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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

Hanna-Gialil-2

I've never seen a school like it before, from the building to the close-knit community. I look forward to going to school everyday, as I never know what will happen next.   

Hanna '25

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 and Languages Teacher

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 teaching

Really exciting classrooms are where the student is part of the circuit and the electricity is jumping between them and the sources and the teacher. At the beginning of the Enlightenment unit, instead of saying, 'This is what the Enlightenment is.' We say, 'Here's Newton's laws of natural philosophy. Here's a poem about sinful bees. Here’s a little Montesquieu with a little Benjamin Franklin and a little Smith.' And then we try to figure out what they have in common.

Melissa Glenn Haber ’87, History Teacher

Chloe-Li-home-thumb

I was kind of shocked at how everyone talks with each other at Commonwealth. In my old school, people just stuck with their own friend groups. I thought it would be like that here—but it turned out to be exactly the opposite. I didn't expect to be able to communicate with seniors and juniors and sophomores at all. I feel really good in small communities. You feel seen.  

Chloe ’27

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

You know, I was hearing about all these other schools, and they definitely had a lot to offer, but Commonwealth spoke more to me because I know they take academics seriously here, but they also care about you as a person and finding yourself. 

Sumaya ’26

By the Numbers

157

students in grades 9–12

62%

self-identified students of color

$1.5 million

financial aid granted for 2023–2024

86%

teachers holding advanced degree

5:1

student-to-faculty ratio

2

all-school getaways each year

1450

average SAT composite score (Class of 2025)

Happening Now

Dr. Eugene Flood, Commonwealth School Diversity Day 2024 Keynote Speaker

Founded by students in 2007 and now an annual tradition, Diversity Day is a school-wide experience focused on conversation and community. This year’s event celebrated traditions and tapped into the past while encouraging our community to think about our interconnected future with an array of student- and faculty-led workshops, presentations by local educational groups, and a powerful keynote address from alumnus Eugene Flood '73.

Linus-Schafer-Goulthorpe-hero

Music has been a throughline in Linus’s life from his earliest days, from playing the piano as a small child to singing in choirs for the New England Conservatory (NEC) and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Keep reading to learn about his musical influences, his appreciation for poignant late-night comedy and po’ boy sandwiches, and more.

Harry-Rylance-hero

Today, you might hear him performing at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London or at opera houses across Europe. But his fellow alumni/ae will recall seeing Harry Rylance ’15 in Commonwealth’s Chorus (or on the soccer field). After earning a bachelor’s and master’s in piano at the Royal Academy of Music in London, he started his freelance musical career, a mixture of performing solo, chamber music, accompaniments, and as a répétiteur. Keep reading and lend him an ear...

Meet Our Students: Tomi ’27, Diving Deeper

From Symphony Hall to the soccer field to the chemistry lab, Tomi ’27 seems to be everywhere at once, constantly immersed in one activity or another—but don’t mistake his breadth of involvement for a lack of deep, purposeful engagement. Drawn to Commonwealth by the idea of rigorous academics taught with joy, Tomi applies the same philosophy to his activities outside the classroom, tackling passions like music and sports with a discipline beyond his years but rooted in a genuine love of the work. Now the lead musician in his section of the Boston Youth Symphony and a soccer all-star, Tomi’s approach seems to be working for him. Keep reading to discover why.

Ayla-Denenberg-teaching-Dive-In

This past summer, Dive In students were excited to learn from four Commonwealth alumni/ae who, not too long ago, walked the same halls. Ellie Laabs '17, Ayla Denenberg '23, Jordan Dowd '17, and Alec Bode Mathur '20 came back, not just to teach, but to reconnect with their own formative experiences and inspire a new generation. 

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.