The Fessenden School vs. Hillside School
Should you attend The Fessenden School or Hillside School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Definition of Terms | 2024 School Data
The Fessenden School
250 Waltham Street
West Newton, MA 02465, United States of America
West Newton, MA 02465, United States of America
Hillside School
404 Robin Hill Street
Marlborough, MA 01752, United States of America
Marlborough, MA 01752, United States of America
Top Rankings
The Fessenden School ranks among the top 10 schools with > 400 students (out of 94 schools) for:
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Attribute
Hillside School ranks among the top 5 all-boys schools (out of 29 all-boys schools) for:
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Student Attention
Overview
Located just minutes from historic Boston MA, The Fessenden School is the oldest and most prestigious US boarding school for boys ages 11-15.
Fessenden emphasizes academics, character education, and the pursuit of passions.
The school provides a nurturing environment that allows boys to develop the skills, independence and self-esteem needed to thrive in the multicultural, technology-driven world they are poised to inherit.
Hillside's mission to maximize each student's potential is achieved through our small class size, 7:1 student-teacher ratio, and our academic support programs tailored to meet each boy's needs. Our extracurricular programs develop and challenge each student to perform at his highest level through practice, competition, and outstanding teacher support. Spiritually, the school's focus on others, empathy, brotherhood, and leadership help develop the soul and spirit of each student. Hillside is an all boys junior boarding and day school only 45 miles west of Boston serving 4th through 9th grade students.
We provide a structured, supportive, and challenging academic environment and our innovative teaching for the 21st-century skills prepares our boys for secondary school and beyond.
The academic program is supplemented with the renowned Wicks Tutorial Center with certified learning specialists providing small group tutorials offered in language arts, math, executive function, and social skills, for those students needing extra support.
Boarding and day students enjoy a rich curriculum that includes a broad after school program including competitive athletics, extracurricular activities, the Innovation Lab, and the Hillside Farm.
Our unique academic and leadership program, Shades of Blue, builds character while holding our students accountable to our core values.
Community inclusiveness is our hallmark; we welcome you to come to see for yourself. Please visit us online for more information, and to schedule a visit today.
School Focus
College Preparatory
n/a
Grades Offered
5-9
4-9
School Type
All-boys
All-boys
Year Founded
1903
1901
Campus Size
41 acres
150 acres
Students Body
Enrollment
542
145
% Students of Color
35%
14%
% International Students
45%
38%
% Students Boarding
50%
60%
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Frequency of Saturday Classes
Weekly
Weekly
Classroom Dress Code
Formal
Formal
Average Class Size
12
10
Student : Teacher ratio
21:1
5:1
ESL Courses Offered
Yes
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
74%
50%
Summer Program Offered
No
No
Finances
Endowment Size
$67 million
$5 million
Tuition (Boarding Students)
$84,900
$68,500
Tuition (Day Students)
n/a
$39,900
Tuition (international students)
$86,900
$76,600
Tuition (5 Day Boarding)
$74,900
$58,900
Merit Scholarships Offered
n/a
$1
Admission
Application Deadline
None / Rolling
None / Rolling
Accepts Standardized Application
Yes
Yes
SSAT Required
No
No
Acceptance Rate
n/a
70%
Director of Admissions
Chris Young
Sean Hayes
Associate Director of Admissions
Greg Hendrick
n/a
Sport
Total Sports Offered
19
17
Sports
Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Nordic Skiing, Sailing, Soccer, Squash, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Wrestling
Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Wrestling
Extracurricular
Total Extra-curric.Total Extracurriculars
24
18
Extra-curric.Extracurriculars
Concert Band, Cross-Country Skiing, Digital Media, Fall Play Production, Fessenden Orchestra, Film Appreciation, Golf, Honors Band, Mountain Biking, Music Theory & Digital Music, Percussion Ensemble, Private Instrumental Lessons, Sailing, Shakespeare & Stage Combat, Spring Musical Production, String Ensemble, Studio Art, Tennis, Theater Arts, Theater Tech, Vocal Ensemble, Weight Training & Conditioning, Woodworking, Yearbook
3 v 3 Basketball, Band, Chess Club, Dart Club, Drama Club, Drawing Club, Eco/ Farm Team, Innovation Lab, Intramurals, Kickball, Media Club, Ping-Pong, Prefect, Proctor, Robotics Team, Sailing/Crew, Strength and Conditioning, Yearbook