close

Back

Home

Uncommon Community

Uncommon Curiosity

Uncommon Opportunity

Commonwealth is a co-ed independent day school welcoming curious, highly motivated students in grades 9–12. Our close-knit community thrives on making meaningful intellectual and personal connections, while tapping into the opportunities surrounding our home in Boston’s Back Bay.

Meet Faculty and Students

Commonwealth taught me how to interact with different people, and I think I've learned a lot of skills regarding meeting new people.  It's having that safe space, where I can make myself uncomfortable, but I also have my advisor and I have friends who support me. 

Avery '23

It is humbling and exhilarating to come to work every day to a place where people are working for a common goal with such a mix of competence and humanity.

César Pérez, History, Languages

aritra-ghosh-thumb

I was first interested in Commonwealth by the small class sizes and the very rigorous environment. Visiting and having a virtual class was what drew me in. I'm very happy about making the choice to come here. The classes are intriguing, to say the least. There is difficulty but nothing I can’t handle. And the opportunities, such as Project Week, are unique, and they allow us to develop our own interests.

Aritra ’25

Melissa-Glenn-Haber

My students teach me so much that each subsequent year the course is informed by their insights.

Melissa Glenn Haber '87, History

I get a real burst of energy when I’m able to help students navigate the complexities of the research process. I feel so lucky to have such an incredible patron base of high-level readers and thinkers in our students. 

Jake MacDonnell, Librarian and Registrar

Classes have been absolutely amazing. The teachers here really care about what they’re teaching, and that makes all the difference.

Olivia ’24

I love the campus, too—you know, Boston is the campus in a sense. That’s what they told us when we visited, and that’s really been delivered. You can just hop on the T at Copley or at Back Bay and go anywhere. I can walk across a bridge over the Charles River and be at MIT or Kendall Square, or walk a few blocks and be in Beacon Hill. I think it's just so rewarding to have that freedom.

Romen ’23

By the Numbers

152

students in grades 9-12

50%

students of color

$1.5 million

financial aid granted for 2022–2023

88%

teachers holding advanced degree

5:1

student-to-faculty ratio

2

all-school trips each year

1530

median SAT composite score (Class of 2022)

Happening Now

Juliana-Li

You might be surprised by how outgoing—and “kind of loud!”—Juliana ’26 can be, she says, because she can seem a bit shy around new people. But her already long history of leadership roles pre-Commonwealth corroborates her penchant for stepping up and into the spotlight. Now, she’s in her most visible position yet...

A collage in yellow and blue tones showing people doing various household tasks, including cooking and cleaning.

Economists Joshua Nadel ’11 and Thalia Kidder ’77 know that policymakers must factor a mind-boggling number of variables into their decisions—including unpaid labor and the needs of historically marginalized communities. Discover how their work is making the populations who have been overlooked in economic analysis more visible.

Ranjan-Warren

What makes a Commonwealth student tick? From the classes that capture their attention to their favorite books, foods, and even paradoxes, their interests are hampered only by their imaginations—and, perhaps, the hours in a day. Below, you'll meet Ranjan ’26 of Somerville, Massachusetts, and learn more about his foray into computer science, his many hobbies, and his advice for any student hoping to join the Commonwealth community.

Simon-marshall-shah

Now a Policy Analyst for the Michigan League for Public Policy focusing on immigration, state budget analysis, and related Medicaid topics, Simon Marshall-Shah has worked at the intersection of public health data and advocacy practically since he graduated from Commonwealth in 2012. His answers below shed a little light on that path and offer insights for anyone with similar ambitions.

At Commonwealth, we’re looking for inquisitive, driven, and creative students from a wide range of backgrounds. We encourage you to visit us, talk with teachers and students, and see if Commonwealth is right for you.