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The Taft School

5.00 (3 reviews)

Tel: (860) 945-7700

110 Woodbury Road
Watertown, CT 06795

www.taftschool.org

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The Taft School Photo #1 - Our beautiful campus features facilities that rival those of many small colleges, including a library with 55,000 print volumes; a 45,000 square foot science and mathematics building; two theaters; two ice hockey rinks; and an 18-hole golf course.

The Taft School Photo #2 - More than a century has passed since Mr. Taft founded our school. While the world and the school have changed dramatically, his fundamental values endure: work hard, without regard for public acclaim; develop all your talents: academic, artistic, and athletic; and most importantly, give of yourself to others.

The Taft School Photo #3 - At Taft we continually examine and revise our offerings to provide students with the chance to build a strong intellectual and academic foundation. The curriculum combines required courses with intriguing electives, as well as opportunities for independent study. We seek to provide students with a strong content understanding and skills foundation while allowing them to pursue their evolving interests.

Taft is one of the most rigorous and well-respected educational communities in the world.

It is also a school that lives its motto each day: NON UT SIBI MINISTRETUR SED UT MINISTRET. The school's motto, which translates to "Not to be served but to serve," permeates every aspect of the Taft community.

Taft's 609 students, who hail from 34 states and 51 countries, love their experience not simply because they are challenged by the academic rigor they experience daily, but because they develop life-long friendships with faculty members and students alike.

No matter how hard they are working, Taft students celebrate their responsibility as human beings to serve rather than be served.

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: 9-12, PG
Enrollment: 609 students
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $75,250
Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $55,500
Acceptance rate: 19%
Average class size: 11 students
Application Deadline: Jan. 15
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

The Taft School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 307 schools) for:

School Overview

| 2025 School Data

The Taft School

Boarding School Avg.

School Focus

College Preparatory

Grades Offered

9-12, PG

9-12

School Type

Co-ed

Religious Affiliation

Non-denominational

Year Founded

1890

1909

Campus Size

226 acres

125 acres

Colors

Blue, Red, Yale Blue, Harvard Crimson

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Last Day of School

Sat. May 9, 2026

Student Body

Enrollment

609 students

300 students

% Students of Color

41%

25%

% International Students

22%

20%

% Students Boarding

83%

70%

Offers Post-Grad Year

Yes

Academics and Faculty

Saturday Classes

Yes

Frequency of Saturday Classes

Weekly

Classroom Dress Code

Casual
no blue jeans or T-shirts

Casual

Average Class Size

11 students

* National Avg. »18

Student-Teacher Ratio

5:1

7:1

ESL Courses Offered

Yes

% Faculty with Advanced Degree

75%

70%

Summer Program Offered

Yes

Summer Program Details

View Summer Program Details

Tuition Cost

Endowment Size

$327.2 million

$25 million

Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)

$75,250

$59,900

Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)

$55,500

$33,500

Summer Program Cost

$8,700
(Day student tuition for the summer program is $4,600. Two-week residential programs available at $4,200.)

% Students on Financial Aid

35%

40%

Avg. Financial Aid Grant

$56,500

$25,000

Merit Scholarships Offered

Admissions

Application Deadline

Jan. 15

SSAT Required

Yes

Acceptance Rate

19%

58%

Director of Admissions

Amanda Bohnsack

Associate Director of Admissions

Jessica Shannon

Application URL

Online Application

AP / Advanced Courses

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

n/a

Courses

AP American GovernmentAP Art History

AP BiologyAP Calculus AB

AP Calculus BCAP Capstone

AP ChemistryAP Chinese Language

AP Comparative GovernmentAP Computer Science A

AP Computer Science ABAP Economics (2 exams)

AP English Language and CompositionAP English Literature and Composition

AP Environmental ScienceAP European History

AP French LanguageAP Latin: Vergil

AP Physics BAP Physics C

AP PsychologyAP Spanish Language

AP StatisticsAP Studio Art

AP U.S. HistoryMultivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra

Post-AP BiologyPost-AP Chinese Essays and Discussion

Post-AP French LiteraturePost-AP Hispanic Literature

Post-AP Latin

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Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations

Extracurriculars

Winter Hiking

Club or Organization:

Art and Literature MagazineCultural Coffeehouse

FOCUS- Fellowship of Christians in Universities and SchoolsMath Club (competitions & tutoring)

Red Inc. (Literary Magazine)Red Rhino Foundation

Republican ClubS.H.O.U.T.

School MonitorsService Work

Step TeamStudent Ambassadors

Student Tutoring at TaftThe Annual (Yearbook)

The Papyrus (School Newspaper)The Red Sweater Club

Tour GuidesUnited Cultures at Taft

Volunteer CouncilWriting Tutors

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Arts and Music Programs:

All-School PlayIndividual Music Lessons

Individual Vocal LessonsInstrumental Lessons

Recreational Athletic Programs:

Wall and Rock ClimbingYoga

College Matriculation

10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)

Georgetown University

Trinity College

Cornell University

George Washington University

Tufts University

Middlebury College, Boston College

Wesleyan University, University of Virginia, New York University

Bucknell University

University of Southern California

Bates College

View Matriculation Data

School Notes

Taft is one of the most rigorous and well-respected educational communities in the world. It is also a school that lives its motto each day. Our motto, NON UT SIBI MINISTRETUR SED UT MINISTRET, which translates to "Not to be served but to serve," permeates every aspect of the Taft community. Taft's 609 students, who hail from 34 states and 51 countries, love their experience not simply because they are challenged by the academic rigor they experience daily, but because they develop life-long friendships with faculty members and students alike. No matter how hard they are working, Taft students celebrate their responsibility as human beings to serve rather than be served.
The Taft School accreditations: NEASC, TABS, SSATB, CAIS
Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Ozzie Parente, Award-winning Coach -
- Ryan Shannon '01, Head Coach Boys' Varsity Hockey -
- Morgan Manz '13, Varsity Volleyball & Girls' Varsity Basketball Coach -
School Motto: Not to be served but to serve
School Mascot: Rhinos

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Taft School cost?

The Taft School's tuition is approximately $75,250 for boarding students and $55,500 for day students.

What schools are The Taft School often compared to?

The Taft Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy by visitors of our site.

What is the acceptance rate of The Taft School?

The acceptance rate of The Taft School is 19%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 58%. The Taft School's acceptance rate is ranked as one of the top boarding schools with low acceptance rates.

Who are famous alumni from The Taft School?

The Taft School famous alumni include: Ozzie Parente, Award-winning Coach, Ryan Shannon '01, Head Coach Boys' Varsity Hockey and Morgan Manz '13, Varsity Volleyball & Girls' Varsity Basketball Coach.

What sports does The Taft School offer?

The Taft School offers 24 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Riding, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Volleyball and Wrestling. The Taft School is ranked as one of the top boarding schools for most sports offered.

Does The Taft School offer a summer program?

Yes, The Taft School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.

What is The Taft School's ranking?

The Taft School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Large financial endowment, Highest endowment/student, Low acceptance rates, Most sports offered and High SSAT scores.

When is the application deadline for The Taft School?

The application deadline for The Taft School is Jan. 15.

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review

Description

The Taft School Alumni #1
Class of 2022
5.003/22/2022
n/a

There is an Independent Study Program, through which you can do whatever you want - academic research, community project, arts, or sports. It helps you to make your independent work more systematic.. . .

The Taft School Alumni #2
Class of 2016
5.0012/8/2021
Carnegie Mellon University

Taft really emphasizes supporting your community and . Taft has an incredible campus, with beautiful brick architecture and landscaping. In contrast to most boarding schools, the heart of Taft's campus consists of larger dorms and. . .

The Taft School Alumni #3
Class of 2016
5.001/18/2017
St. Olaf College

We had the Jigg shop which was a central hang out spot for ALL of the students on campus. If you wanted to find someone, they were most likely in the Jigg. At Taft we had. . .