Dive In Commonwealth
Dive In Commonwealth is a free summer and school-year program for middle-schoolers who love to learn and are eager to pursue their academic dreams. Starting the summer after sixth or seventh grade and lasting until they head to high school, admitted students master the fundamentals of English and math as they cultivate critical-thinking skills and find joy in creative expression. Hosted by Commonwealth School, one of the nation’s top independent schools, Dive In is for low-income families living in and around Boston, and designed to close opportunity gaps for all students. Looking for extracurricular enrichment and a path to rigorous high schools like Commonwealth? Dive In will guide you on your journey and connect you with a close-knit community of fellow learners.
The application deadline for this year's summer program was March 15. Information about summer 2027 will be posted in the fall of 2026. Please feel free to reach out to us with questions in the meantime!
Choosing Dive In was one of the best decisions we've made. It's rigorous and requires commitment but that's [my daughter]: dedicated, responsible, and fully committed. It matched her personality perfectly. The program has exceeded all our expectations academically. The impact has been incredibly positive and the results are noticeable. Her academic level was already strong, and now it's truly extraordinary. To other parents: if your child has that natural hunger to learn, along with discipline and responsibility, this is the place. You won't regret it.
What Is Dive In Commonwealth?
A free program for low-income families, Dive In Commonwealth offers advanced academic and extracurricular opportunities for curious, driven middle-school students in a warm, caring community. Our mission is to prepare students for rigorous high school programs and make sure they are well supported when considering their options.
Core classes in English and math strengthen fundamental skills, while exciting “electives” in subjects such as theater, biology, and computer science broaden their academic horizons. Athletics, field trips, and social outings mean students can connect, unwind, and have fun.
In our close-knit community, teachers offer personal attention and know each student’s unique abilities, skills, and passions, while students build friendships with others who love learning as much as they do.
Students who enjoy Dive In are:
- Excited about school and summer classes, interested in challenging themselves, and motivated to do well
- Eager to learn about lots of different things
- Interested in going to college
Many Dive In students:
- Identify with historically underrepresented groups
- Qualify for free or reduced lunch at school
- Speak languages other than English at home
- Would be first person in their families to go to college
The Dive In curriculum includes:
- Exciting, engaging core math and English classes
- Introductions to subjects like computer science, biology, theater, and more
- A consistent but manageable amount of homework each week
Dive In takes place:
- During 6 weeks of classes in the summer (July and August), plus select Saturdays during the school year
- In Boston's Back Bay at Commonwealth School, in our beautiful brownstone building (Take a virtual tour!)
- Within easy walking distance of both the Copley and Back Bay MBTA stations
Schedule
Students are expected to attend all sessions, just like they would regular school days. Each summer program day is roughly as long as a typical school day, running from 9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Saturday sessions are held two or three times each month throughout the school year.
Students and families apply in the spring of sixth or seventh grade.
Violet, Dive In Class of 2026
“Attending Dive In far exceeded my expectations. It was a bit challenging, yes, but the classes pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t think I could. It forced me to think deeper, work harder, and all around just made me a lot more confident in my academic abilities. Being surrounded by students who were just as eager to learn as I was, was a great gain!"
Preview the Independent School Experience
Students learn about independent/private schools during Dive In, and they “graduate” prepared for Boston’s best high schools and far beyond. Families receive ample admissions guidance, including step-by-step instructions for applying for financial aid, whether they apply to Commonwealth or any other school. Dive In students grow familiar with standardized test taking because of our consistent prep for the SSAT, often required by independent schools.
High schools attended by Dive In grads include:
- Apponequet Regional High School
- Arlington Catholic High School
- Beacon Academy
- Boston Latin Academy
- Boston Latin School
- Boston University Academy
- Brooke High School
- Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
- Cambridge Rindge and Latin
- Chelsea High School
- Commonwealth School
- Concord-Carlisle High School
- John D. O'Bryant School of Math & Science
- Lincoln-Sudbury High School
- Malden Catholic High School
- Newton North High School
- Noble and Greenough
- North Attleborough High School
- Phillips Exeter Academy
- South Shore Tech High
- Stoughton High School
- Ursuline Academy
- Woodward School
Meet the Team
Al Letarte
Degree(s):
B.A., Dartmouth College
M.A., University of Wisconsin–Madison
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Madison
M.A., University of Wisconsin–Madison
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Madison
Rui Shu
Degree(s):
B.A., Beijing Foreign Studies University
M.A., Harvard Graduate School of Education
M.A., Harvard Graduate School of Education
Clinton Williams
Degree(s):
B.A., Oberlin College
M.T.S., Harvard Divinity School
M.A., Harvard University
M.T.S., Harvard Divinity School
M.A., Harvard University
Join Our Mailing List
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Spread the Word with Our Media Kit
Dive In students hear about our little program through a wide variety of channels: their sixth-grade math teacher, a flier in their local library, their Girl Scouts troop leader, and many others for which we are grateful. If you'd like to share Dive In with the students and families in your community, you can download fliers in multiple languages, request a poster, schedule a meeting, and more on our media kit page.
Languages available include but are not limited to:
- Arabic
- English
- Haitian Creole
- Mandarin
- Portuguese
- Somali
- Spanish
- Vietnamese
