The history of boarding schools is an extensive and often prestigious one. Part of what makes them special is their unique history and excellent education. Noble and Greenough School is one example. While tuition fees can be steep, families often find it a small price to pay to secure their children’s future.
Noble and Greenough is a highly selective boarding school in Massachusetts. If you want to be considered for admission, you must fill out an online application with various information about yourself. As it is a competitive and prestigious system, acceptance is difficult. However, we designed this guide to assist you in answering all your questions about the institute.
What is Noble and Greenough Known For?
What is Noble and Greenough Known For?Founded in 1866, the school, Noble and Greenough, is known as a coeducational, five-day boarding school for anyone in grades seven to twelve. It was initially informally known as “Nobles,” once known as a school for boys only.
Otherwise, it is a prestigious school in Massachusetts, United States. It is known for its rigorous academic program and its emphasis on character development. Hence, many call it a strict school, but the connotations are often optimistic.
It offers a diverse curriculum. It revolves around mathematics, sciences, humanities, foreign languages, and the arts. The language focus is on Chinese, French, and Spanish.
The school also stands out in its athletic programs. Those include ice hockey, soccer, and sailing. It also has an extensive history of producing successful alums that range from artists to politicians. Some of the most famous include:
- Percival Lowell (astronomer)
- Louis Agassiz Shaw (inventor of the iron lung)
- President John F. Kennedy
- Michael Beach (actor)
- Ayla Brown (basketball player)
- Wycliffe Grousbeck (entrepreneur)
As for Noble and Greenough school ranking, Niche ranks it as the 10th best boarding school in America and the 28th best private one.
Other distinctions of the school include:
- Diversity
- Community service
- Experiential learning
- College counseling
- Leadership development
- State-of-the-art facilities
What is the Acceptance Rate for Noble and Greenough?
Every year, the school intends to fill a limited number of spots. There are often 55 spots for 7th grade, 5 for 8th grade, 65 for 9th grade, 10 for 10th grade, and less than 5 for the 11th. Remember, the school does not admit any new individuals for the 12th grade.
Noble’s acceptance rate is not publicly disclosed. You will not find any official information regarding the matter on their official page. However, the general estimated ranges are from 20-25%. This means that it is considered to be much more selective and difficult to get into compared to other private schools.
The school receives many applications each year, much more than they accept. Hence, the admission process is nothing less than competitive. Only a tiny percentage of individuals are offered admission on an annual basis.
As to what they look for, they often look for strong academic records, outstanding scores, well-rounded backgrounds, and an interest in other things. Those usually include a demonstration of involvement in extracurriculars, leadership skills, and community service.
An important aspect is that the acceptance rate will vary from year to year. It often depends on several factors. Those include the existing number of students, the number of applicants, and the enrollment goal.
How to Apply for Noble and Greenough?
Noble and Greenough’s admissions are challenging to get into. However, that does not mean it is impossible. Their application process centers around an online application, an interview, a test scores submission, and a campus tour.
To further elaborate on the requirements and what to expect, refer to the list created below.
- Submit an online application: the school’s online application includes various sections. These are personal information, school transcripts, test scores, and recommendation letters.
- Take ISEE or SSAT: you must take either the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) or the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT). If you are applying for the 7th or 8th grade, you need the ISEE. If you’re applying to 9th, 10th, or 11th, you require the SSAT.
- Submission of additional material: you will need to submit other resources such as a personal essay, teachers’ recommendations, and a school report.
- Interview: as mentioned earlier, the school requires an interview for all its applicants. This can be done in person or virtually.
- Completion of forms: you will be required to complete more forms after your interview. These also include one that your parents must fill out or your guardians.
How Much is Noble and Greenough Tuition Fee?
As mentioned earlier, the Noble and Greenough tuition is steep. Prestigious as it is, families are aware of what they are in for, often preparing and hoping for a bright future for their kids upon acceptance. Hence, admission to this institute is nothing short of worth it.
The tuition fee is high. For the academic year of 2022-2023, the school’s costs ranged according to whether the person is a day student or a 5-day boarding student. To find out the average prices, check the list below.
- Day Student Tuition: $57,650
- 5-Day Boarding Student Tuition: $63,650
- Additional Expenses:1,000
While the tuition fee covers the cost of your education, books, and most school-related expenses, it does not cover other areas. Those include personal expenses, transportation, and extracurricular activities.
However, the good news is that the institute offers a range of financial aid prospects. You can learn more about their financial support options on their page. During the 2022-2023 school year, the institute offered over $7 million for financial aid.
To apply for financial aid, you must submit the parents’ financial statement in January and upload your 2022 tax return and tax forms by March. Hence, you must provide the school with information about your family’s income and assets. The financial aid is on a rolling basis and based on your situation and the budget offered by the school during that year.
Does Noble and Greenough Require SSAT?
Understanding the application process is part of knowing how to get into Noble and Greenough. One of the most important aspects is knowing whether the school requires standardized exams or entrance tests. Hence, the common question is, does Noble and Greenough require the SSAT?
In short, yes, they do. As mentioned earlier, applicants either take the ISEE or SSAT. SSAT is a standardized exam that measures your reading, quantitative, and verbal skills. You can find the exam across various independent schools in the United States as part of the admissions process. Registration for the exam can be done online, offered at different points throughout the year, making it more accessible.
The SSAT is required if you are applying for the 9th grade or a higher level. Otherwise, you are obliged to take another exam. That said, it is essential to note that the SSAT is only one minor part of the much larger process of the application. Other factors include recommendations, interviews, academic records, extracurricular activities, leadership, and community service.
While not official, the SSAT score you should aim for should place you in the 90th percentile or higher.
So, how hard is it to get into Noble and Greenough? Only a tiny percentage of applicants get in. As mentioned earlier, they look for well-rounded individuals with excellent backgrounds. They hope to manifest a keen sense of leadership and accomplishment in you.
That is because they always strive for excellence. The student profile for 2018-2019 illustrates what they aim to achieve and what their expectations might be. Those include:
- 50% of graduates scored in the range of 700-800 in the Math section of the SAT.
- 46% of graduates scored in the range of 700-800 in the Evidence-based Reading & Writing section of the SAT.
- Over half achieved a score higher than 1400 on the SAT.
- The median ACT composite score was 33.
- The top 5 institutes that graduates from Noble and Greenough enrolled in are Harvard, Boston, Dartmouth, Brown, and Middlebury College.
Is Noble and Greenough School a Good School?
We have extensively elaborated on the prestigiousness of the school. It is a highly respected and well-regarded private school. With its long history of providing students with rigorous academic programs and an emphasis on character, it tells its own story.
The curriculum being diverse is a considerable asset. Its faculty is highly qualified. The school also has a low student-to-teacher ratio, which allows it to emphasize individual attention and the ability to target specific weaknesses.
It is known for its commitment to experiential learning and community service. Hence, it provides its students with direct, firsthand experience that immerses them in the world immediately. This enhances their communication and social abilities.
Noble and Greenough is considered an excellent school with a strong reputation for academic excellence
ce, well-rounded education, and character development. However, whether the school is good can often be a personal opinion. It will vary according to your goals and your standards.
Hence, it might often be challenging to decide whether getting admitted into the school is worth it. While it does offer financial aid, the lifestyle is expensive otherwise. Regardless, if you believe you are a hard-working, highly-accomplished, and passion-oriented student, this might just be your institute.
Wrapping Things Up: How to Get Into Noble and Greenough?
In a nutshell, getting accepted into Noble and Greenough is difficult but not impossible. As it is a highly-respected and competitive school, your chances are increased if you have excellent grades, outstanding transcripts, and a presence in the community.
Hence, if you plan on applying, make sure you find the abilities in you that make you stand out. Emphasize your strengths, and be ready for a few years of rigorous education. However, it will all pan out once you get accepted into your dream university.
