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Groton
Strength
our size is our
Consider the advantages of a small school with enormous opportunities. On Groton’s tight-knit campus, the Circle, you will know everyone and you will be known. You will shape this community of peers and mentors, and you will be shaped by it. You will be inspired by lifelong friends who are just as curious and motivated as you are.
44%
of Students Receive Financial Aid
4:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
53%
Students of Color
$548M
Endowment
385
Students
30/24
States and Countries Represented
11
Average Class Size
480
Acres of Campus
Affordability
inclusion &
Groton School is the leader in tuition cost containment among American boarding schools, and inclusion and belonging are at the center of life on the Circle. The school is committed to embracing a diverse student body, and all applicants are considered without regard for their ability to pay. With the lowest tuition among peer schools and generous financial aid, affording Groton is within the reach of every applicant.
Family
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Family
Groton was built on the model of a family, and, like family, the community is united by a deep commitment to each individual—on the Circle, we take care of each other.
Scholarship
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Scholarship
Small classes and brilliant teachers will nurture your intellect and spark your imagination. You will be inspired by your bright and curious classmates, and you will learn to love learning.
Inclusion
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Inclusion
Groton School is committed to inclusion and belonging—to embracing a diverse student body and to providing the support needed so that all have equal access to success at Groton.
Inclusion in all respects, including socioeconomic inclusion, is an important ingredient of an outstanding education. Middle-income families need to understand that we will help put a Groton education within their reach.
Whether during formal academic discussions or the boisterous conversations at check-ins, almost every interaction I’ve had at Groton has challenged me to grow on various levels.
I’ve found magic at Groton—in Fifth Form English class discussions and in the steady rhythm of oarlocks clicking together in unison. My time on the Circle has changed me in wonderful ways and I am grateful.
News & Views
what's happening
![Groton Division I student-athletes sign letters of intent]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1763048984/grotonorg/svxhdui7xlhy5njemltn/SigningDayD1Release_001.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1763048984/grotonorg/svxhdui7xlhy5njemltn/SigningDayD1Release_001.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1763048984/grotonorg/svxhdui7xlhy5njemltn/SigningDayD1Release_001.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1763048984/grotonorg/svxhdui7xlhy5njemltn/SigningDayD1Release_001.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1763048984/grotonorg/svxhdui7xlhy5njemltn/SigningDayD1Release_001.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1763048984/grotonorg/svxhdui7xlhy5njemltn/SigningDayD1Release_001.jpg","width":2200}])
Sixth Form student-athletes Eliza Brooks, Angie Che, Kaiden Donia, Georgie Lick, Jamie Noonan, and Tina Scalese announced their athletic commitments to NCAA Division I colleges on November 12, National Letter of Intent Signing Day.
Sixth Form student-athletes Eliza Brooks, Angie Che, Kaiden Donia, Georgie Lick, Jamie Noonan, and Tina Scalese announced their athletic commitments to NCAA Division I colleges on November 12, National Letter of Intent Signing Day.
Three of Groton’s student-athletes will play hockey at the collegiate level: Kaiden at Quinnipiac College in Hamden, CT; Jamie at Stonehill College in Easton, MA; and Tina at Princeton. Eliza will continue her lacrosse career nearby at Boston University. Angie will be playing field hockey at Yale University. Georgie will be rowing crew for Duke University.
“Groton is proud of our NCAA Division I student-athletes, as their signatures on these letters of intent symbolize so many traits representative of all Groton students: persistence, grit, hard work, leadership, integrity, dedication, and humility,” said Athletic Director Bob Low. “Striving for excellence is habitual, evident through their hard work in the classroom and leadership and citizenship around campus. The entire Groton community is proud of these standouts—and of all the student-athletes who wear the Groton School jersey in competition.”
Groton looks forward to celebrating its Division III student-athletes in the coming weeks—and cheering on all the Zebras when they take their considerable talents to college.
![The Circle opens wide for 2025 Parents Weekend]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1761845706/grotonorg/fxmub75lhqvdoepaup0q/Groton_ParentsWknd_Richins_102525_114132_2933.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1761845706/grotonorg/fxmub75lhqvdoepaup0q/Groton_ParentsWknd_Richins_102525_114132_2933.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1761845706/grotonorg/fxmub75lhqvdoepaup0q/Groton_ParentsWknd_Richins_102525_114132_2933.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1761845706/grotonorg/fxmub75lhqvdoepaup0q/Groton_ParentsWknd_Richins_102525_114132_2933.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1761845706/grotonorg/fxmub75lhqvdoepaup0q/Groton_ParentsWknd_Richins_102525_114132_2933.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1761845706/grotonorg/fxmub75lhqvdoepaup0q/Groton_ParentsWknd_Richins_102525_114132_2933.jpg","width":2200}])
Groton School welcomed more than 700 parents, siblings, and other family members for its annual Parents Weekend, October 23 to 26.
Classic New England fall weather greeted the visitors, as they explored campus and got caught up on all that’s happening on the Circle, including academics, the arts, athletics, and more.
Groton School welcomed more than 700 parents, siblings, and other family members for its annual Parents Weekend, October 23 to 26.
Classic New England fall weather greeted the visitors, as they explored campus and got caught up on all that’s happening on the Circle, including academics, the arts, athletics, and more.
In addition to catching up with their children, visiting parents were able to meet with teachers and advisors, and nearly 2,300 conferences were held over four days. Open houses and information sessions with the Academic Skills and Counseling, Spiritual Life, College Counseling, and Global Education Opportunity teams were also offered.
Friday evening featured a tailgate dinner before watching the varsity football team’s dramatic 10–7 win under the lights against St. George’s.
Following breakfast and a Parent Fund meeting early Saturday, Headmaster Temba Maqubela gave his annual Parents Weekend address.
“You are a picture of a Groton embrace,” he said. “I hope you can see and feel it too. What a privilege it is to work in this majestic place. Thank you for entrusting your children in our care.
“Your presence here is a reminder that, as we pass through this place, our time together—united by common purpose—is a blessing. We are in partnership with you, playing our respective roles in real time, as students transition from becoming to maturing, and from being led to becoming leaders themselves. What a privilege to be a part of it all.”
In thanking faculty, coaches, dorm heads, advisors, and staff for all they do, Mr. Maqubela said the students “gave meaning to what we do and relevance in how we do it.
“We are because they are, and they are because you are,” he added. “This circular aspect of ubuntu illustrates how it truly takes a village to form and nurture a Circle.”
As Groton continues its yearlong celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of coeducation on the Circle, Mr. Maqubela reaffirmed the school’s commitment to inclusion, not as something new but as an essential part of its history and DNA.
“I believe inclusion, in different guises in this school, has always been a part of this school since its founding,” he said. “Groton is not a pendulum swing, where we go from pillar to post or one side to the next. We build on what our predecessors did for us. This is a continuum: a continuum of excellence, a continuum of belonging.
“So from time to time, we turn those genes in the DNA and say: coeducation, first African-American to attend Groton School, GRAIN, GRACE, GEOs, all as part of a continuum of trying to make sure that students, families, teachers, and everyone on this campus belong. Inclusion is hard; exclusion is easy. Thus, it is incumbent upon us to guard this Groton brand of inclusion.”
A key pillar of that embrace of inclusion, Mr. Maqubela said, is economic inclusion, centered in the school’s decade-long GRAIN (GRoton Affordability Inclusion) initiative but boosted recently by the school’s decision to make tuition free for students whose family income is $150,000 or less, thanks to an anonymous donor and support of the Board of Trustees.
“Our job is not done,” he said. “We have unfinished business. But this element of GRAIN is evidence of our intentionality and the vibrancy of a school that is conscious and a school that will always remain conscious.”
In closing, Mr. Maqubela thanked the parents and family members again for all they do to support the school and their students.
“No matter what you heard this weekend, do remember that things are never as rosy as they look nor as thorny as they feel.”
After the speaking program, families enjoyed a full schedule of athletic contests all over the Circle, before an evening reception at Sunset Farm and a performance spotlighting Groton’s young musicians in the Campbell Performing Arts Center.
Sunday started with brunch in the Dining Hall, before religious services for various denominations were offered in St. John’s Chapel and throughout campus.
More than 700 parents and family members took part in this year’s event, visiting from such places as Botswana, Canada, China, Costa Rica, France, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
![Groton ties for top American school in Internats public speaking competition]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1761160961/grotonorg/tapj7dskaqsl7a5c8v5u/IMG_2236crop.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1761160961/grotonorg/tapj7dskaqsl7a5c8v5u/IMG_2236crop.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1761160961/grotonorg/tapj7dskaqsl7a5c8v5u/IMG_2236crop.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1761160961/grotonorg/tapj7dskaqsl7a5c8v5u/IMG_2236crop.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1761160961/grotonorg/tapj7dskaqsl7a5c8v5u/IMG_2236crop.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1761160961/grotonorg/tapj7dskaqsl7a5c8v5u/IMG_2236crop.jpg","width":2200}])
Groton School debaters competed in the prestigious International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition recently, earning the top slot for an American school in a tie with Buckingham Browne & Nichols School.
Groton School debaters competed in the prestigious International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition (IISPSC or “Internats” for short) recently, earning the top slot for an American school in a tie with Buckingham Browne & Nichols School.
IISPSC is a Canadian and American public speaking event open to independent schools from across the world. This year’s competition was hosted this year by Waynflete School in Portland, ME, October 16 to 19, and featured thirty-seven schools, including some from Bermuda, Hong Kong, and India. This year was the first time Groton has attended IISPSC.
The Groton School contingent included Lena Aloise ’27, Rose Lee ’27, and Rory Hu ’28.
Individually, Rose finished third overall (out of 120 debaters in total), earning her a spot as one of five Americans to qualify through this tournament for the World Individual Debate and Public Speaking Championships (WIDPSC). She made the finals in the Interpretive Reading, Impromptu Speaking, and Parliamentary Debate events. Lena made it to the finals in Parliamentary Debate.
“While Groton’s Debating Society has always been a significant presence both on campus and in our local debating league, we have only recently started competing regularly in public speaking tournaments,” said Debating Society Faculty Advisor Michael Gnozzio ’03. “Rose, Lena, and Rory have all put in a lot of hard work helping to grow this aspect of our program, and it was amazing to see those efforts bear fruit at IISPSCs. As the first Groton debater ever to qualify for Worlds through a public speaking competition, it’s a real testament to Rose’s talent and versatility that she was the only American to qualify for the IISPSC finals in all three of the events in which she competed.”
Groton has a long history with WIDPSC; recent students who have competed in the event include Jiacheng Kang ’22, Steven Pang ’22, and Rowen Hildreth ’23. Fourteen American student debaters attend WIDPSC every year, with the remaining nine slots being selected through league tournaments.
Rose is the first girl from Groton to qualify for WIDPSC since Brookes Brown ’00 did in her Sixth Form year.
![Students connect with wider community on Fall Day of Service]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1760734026/grotonorg/xjr30k2uaorj1dbc41q7/4R4A1668.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1760734026/grotonorg/xjr30k2uaorj1dbc41q7/4R4A1668.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1760734026/grotonorg/xjr30k2uaorj1dbc41q7/4R4A1668.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1760734026/grotonorg/xjr30k2uaorj1dbc41q7/4R4A1668.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1760734026/grotonorg/xjr30k2uaorj1dbc41q7/4R4A1668.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1760734026/grotonorg/xjr30k2uaorj1dbc41q7/4R4A1668.jpg","width":2200}])
On October 14, Groton students took the day off from classes to sort donations; make washcloths and blankets; interact with children, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities; clean up outdoor spaces and animal shelters; and volunteer their time and effort in many other ways during the Fall Day of Service.
On October 14, Groton students took the day off from classes to sort donations; make washcloths and blankets; interact with children, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities; clean up outdoor spaces and animal shelters; and volunteer their time and effort in many other ways during the Fall Day of Service.
More than two dozen opportunities took place across campus, in the town of Groton, and in nearby communities including Acton, Ayer, Chelmsford, Devens, Harvard, Leominster, Lowell, and Nashua, NH.
The Day of Service has become a staple of the fall term at Groton, but the event evolves each year to include opportunities that provide the best experience for both the school and its partner organizations. According to Director of Community Engagement Elizabeth Phan, "the purpose of the Day of Service changes depending on the student body and the community's needs of the present moment."
To that end, this year's event was the first to include an activity at Marguerite's Place, a transitional family shelter in Nashua. A connection between Groton School and the shelter was first established through the Groton Community Engagement (GCE) afternoon program by former GCE head Raymond Hildreth '25 and current member Jack Dalton '28. Ms. Phan described the service opportunity at the shelter: "Familiar with the landscape, [Jack] led the group of volunteers in a fun, hands-on activity with the children at the pre-K, where they painted rocks to help beautify their garden area."
The school's partnership with the Prescott Community Center in Groton generated another first-time Day of Service opportunity. The GCE afternoon program has volunteered at the center's events, including Halloween Hoopla and Campfire Storytelling, but for the Day of Service, students stayed on campus and used their technical and design skills to create marketing and registration materials for the center's "Repair Cafe." According to Ms. Phan, "The Repair Cafe itself is a free event where participants can come with their broken items and rely on community members to help fix their items and offer a skill to fix another's. This reciprocal, mutually beneficial relationship building is what our program stands for, so of course, we were happy to help."
![Best-selling author Curtis Sittenfeld ’93 returns to Groton for fall Circle Talk]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1760018366/grotonorg/ptorowbkk6agppbk9lnu/CopyofCurtisSittenfeld-.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1760018366/grotonorg/ptorowbkk6agppbk9lnu/CopyofCurtisSittenfeld-.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1760018366/grotonorg/ptorowbkk6agppbk9lnu/CopyofCurtisSittenfeld-.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1760018366/grotonorg/ptorowbkk6agppbk9lnu/CopyofCurtisSittenfeld-.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1760018366/grotonorg/ptorowbkk6agppbk9lnu/CopyofCurtisSittenfeld-.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1760018366/grotonorg/ptorowbkk6agppbk9lnu/CopyofCurtisSittenfeld-.jpg","width":2200}])
Best-selling author Curtis Sittenfeld ’93 returned to her alma mater—and the inspiration of her debut novel, Prep—on September 29 for Groton School’s fall Circle Talk
Best-selling author Curtis Sittenfeld ’93 returned to her alma mater—and the inspiration of her debut novel, Prep—on September 29 for Groton School’s fall Circle Talk.
The visit continued Groton’s yearlong celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of coeducation at the school.
Set at an elite Massachusetts boarding school that strongly resembles Groton, Prep helped launch Ms. Sittenfeld’s career when it was published in 2005. She’s gone on to write six more novels and two short story collections, including her most recent work, 2025’s Show Don’t Tell.
“I don’t consider [Prep] to be autobiographical,” she said, “but the setting is definitely borrowed from where I went to boarding school.”
Ms. Sittenfeld read a selection from Prep and then explored her career in a question-and-answer session with English faculty member Irenae Aigbedion, PhD, before taking questions from the student audience.
“I felt like a boarding school was like a terrarium,” she explained. “It’s so self-contained. There were no iPhones, no social media, no Internet —we were so cut off from the rest of the world. This just seemed like an irresistible setting for a novel.”
The morning after the Circle Talk, Ms. Sittenfeld met with English students in the Schoolhouse Forum for some writing exercises and a more informal conversation about her writing process.
“Every life experience I’ve had goes into the kind of writing I do or the themes that are interesting to me,” she said.
While studying at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Ms. Sittenfeld said she learned to compartmentalize feedback into silos: structure, character, and language.
“Thinking in terms of structure gave me control over my writing where, before that, if I wrote a story and it turned out well it would feel like good luck and if it turned out badly it would feel like bad luck,” she said. “It’s true for all kinds of writing: If you give a toast at a wedding or if you write a condolence letter or if you write a college essay, it’s all structure.”
A student asked when Ms. Sittenfeld first knew she wanted to be a writer.
“I always loved reading, and loved writing. I felt like reading, to me, was life with the boring parts cut out,” she said. “It felt like this window into other words and other consciousnesses that I found super interesting.”
Ms. Sittenfeld said she tries to depict life faithfully in her writing, whether weird, funny, or awkward and sad.
“If you write fiction that reproduces reality, it will have all those qualities, and it will engage with what it is to be a person,” she said.
“This is the reason I love fiction,” Ms. Sittenfeld added. “Fiction exists to capture how complicated and contradictory life is. It exists to capture the texture of being a human.”
Zebra Tales
our voices
catch a glimpse of day-to-day life on the Groton Circle
![Ava '26]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1749779053/grotonorg/isenjvwceewrc9rejvyg/large_link1437852_170583.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1749779053/grotonorg/isenjvwceewrc9rejvyg/large_link1437852_170583.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1749779053/grotonorg/isenjvwceewrc9rejvyg/large_link1437852_170583.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1749779053/grotonorg/isenjvwceewrc9rejvyg/large_link1437852_170583.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1749779053/grotonorg/isenjvwceewrc9rejvyg/large_link1437852_170583.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1749779053/grotonorg/isenjvwceewrc9rejvyg/large_link1437852_170583.jpg","width":1798}])
Hometown: Medford, MA
Groton Activities: varsity basketball, Conservation Corps, Groton Community Engagement, Student Activities Committee, Diversity & Inclusion, Communications prefect, Dining Hall prefect, peer counselor
Favorite class: Fifth Form English with Mrs. Gracey
Hometown: Medford, MA
Groton activities: varsity basketball, Conservation Corps, Groton Community Engagement, Student Activities Committee, Diversity & Inclusion, Communications prefect, Dining Hall prefect, peer counselor
Most surprising when you first arrived at Groton: In my first few months as a Third Former (freshman) on the Circle, I found how quickly my form bonded in the dorm's outer common rooms most surprising. Our preferred common room, decorated with a TV and a ping-pong table, helped foster a community.
Favorite class: My Fifth Form English class with Mrs. Gracey. She is a wonderful teacher who created a comfortable learning environment rich with class discussion. Reading Toni Morrison, Shakespeare, Margaret Atwood, and Nathaniel Hawthorne only made me love the class more.
Most memorable Groton moment: The Prize Day of my Third Form year earns that title. Saying goodbye to seniors for the first time is not something one can prepare for.
Favorite Dining Hall food: Tomato soup
Favorite place to study: The student center during off-hours
Read my blog
![Charlie '26]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1756228056/grotonorg/usnet2uguwlvfhxbvxpj/Charlie.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1756228056/grotonorg/usnet2uguwlvfhxbvxpj/Charlie.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1756228056/grotonorg/usnet2uguwlvfhxbvxpj/Charlie.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1756228056/grotonorg/usnet2uguwlvfhxbvxpj/Charlie.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1756228056/grotonorg/usnet2uguwlvfhxbvxpj/Charlie.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1756228056/grotonorg/usnet2uguwlvfhxbvxpj/Charlie.jpg","width":2059}])
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Groton activities: football captain, tennis captain, basketball, music prefect, Chapel prefect, peer counselor, Young Republicans, Color Guard, Second Form prefect
Favorite class: AP Chemistry
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Groton activities: football captain, tennis captain, basketball, music prefect, Chapel prefect, peer counselor, Young Republicans, Color Guard, Second Form prefect
Most surprising when you first arrived at Groton: The most surprising thing was how welcoming and accepting the students were. I first arrived at school on a rainy day for football preseason. I was immediately taken to my dorm room and then led down to the locker room. Older boys guided me through every step of the first week. I had expected to fend for myself, but the countless questions I had were all answered.
Favorite class: My favorite class at Groton has been AP Chemistry. The class is the perfect mix of lecture and lab time. I was thoroughly engaged and challenged over the course of the year. Each day, we learned, laughed, and collaborated with our peers.
Most memorable Groton moment: My most memorable moment at Groton came during the first game of my Fourth Form football season. The previous season, I watched from the sideline as we were crushed on the road to open the season. However, I was out on the field this rainy afternoon. After a 14-13 lead at halftime, the second half was purely defensive. This 14-13 win was truly special for the program and the team culture
Favorite Dining Hall food: burgers
Favorite place to study: library stacks
Read my blog
![Mia '28]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1756227963/grotonorg/lz7wm0goufgbbybfq7ub/Mia.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1756227963/grotonorg/lz7wm0goufgbbybfq7ub/Mia.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1756227963/grotonorg/lz7wm0goufgbbybfq7ub/Mia.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1756227963/grotonorg/lz7wm0goufgbbybfq7ub/Mia.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1756227963/grotonorg/lz7wm0goufgbbybfq7ub/Mia.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1756227963/grotonorg/lz7wm0goufgbbybfq7ub/Mia.jpg","width":2200}])
Hometown: Westford, MA
Groton activities: chamber music, orchestra, robotics, varsity crew, visual arts
Favorite class: Latin 1
Hometown: Westford, MA
Groton activities: chamber music, orchestra, robotics, varsity crew, visual arts
Most surprising when you first arrived at Groton: The perfect balance between academics and social life. Coming into Groton, I expected a school heavily centered on academics. It turned out that it also highly valued community and having fun. Dances with various themes take place every two weeks, along with other events like casino night and trivia night. I also enjoyed dressing up in wild outfits with my dorm each term for Spirit Week and participating in a goofy, brat-themed dance for the Lip-Sync competition. My favorite school-wide activity of all time was a game called Assassin, where we tried to put stickers on other people without them noticing. These experiences have built so many fun memories, and I cannot wait to have more next year!
Favorite class: Latin 1 from Third Form was my favorite class. The class was made up of the best and most chaotic group of people ever. A class never went by without laughter, often sparked by the witty jokes of our teacher, Ms. Martin-Nelson. She taught us important study skills through frequent vocabulary and grammar quizzes, and provided endless review material to ensure we always understood the concepts. Although she jokes that we "never have fun in Latin," I had the most fun in that class.
Most memorable Groton moment: When conflict arises, my friends and I often have deep discussions about human nature and psychology. We also share our doubts and troubles, helping one another navigate through them. Through these valuable talks, I have learned to understand others on a deeper level. The vulnerability we show each other allows us to form a strong bond.
Favorite Dining Hall food: Winter bread! It is always a treat to look forward to during the cold months of the Winter term.
Favorite place to study: The whiteboard rooms! The thick walls block out outside chatter, making the room the perfect place for locking in. I love coming here to study independently or work with my friends. Best of all, all the walls are whiteboards, which are great for drawing diagrams and writing out vocab!
![William '27]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1756228280/grotonorg/nvlmpmpubhrlkcuegufc/William.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1756228280/grotonorg/nvlmpmpubhrlkcuegufc/William.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1756228280/grotonorg/nvlmpmpubhrlkcuegufc/William.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1756228280/grotonorg/nvlmpmpubhrlkcuegufc/William.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1756228280/grotonorg/nvlmpmpubhrlkcuegufc/William.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1756228280/grotonorg/nvlmpmpubhrlkcuegufc/William.jpg","width":2200}])
Hometown: New York City
Groton activities: varsity soccer, JV tennis, Acolytes, Admissions tour guide, Speakers Committee, French Club, Groton Community Engagement
Favorite class: Fourth Form Modern Global History with Mr. Spierer
Hometown: New York City
Groton activities: varsity soccer, JV tennis, Acolytes, Admissions tour guide, Speakers Committee, French Club, Groton Community Engagement
Most surprising when you first arrived at Groton: The most surprising thing to me when I first arrived at Groton was how friendly and willing all the Sixth Formers (seniors), especially my Third Form dorm prefects, were in trying to make me feel at home.
I arrived early for soccer preseason and the Sixth Form athletes were, admittedly, a tad imposing and intimidating, but I quickly realized that they were welcoming, approachable, and encouraging. However, it was my Riley's dorm prefects who really impressed me with their kindness, support, and upbeat energy that never faltered throughout the year. Yes, as I expected, they made sure we followed the rules, and yes, I had my phone taken away more than once when I was on it post lights-out, but what I didn’t expect was how much fun I would have with them and how generous they would be with their time and advice. Their infectious energy and enthusiasm created a great dorm camaraderie and made for fun spirit weeks
Favorite class: My favorite class was my Fourth Form Modern Global History class with Mr. Spierer. Mr. Spierer's pop culture references, love for everything political, and his engaging and dedicated teaching style, made learning a daunting amount of history truly fun. Through the numerous debates, writing (and rewriting) of thesis statements and papers, my writing improved and my love for history and interest in politics grew.
Most memorable Groton moment: My most memorable moment at Groton so far has been GRACE. GRACE is a program that happens over the summer between third and fourth form where students come back to campus to take a month of classes in one or two subjects to better prepare for the rigors of upper school. During this time, I became closer to more classmates and had a lot of fun on and off campus. The days are intense with a ton of material to study and learn in a few short weeks, but the program makes sure that students are also having fun and enjoying their summer. Cooling off in Groton’s pool, a trip to an amusement park, and a mountain run that ended in a torrential downpour are just a few of the fun memories I have from GRACE.
Favorite Dining Hall food: burgers and fries
Favorite place to study: The tables in the English wing next to the big clock.
![Aaron '28]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1756227796/grotonorg/tnhqcucaqr3atgpk9h8b/Aaron.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1756227796/grotonorg/tnhqcucaqr3atgpk9h8b/Aaron.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1756227796/grotonorg/tnhqcucaqr3atgpk9h8b/Aaron.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1756227796/grotonorg/tnhqcucaqr3atgpk9h8b/Aaron.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1756227796/grotonorg/tnhqcucaqr3atgpk9h8b/Aaron.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1756227796/grotonorg/tnhqcucaqr3atgpk9h8b/Aaron.jpg","width":2200}])
Hometown: Canton, Massachusetts
Groton Activities: select chamber music, Black-Latinx Alliance, Cultural Alliance, crew, cross country, squash
Favorite class: Latin I with Mrs. Martin-Nelson
Hometown: Canton, MA
Groton activities: select chamber music, Black-Latinx Alliance, Cultural Alliance, crew, cross country, squash
Most surprising when you first arrived at Groton: What surprised me most about Groton life was how enjoyable check-ins were. To be honest, when I first came to Groton, I thought check-ins were a waste of time that could be better spent on completing homework or studying. However, my first few check-ins proved the opposite. Through check-in, I have been able to build better relationships with my fellow dormmates and also connect with my senior prefects. Check-ins have provided me with joyous relief during stressful times and a space to seek council whenever I need it. Check-in was nothing like I expected, but that's for the best!
Favorite class: So far, Latin I with Mrs. Martin-Nelson has been my favorite class at Groton. Since I was young, I have always loved studying Roman history, so starting to learn the language was like a dream! As for the class itself, not only did it help strengthen my studying and work habits, but it was also extremely engaging. Never before have I actually thought that learning grammar was interesting! In addition to grammar, I also loved learning how to translate lines from Roman greats like Caesar. Each translation has felt like a new, exciting puzzle I can decipher with my peers. Overall, Latin I did not just teach me to be a better student, but it also has brought me closer to my peers.
Most memorable Groton moment: My most memorable moment at Groton was during GRACE when I was studying for a Latin Test (I mean Skills Check :)) in the bubbles with a couple of friends. While it may not have been the most exciting moment, it was a moment in which I felt that I had achieved perfect balance between having fun with friends and locking-in with work which made the moment feel so serene.
Favorite Dining Hall food: The Dining Hall french fries are always delicious! I also love their chipotle chicken.
Favorite place to study: I always work best in my room at my desk.
![Cedar '26]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1756228707/grotonorg/ytdaekkamdrb6oyvskub/Cedar.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1756228707/grotonorg/ytdaekkamdrb6oyvskub/Cedar.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1756228707/grotonorg/ytdaekkamdrb6oyvskub/Cedar.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1756228707/grotonorg/ytdaekkamdrb6oyvskub/Cedar.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1756228707/grotonorg/ytdaekkamdrb6oyvskub/Cedar.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1756228707/grotonorg/ytdaekkamdrb6oyvskub/Cedar.jpg","width":2000}])
Hometown: Lexington, Massachusetts
Groton activities: afterschool art, peer tutoring, peer counseling, diversity & inclusion prefect, The Grotonian, The Circle Voice, Acolyte head, Philosophy Club head
Favorite class: Fourth Form World History with Mr. Spierer
Hometown: Lexington, MA
Groton activities: afterschool art, peer tutoring, peer counseling, diversity & inclusion prefect, The Grotonian, The Circle Voice, Acolyte head, Philosophy Club head
Most surprising when you first arrived at Groton: I was most surprised by the teachers when I first arrived at Groton. Their passion not only about their subject but about helping their students discover that same passion for themselves was inspiring. When I came to Groton, I had a staunch dislike for mathematics, but through my Fifth Form math teacher’s encouragement, I began to recontextualize how I saw STEM within what I knew and loved best—the humanities. Now I can say that I am as much a student of STEM as I am a student of the humanities, and I believe I am not alone in this experience. At Groton, teachers make a point to emphasize the ultimate lesson, which is that learning is a lifelong endeavor and not a means to an end.
Favorite class: The class I have enjoyed the most was my fourth form World History class with Mr. Spierer. Each day, we would begin our lesson with a current event that related in some way to 15th century mercantilism, or to the battle of Verdun, etc. I soon discovered just how interconnected history really was, and just how lively a seemingly boring textbook could become when it was taught by Mr. Spierer. I remember walking out of that class each time galvanized by the history I had just learned, often discussing it down the hall with my classmates on my way to lunch or wherever else.
Most memorable Groton moment: By far and away, my most memorable moments at Groton have been those late-late night common room conversations. Every Groton student can relate to procrastinating work to kick back and watch a sports game with your roommate or simply sharing a few good laughs at the end of a hearty day.
Favorite Dining Hall food: Key lime pie
Favorite place to study: Physics room with the boys
![Susan '28]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1756228343/grotonorg/x88ekej2nb3krebngfek/Susan.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1756228343/grotonorg/x88ekej2nb3krebngfek/Susan.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1756228343/grotonorg/x88ekej2nb3krebngfek/Susan.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1756228343/grotonorg/x88ekej2nb3krebngfek/Susan.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1756228343/grotonorg/x88ekej2nb3krebngfek/Susan.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1756228343/grotonorg/x88ekej2nb3krebngfek/Susan.jpg","width":2200}])
Hometown: Cairo, Egypt
Groton activities: Student Activities Committee, Black-Latinx Alliance, track and field, swimming, International Community Advising Program
Favorite class: Third Form History with Dr. Ibrahim
Hometown: Cairo, Egypt
Groton activities: Student Activities Committee, Black-Latinx Alliance, track and field, swimming, International Community Advising Program
Most surprising when you first arrived at Groton: The most surprising thing about Groton when I first arrived was the ease at which a community formed. Whether this was within the dorm with my prefects or in the classroom with my friends, I was immediately surrounded by people that made Groton feel like home. Looking back, I’m still in awe at how quickly those friendships formed.
Favorite class: Third Form History with Dr. Ibrahim. I transferred into the class a week late but it quickly became my favorite class period. The lively class discussions, presentations and projects grew my love for the subject more and more as the year passed. Learning to manage the high quantity of reading and note taking quickly became a valuable skill that benefited me in other areas as well.
Most memorable Groton moment: My most memorable moment at Groton was the Track and Field New England championships. The full day track meet required missing a full day of Saturday classes and rushing back to campus 20 minutes into Spring Formal. The day was filled with high energy, and a sense of pride and sadness for the seniors’ last track meet. It was the perfect finale to a season filled with fun, bonding with the other members of the team and growing my love for the sport even more.
Favorite Dining Hall food: The chicken tenders with honey mustard!
Favorite place to study: The dining hall early in the morning before it fills with the pre-chapel breakfast rush.
![Rowan '27]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1756228450/grotonorg/wkz3jwvdtsrroqthg5nm/Rowan.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1756228450/grotonorg/wkz3jwvdtsrroqthg5nm/Rowan.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1756228450/grotonorg/wkz3jwvdtsrroqthg5nm/Rowan.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1756228450/grotonorg/wkz3jwvdtsrroqthg5nm/Rowan.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1756228450/grotonorg/wkz3jwvdtsrroqthg5nm/Rowan.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1756228450/grotonorg/wkz3jwvdtsrroqthg5nm/Rowan.jpg","width":2200}])
Hometown: New York City
Groton activities: volleyball, tennis, Visual Arts board, GEO board, Bioethics Paper, the Circle Voice
Favorite class: French III with Madame Stanton
Hometown: New York
Groton activities: volleyball, tennis, Visual Arts board, GEO board, Bioethics Paper, the Circle Voice
Most surprising when you first arrived at Groton: In my first days on the Circle in Third Form, I was surprised by how encouraging everyone (peers, teachers, and faculty alike) was. From helping me to find the room for computer orientation to helping me unload my bags from the car, everyone was clearly supportive of me from the get-go.
Favorite class: French III with Madame Stanton. I liked this class because of the silly, supportive, and hardworking environment. We had projects that involved drawing posters and reciting poems in the Forum with an old cheese box, making the assignments enjoyable. We also made our own expressions in French, causing us to want to speak to each other in French outside of class, helping me understand the language further.
Most memorable Groton moment: My most memorable Groton moment was winning the volleyball playoff semifinals at the end of the 2024 season. We had such a large student section and lots of teachers came together to support us and keep our spirits high throughout the game. Celebrating with the team was such a special moment.
Favorite Dining Hall food: The breakfast quesadillas and the fried rice.
Favorite place to study: The clocks.