Quick Facts About Commonwealth School
Founded in 1957, Commonwealth School is a co-ed independent day school for grades 9–12 in Boston's Back Bay. For the 2026–2027 academic year, we have 161 students, an average class size of nine students, and a 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio—though every single student has their own advisor for one-on-one mentoring. We granted $2.1 million in financial aid this year, based purely on financial need, with an average grant of $46,884. One-hundred percent of our most recent graduating class were admitted to at least of one of their preferred colleges (and we miss them already). Get to know us better by the numbers below...
Our Students
161
students in grades 9–12 (2026–2027)
64%
self-identified students of color (2026–2027)
All
genders (2026–2027)
52
cities and towns represented (2026–2027)
25+ Languages
spoken at home, including Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Dutch, French, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Mandarin, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, and Vietnamese (2026–2027)
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
52% independent, 40% public, 7% parochial, 1% homeschool (2026–2027)
TOP HOMETOWNS
Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Newton, Sharon (2026–2027)
AVERAGE COMMUTE
40 minutes (2026–2027); nearest MBTA station is Copley Square
Academics and Outcomes
9
students per class on average (2026–2027)
97%
AP scores 3 or above; 87% scores 4 or 5 (2026)
1510
average SAT composite score (Class of 2027)
100%
students admitted to a preferred college (Class of 2026)
MOST ATTENDED COLLEGES 2022–2026
Boston College, Harvard University, New York University, Northeastern University, Northwestern University, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts (Amherst), University of Michigan, Washington University in St. Louis, Wellesley College, Yale University
Explore College Matriculations
National Merit Scholarship Program
Commonwealth seniors are consistently named National Merit Scholarship winners, finalists, semifinalists, and commended students. Among the Class of 2026, twenty-five of the thirty-eight students were recognized.
U.S. Presidential Scholars Program
Three recent Commonwealth alumni/ae, from the Classes of 2026, 2025, and 2022, progressed in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, recognizing exceptional high school seniors across the nation.
I was looking for somewhere I could be challenged and my interests in subjects like English and history could be deepened, which I definitely found at Commonwealth. Everyone here, both teachers and students, is passionate and curious, and it is very inspiring to be in that kind of environment.
Our Faculty
42
faculty members; 16 non-teaching staff members (2026–2027)
89%
with advanced degree; 29% with doctorate (2026–2027)
4:1
student-to-faculty ratio (2026–2027)
1:1
faculty advising program
FACULTY RESEARCH PROJECTS (SAMPLING)
Quantum Interpretations and Entanglement, Middle Eastern Foodways, Artificial Intelligence in Chess, Middle Ages in Africa, American Culture and Politics 1968–Present, History of Chinese Film, Geometry of Second-Degree Curves, Women’s Voices in Latin American Literature, French Existentialist Literature, Gene Expression and Regulation
Tuition and Financial Aid
$2.1M
financial aid granted (2026–2027)
32%
incoming students with financial aid (2026–2027)
$46,884
average financial aid grant (2026–2027)
$62,780
tuition and fees (2026–2027)
$20,000–$435,000
household incomes of families with financial aid grants for 2026–2027
Last updated September 30, 2026. Source: Commonwealth School Admissions and Registrar.
