Students commute to Commonwealth from more than forty cities and towns, drawn to our academic environment, of course, but also empowered by our central location in one of America’s greatest cities: Boston. Aside from its historical significance and charm, Boston is a hub (The Hub! IYKYK) for scientific research, academia, the arts, and so much more—and Commonwealth students take advantage of it all, from research projects to community service opportunities to simply enjoying cookies and coffee a block away on Newbury Street. Keep reading to hear students’ perspective on learning in Boston from our cozy home in the heart of Back Bay. 

“I enjoy feeling a bit more independent, because I'm nowhere near where I normally hang out or live. This feels like my own space, away from my family and people who know me really well. It's also just great to learn about different parts of the city that you maybe wouldn't find. And it's so beautiful here!” —Iris '27

“I actually was a little nervous about being in the city, because before I came here I had spent most of my life in the suburbs, and it was like big everything and lots of people everywhere, but it's nice to be in the center of everything. It's convenient. If you want to do anything, you can find a place that's on the train or within walking distance.” —Jocelyn ’20

“I think it's great being in the heart of Boston and in such a historical neighborhood. It really familiarizes me with the city and allows me to find my way around better—taking the T, biking, walking around. I feel like I've gotten to know Boston better and like Boston better just because of the warmth and comfort that this neighborhood provides.” —Tomi ’27

“It’s just so convenient for me. It's really nice to be able to go anywhere during the school day, like the BPL [Boston Public Library]. Whenever I go there, I'm so grateful for it, because it's a great place to work with friends, but also it's huge and fun to go to and has great resources.” —Aadi ’26

“When I did my visit day…the location stood out the most to me. When my freshman buddy told me about City of Boston and the fact that students could just go out for lunch, I thought that was really interesting—the freedom and just how much we use our location in our courses and sports around the city. I thought that was really cool and different, and [since then] it’s allowed me to get really close to students outside of my grade, because we're commuting to sports together and stuff like that.” —Sienna ’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

“Commonwealth is in the middle of Back Bay so there are a lot of stores and buildings around. The BPL is just across the street. We have a lot of opportunities available to us. After school I can go study in the library or I can hang out with my friends at all of the restaurants and stores that are really close to the school. It's also given me a lot of independence. I take the commuter rail here everyday which is an experience that I wouldn't get at almost any other high school.” —Alexandra ’21

“I really like it. It makes it easy to bike. It feels like everything is just two blocks away. It's a beautiful neighborhood, too.” —Linus ’27

“The motto is ‘the city of Boston is our campus,’ and I think that is really true. There are a lot of things you can do outside of school, whether it's during free periods or exploring the city in different classes or just outside in free time.” —Julian ’18

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