Avon Old Farms School - Review #4

Avon Old Farms truly is a one-of-a-kind school, designed and built by Mrs. Theodate Pope Riddle in the 1920's. The Cotswold Tudor architecture is unlike any other prep school in New England and is set on 1,000 acres of beautiful Connecticut woodland. Through the years the campus has been expanded and improved to provide one of the finest facilities for education today.

Acquired a great level of discipline that has served me well through college years and throughout my professional career.

Wouldn't have done anything differently.

There is so much to like about the Avon Experience. Above all, I cherish the long term relationships I have with my fellow students, alums and the faculty over the many years since I graduated in '73. Avon is truly a special place.

Avon Old Farms is a place where boys grow into men. The school's mission is to be the best college preparatory school for boys by cultivating young men of integrity, who honor wisdom, justice, inclusion, service and the pursuit of truth. The School motto: "Aspirando et Perseverando," effectively communicates the expectations for students; in every aspect of a boy's life, we expect him to strive consistently for his best. Here you will both be challenged and given the opportunity to thrive in a terrific setting and become a part of the Avon Brotherhood. Many of the alumni remain active and interested in the school - it will become a big part of your life.

Avon is, and remains committed to be, an all boys school. In the classroom this affords fewer distractions and allows the boys to focus on their academics. The teacher to student ratio is small and the faculty is entirely engrossed in the education of young men. In fact, I believe the longevity of the faculty members and their level of dedication is unrivaled. Most faculty members reside on campus and are available for the boys beyond the classroom and create a true learning environment. Can't say enough about the faculty - they are teachers in the classroom, coaches on the playing fields, mentors in the dorm and terrific role models for the students. In the many years since I attended there have only been two Headmasters and they both have created great continuity for the entire school community.

In a word, the athletics program at Avon is superb. Boys have been known to reach levels that they previously thought unattainable. There is a true sense of camaraderie among the student body, fostered by great coaches coupled with the availability of top-notch facilities. In particular, the Hockey, Lacrosse and Baseball programs are renowned for their success, and many of the other sports are very competitive in the New England Leagues. Many graduates have gone on to become college athletes and Avon can boast a number of athletes that have made it to the professional ranks.

I can observe that, under Headmaster LaRocque the Arts, Music and Theater programs have flourished. Boys are encouraged to participate in the Arts as well as Athletics.

There is a long list of activities. As stated in the schools website: the boys take the lead in extra-curricular activities such as writing and laying out the school newspaper and yearbook, coordinating social affairs, or community service initiatives. Students have a large role in shaping the quality of life at Avon Old Farms.

There is a great deal of structure for an Avon Boy, from morning till lights out. The dorm life at Avon was very agreeable for me (a long time ago) and I get the sense that not much has changed over the years. Let me just say that there is a real sense of community at Avon and I think that many of the students and Alums, alike, would share with you that the dorm life is one of the better aspects of life at Avon!

The Refectory, where students and faculty dine is simply beautiful. Students and faculty dine together - check out the website for some pic's. By the way, the food IS really good!

Great area of the country.

Prefer not to comment - the boys today may not to relate to the observations I had from many years ago.