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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

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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

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The notion of shared stewardship very aptly describes the sort of investment that all of our colleagues feel in Commonwealth. There's a desire to make sure that everything we do improves the place—and an appreciation for how complex the system is and the breadth of potential consequences. If you change one thing over here, how will it shift things over there?

Rebecca Jackman, Chemistry Teacher and Assistant Head of School

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

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Before I visited Commonwealth, I hadn’t thought about how going to a very small school would compare, coming from a bigger school. But now that I'm here, the small-school setting makes everyone a lot closer. You really know everyone in your grade and even a bunch of people outside it. It's been a lot of fun and a really big change from what I thought high school would be. It’s very freeing. 

Ethan ’26

By the Numbers

154

students in grades 9–12

56%

self-identified students of color

$1.4 million

financial aid granted for 2023–2024

83%

teachers holding advanced degree

5:1

student-to-faculty ratio

2

all-school getaways each year

1520

average SAT composite score (Class of 2024)

Happening Now

Meet Commonwealth Staff: Becca Gillis, Communications Coordinator

You know what they say about first impressions—and Commonwealth’s social media accounts are the equivalent of a smile and a handshake to the many people who first experience our school via Instagram, Facebook, and more. Who’s behind the screens, capturing Commonwealth’s ethos for the world to see? Becca Gillis, English aficionado turned Communications Coordinator. Of course, Ms. Gillis’s work doesn’t end with Instagram. Drawing on her own experience as an independent school alumna, she tells Commonwealth’s stories and communicates critical updates via weekly newsletters, magazine articles, announcements throughout our building, and more.

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Susan Thompson, director of Commonwealth’s theater program, spent the summer immersed in Italian theater, tracing its roots through the ages, from high-concept production of Medea to an ethereal outdoor Ecological Theater Fest (Festa di Teatro Ecológico), from ornate opera houses to ancient amphitheaters, with some classical mask-making, too. Follow along with her travels below and learn how they’ve colored recent Commonwealth performances.

what-happens-during-project-week

Every Commonwealth student, every year, undertakes a project of their own choosing and design. This weeklong intensive is an opportunity to test-drive an industry or an idea, from genetic research to family law to magazine publishing to measuring the luminosity of the stars. No two projects are ever quite the same, but you can get a taste of what students do via the sampling here.

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.