Center
- Football Field
- Squash Court
- Soccer Field
- Hockey Rink
- Dance Studio
- Athletic Fields
- Turf Fields
- Cross Country Trails
- Rowing Facility
- Ice Rink
- Lacrosse Field
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, 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.
Arts Department Director: Chip Lamb
Athletics Department Director: Jon Sheehan
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
Interscholastic Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Crew
- Cross Country Running
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Squash
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Recreational Sports
- Basketball
- Dance
- Freestyle Skiing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Mountain Biking
- Outdoor Education
- Rock Climbing
- Squash
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Weight Lifting
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 his or her counselor to explore the many talents and interests he or she has developed, to set goals based on those experiences, and to research and find the colleges that will help him or her achieve those goals. Personal attention is the hallmark of the college search process at Pomfret. Three experienced college counselors, aided by the registrar/testing coordinator and by a full-time administrative assistant, 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 our 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%
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores | Reading | Math | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
25th percentile | |||
75th percentile |
College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:
Merit
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 4%
Average Merit Scholarship: 5,400
Current Endowment Amount: $73,400,000
Vital Information
Student Body Type: Coed
Total Boarding: 298
Total Day: 52
Total Enrollment: 350
Boys: 182
Girls: 168
Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12
Day Grades Offered: 9-12
School Type: High School, Post-grad
Dress Code: Casual
Applications Accepted: SAO
Application Deadline: January 15th
Tuition & Financial Aid
7-Day Boarding: $69,250
5-Day Boarding: N/A
Day Tuition Fee: $45,000
Need-Based Aid: Offered
Payment Plans: Offered
Students Receiving Aid: 40%
Average Awarded: $30,500
School Finances
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 4%
Average Merit Scholarship: $5,400
Current Endowment Amount: $73,400,000
Contact
Director of Admissions: Susan Mantilla-Goin
Admissions Phone: 860 963 6120
Fax: 860 963 2042
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.pomfret.org
Nearby Schools
- Rectory School - 1mi / 1 km
- Worcester Academy - 27mi / 43 km
- Wilbraham & Monson Academy - 29mi / 47 km
- The Loomis Chaffee School - 35mi / 57 km
- Suffield Academy - 36mi / 58 km
- Fay School - 37mi / 59 km



