Groton School

When a good teacher and twelve young minds work together to analyze a poem or problem, sparks fly. Groton teachers are scholars in their respective fields, yet they are not distant. Groton was founded on the belief that a school is best modeled after the ideal of a family. Our teachers embody the high expectations, support, and encouragement of a good parent; they are thoroughly invested in the success of their students. Groton teachers are animated and innovative, supportive and demanding. Methods of critical and creative thinking are deeply ingrained because studies are so engaging. Students find inspiration in their teachers, but also in their talented peers. And teachers find inspiration too—in the students who impress them every day.

Groton students lead a full life. Coursework is challenging, expectations are high, and schedules are busy. Groton students must be gritty. Grit is doggedness and the strength to stumble, then rise with increased determination. Groton students learn to handle the homework that comes with six courses, as well as to perform on stage or on the athletic field. A student at Groton cannot help but develop a strong work ethic and a sense of balance. Perhaps no lesson at Groton is more valuable than the understanding that perseverance is a vital component of success. Groton grit is the resilience and resolve that contributes to success—on the Circle and throughout life.

In ancient Greece, arete denoted excellence, effectiveness, and thorough fulfillment of potential. It is a driving influence at Groton. The School instills students with a deep commitment of one to another and of each to the whole. Everyone matters at Groton. The school’s size, coupled with talented teachers dedicated to inspiring lives of character, learning, leadership and service, further the intrinsic sense of family. At Groton, arete means valuing both the traditional elements of a classical education and the innovative approaches found in the "STEM” subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Groton students develop arete, the tools required for success in the 21st century, and the principles necessary for a life of meaning and purpose in any era.

Groton students learn the importance of a balanced life. They persist in the face of multiple challenges. They support their peers and understand the value of collaboration. At Groton, learning begets learning. Aristotle's observation that "we are what we repeatedly do" is brought to life in the steady rhythms of this school. But a 21st-century perspective is pertinent too. Research psychologist Carol Dweck draws a distinction between a fixed mindset, assuming intelligence cannot improve, and a growth mindset, purporting that people are, to a large extent, in charge of their intelligence. The growth mindset is alive and well at Groton, substantially enhancing students’ self-confidence.