Frequently Asked Questions

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What percentage of CA students are boys? girls? day students? boarders? Hide

The school population is fairly evenly divided between boys and girls, boarders and day students. Maintaining this balance is important to the school's philosophy. During the school day, all houses on campus are closed. Therefore, boarding and day students share the same academic experience at CA and interact in common spaces around campus. All day students are welcome on campus for dinner and evening and weekend activities.

Can I participate in both arts and athletics at CA? Hide

The academic schedule at CA is designed to minimize conflicts for those students with interests in both the arts and athletics. Many performing and visual arts courses are scheduled during the school day, while dance courses, Dance Company, some theatre courses, athletics team practices and games are scheduled after school. Occasionally, conflicts arise. In these instances, coaches and teachers work with the student to devise a compromise. For example, students who participate in a music ensemble can be excused from Monday team athletics practice with no penalty from the coach. It is generally agreed that a student cannot be both a lead in the play and a leading player on an athletics team during the same season and/or semester. Subsequently, most students choose one primary interest and another supporting interest to participate in each season and / or semester. Concord Academy believes strongly in the importance of developing one's academic, artistic, and athletic talents, as well as learning to make choices and define priorities—our academic schedule allows for this to happen.

Are there off-campus study programs? Hide

Several off-campus programs are available for students who wish to study off-campus and/or abroad, including opportunities for study in France, Spain, Germany, and China. Students can also spend a semester at The Mountain School in Vermont, CITYterm in New York City, or the High Mountain Institute in Colorado. In addition, the school offers a number of CA-sponsored off-campus programs throughout the academic year, during spring vacations, and over the summer.

Can students spend time in Concord? Hide

Concord is one of the most picturesque and historically significant small towns in all of New England, and features a variety of shops and restaurants. Students are permitted to walk to town during the school day if they do not have a class scheduled. There are shops located in both downtown and uptown Concord ranging from a candy store and specialized boutiques to pharmacies and a bookstore. Restaurants range from Chinese to French to American.

Is Concord Academy diverse? Hide

Yes! CA works very hard to bring together both students and adults from a variety of socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Twenty percent of our students receive financial assistance, approximately 7 percent of our students are from countries outside of the U.S., and 20 percent of our students are U.S. students of color. For many of our students, CA is a more diverse environment than their previous school—this is one of the contributing factors that leads them to enroll.

What is the advising system like at CA? Hide

Each student will have an advisor with whom he or she will meet on a weekly basis. Advisors are members of the faculty or administration who, through regular communication with teachers, coaches, and house parents, monitor the ongoing social, academic, and extracurricular health and happiness of each of their advisees. Each advisor has nine or fewer advisees, and advisor meetings often take place on a one-on-one basis. Parents of new students are encouraged to share their hopes, dreams, fears, and concerns about their child's transition to Concord Academy in a letter to the dean of students and community life who will refer to these letters when making advisor matches for new students. After a student's first year at CA they will have the option of choosing a new advisor if they would like; many students choose to keep the same advisor throughout their time at CA.

What are the student houses like? Hide

Six fully restored colonial-era homes line Main Street in Concord and serve as homes away from home for our boarding students. Each student house accommodates approximately seventeen to thirty students and contains two or three faculty family residences. Each room is unique, most rooms are doubles, and typically two or three rooms share a bathroom. There are common rooms equipped with televisions and VCR/DVD players in each house. Refrigerators and microwaves are available for general use in each house, as well. Phones are provided, one per room, and are shared between roommates. Each student has an individual voicemail box where friends and family members can leave private messages. Cell phone use is allowed within the houses during designated hours. Access to the school's computer network resources is also provided in each student's room during designated evening and weekend times.

What is the weekday evening schedule like for boarders? Hide

Dinner is served from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Study hall hours are 7:30-9:30 p.m. during which time new freshmen and sophomores work in a proctored study hall. Juniors and seniors may work in their rooms, in a computer lab, or in the library. All boarders must return to their houses by 10:00 p.m. Lights-out is at 11:00 p.m. for freshmen and sophomores, 11:30 p.m. for juniors, and midnight for seniors.

What are weekends like at CA? Hide

Concord Academy does not have Saturday classes. Students may choose to take advantage of educational programs, community service opportunities, athletics events, or recreational activities planned by the Office of the Dean of Students and Community Life and a student entertainment committee. These activities have included house competitions where boarders from each house compete against one another for fun and prizes, attendance at Boston Celtics games, paintball, trips to the mall, an indoor sky-diving excursion, spending time in Chinatown, a show by a hypnotist and a wide variety of other school-sponsored events. The town of Concord offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation, and nearby Cambridge and Boston provide a wealth of cultural events. Boarding students have easy access to the town of Concord by foot, and may, with their parents or guardians permission, travel to Boston in pairs or groups via the commuter rail conveniently located within a short walk of CA's campus. Art studios, computer labs, and the library are open on-campus in the evenings and during weekends for students to enjoy. In addition, individual houses offer different activities for boarders to spend time with their fellow housemates ranging from apple-picking in the fall to ice skating in the winter to outdoor BBQs and luaus in the spring.

Can I switch from being a boarding student to a day student? Hide

A student who enrolls as a boarding student cannot later become a day student, as we aim to preserve the sense of community that exists in our student houses. Enrolled day students whom later wish to become boarding students may apply to do so, depending on available space.

Can I visit classes during the application process? Hide

Due to the potential disruption of classes from a steady stream of visitors throughout the school year, we do not normally allow classroom visits. However, all students who have been accepted to CA are invited with their parent(s) or guardian(s) to return to campus for a Revisit Day program prior to April 10 during which they will visit classes and attend special events designed to further acquaint them with the school.

What are the most important parts of my application? Hide

In evaluating your application, we focus on the content of your school experience, particularly your transcript and letters of recommendation. We also consider your personal statement, extracurricular activities, comments from parents or guardians, your interview, additional documents that you might submit, and standardized tests results.

What will my interview be like? Hide

The interview is an informal opportunity for us to learn more about the things that are important to you. You will not be asked questions that are designed to test your knowledge of any particular topic. Instead, we invite you to talk about your interests, goals, and experiences. Additionally, we want you to pose any questions that you might have about Concord. Relax, be yourself, and enjoy a good chat!

What is the role of the parent or guardian in the interview? Hide

Parents and guardians are encouraged to view their child’s interview with a member of the admissions staff as an opportunity to ask questions and to learn more about CA. Further, we welcome adults sharing additional information about their child. Our hope is that parents and guardians come away from CA knowing and understanding our strengths, our personality, and our programs and feeling assured that a member of the Admissions staff is aware of their child’s unique strengths. Visitors can then get together and decide if CA is a good match with the family's educational goals.

How many spaces are available for new students? Hide

In a typical year, approximately eighty new students will comprise our freshman class and fifteen to twenty new students will be added to the sophomore class. Concord infrequently admits students to the junior class and does not accept new students for the senior class. Nor do we have a post-graduate year.

Can Concord Academy offer my child a diverse community in which to learn? Hide

Central to Concord Academy's mission statement is the following affirmation: "The school is committed to embracing and broadening the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and talents of its people. This diversity fosters respect for others and genuine exchange of ideas." CA works hard to create a student and adult community that draws strength from the multiplicity of races, ethnicities, geographic origins, spiritual and religious beliefs, socioeconomic backgrounds, lifestyles, interests, and talents of its members.

What if my child is having academic difficulty? Hide

Students are encouraged to arrange additional meetings with their teachers outside of class if they require extra help with their academic work. Tutors may be recommended at times and are arranged by the academic dean. In addition, the Learning Center is available and staffed with a learning specialist, a study skills coordinator, and CA teachers who offer subject-specific tutoring. Parents are kept apprised of student progress by the student's advisor and through teacher comments provided to them four times each year.

What health services are available? Hide

The Student Health and Athletic Center (SHAC) houses CA's Health Center, including the nurses' office and the school's counseling services. Additionally, the SHAC houses a state-of-the-art athletic training and rehabilitation room, which is staffed by two certified athletic trainers. A school nurse is available in the Health Center Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. After 7:00 p.m. and on weekends, the Health Center is staffed by nurses-on-call who will spend the night in the Health Center when students require overnight stays. The school physician holds regular clinic hours in the Health Center twice a week. The director of student support services and a staff of two counselors are available to meet with students on an occasional or regular basis. For students requiring emergency care or more specialized health services, Emerson Hospital is fewer than two miles from the CA campus.

What help will my child receive with the college application process? Hide

The college process formally begins during a student's junior year. Students work one-on-one with a college counselor who assists each student as she or he explores his/her talents, interests, and academic goals to develop a list of suitable colleges with varying levels of admissions selectivity. During the spring of their junior year, students are enrolled in "Advanced Best-Case Scenario: Planning for College and Beyond" which serves to introduce them to the college process and the staff of the College Counseling Office. A number of college-focused programs including essay writing workshops and conversations with admissions officers keep students on track during the fall of their senior year. College counselors also advise students applying for financial aid, as well as those students who seek programs for an interim year between high school and college. Ultimately, CA students take responsibility for their own application process as they prepare for life beyond high school. "

Can parents or guardians visit classes? Hide

Due to the potential disruption of classes from a steady stream of visitors throughout the school year, we do not normally allow classroom visits. However, all students who have been accepted to CA are invited with their parent(s) or guardian(s) to return to campus for a Revisit Day program prior to April 10 during which they will visit classes and attend special events designed to further acquaint them with the school.

Is the town of Concord safe for my child? Hide

Concord is a small town blessed with an extremely low crime rate. While CA students are asked to think about issues of safety and to employ common sense in their actions, students and faculty alike agree that Concord is a very comfortable and secure environment in which to live, study, and work.

How is financial need determined? Hide

In order to apply for financial aid at Concord Academy, families are required to submit the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) form to School and Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS) in Princeton, NJ. The SSS methodology looks at family income, expenses, assets, and debts, as well as additional factors including family size and the number of children in the family attending tuition-charging schools, to determine a level of financial need. The Financial Aid Committee at Concord Academy will use the SSS report in conjunction with Concord Academy's financial aid policies to determine what a family could contribute to educational expenses.

When do I apply for financial aid? How do I get started? Hide

A Request for Financial Aid Application Form A1 postcard is included in each student application packet. If you would like to apply for financial aid, please complete and return this card to the Admissions Office as soon as possible. Once we receive your postcard, we will send you all of the additional materials you will need in order to complete the financial aid application. Please note that all financial aid application materials must be received by January 31 in order to be considered for a financial aid award.

What forms do I have to submit in order to complete a financial aid application? Hide

We require a signed federal tax return with all supporting schedules from either the current year or the previous year, copies of W-2's from all working parents (or IRS Form 1099 and a Business/Farm Statement if self-employed), and a signed copy of IRS Form 4506-T.

What if the fees associated with the PFS aid are a hardship for my family? Hide

Fee waivers for the PFS are available for families who meet certain low income guidelines. Contact the Financial Aid Office at (978) 402-2253 for details.

How are financial aid applications handled for families with divorced or separated parents or parents who have never been married? Hide

If both parents are involved in the child's life, Concord Academy requires that both parents submit all necessary forms in order to complete the application. If one parent has no contact with the child, the custodial parent may submit a statement from a third party aware of the situation in a professional capacity, in lieu of financial aid application forms from the second parent. Please contact the director of financial aid with any questions or concerns about this issue.

Will a request for financial aid affect my child's chances for admission? Hide

No. Admissions decisions are made without knowledge of a request for financial aid and, in fact, before financial aid applications are reviewed. The Admissions Committee first decides which students will be the best matches for the school in a given year. Then a separate Financial Aid Committee evaluates requests for financial aid for those students whom the Admissions Committee has previously voted to accept.

When will we be notified if we have received an award? Hide

If a family's financial aid application is received by the Financial Aid Office by the January 31 deadline, a financial aid decision letter will be mailed with the admissions decision on March 10. If the student is accepted, the family will either receive a Financial Aid Agreement detailing the terms of their financial aid award, or a letter indicating that the student has been placed on a waiting list for financial aid.

Will my financial aid application be confidential? Hide

Yes. Requests for financial aid and all financial information submitted are kept in strict confidence. Only the director of financial aid has access to the financial forms you submit and only the members of the Financial Aid Committee will be aware that you have applied for financial aid.

Does CA offer any academic, artistic, athletic, or merit scholarships? Hide

CA does not offer any merit-based scholarships. All financial aid is awarded based on a family's demonstrated financial need.

Is financial aid available to international students? Hide

No. The financial need assessment used by Concord Academy is based on the United States taxation system. Concord Academy is only able to consider applicants for financial aid if they are US citizens or permanent residents holding green cards.

Are students receiving financial aid required to work on campus or expected to maintain certain performance standards? Hide

CA students receiving financial aid are held to the same standards as all other CA students. Financial aid awards consist primarily of grants for which no repayment or "work/study" arrangement is required. CA expects the same level of commitment and participation from all of its students, regardless of their financial situation.

If we receive financial aid this year, can we count on receiving it each subsequent year? Hide

Financial aid will be continued at the same level through graduation, provided a family's need does not change. If a family's need increases, we will make every effort to meet that need. However, we can only guarantee the level of aid awarded in the previous year. Because awards are evaluated annually, a renewal application must be filed each year.

What are my loan options? Hide

Families who prefer to make lower monthly tuition payments over an extended period of time may want to consider credit-based loans which may be used to cover all or part of a family's contribution. The Key Achiever Loan is a variable rate, low interest loan with flexible repayment terms. More information about this loan program is available in the Financial Aid Office.