285 Cory's Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871 - 
Map
Map
tel: (401)643-1248
"Portsmouth Abbey School is a coeducational boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12. Founded in 1926 by the English Benedictine community, the school is located on a 550-acre campus along the picturesque shores of Rhode Islands Narragansett Bay...."
Watch School Video:
Click image below to play video
Overview: |
Portsmouth Abbey
|
Boarding School Avg.
|
| Definition of Terms | ||
| School Focus | College Preparatory | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered. | 9-12 | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Support for ADD/ADHD Students | No | No |
| Religious Affiliation | Catholic | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1926 | 1906 |
| Campus Size | 500 acres | 125 acres |
| Student Body | ||
| Enrollment | 347 students | 296 students |
| Percent Students of Color | 10% | 18% |
| Percent International Students | 11% | 18% |
| Percent Students Boarding | 70% | 69% |
| Average SAT Score | 1815 | * National Avg. »View |
| SAT range (25th-75th percentile) | 1590 - 2010 | - |
| Average ACT score | 24-29 | *National Avg. » View |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | No | No |
| Academics and Faculty | ||
| Saturday Classes | Yes | No |
| Frequency of Saturday Classes | Weekly | Weekly |
| Classroom Dress Code | Formal | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 12 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Teacher : Student Ratio | 1:7 | 1:7 |
| # of AP/Advanced Courses Offered | 19 | 14 |
| ESL Courses Offered | No | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 65% | 64% |
| Summer Program Offered | Yes | Yes |
| Finances | ||
| Endowment Size | $29 million | $14 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $44,850 | $42,800 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $30,680 | $23,900 |
| Percent Students on Financial Aid | 40% | 34% |
| Average Financial Aid Grant | $26,000 | $18,500 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | Yes | No |
| Admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan. 31 | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Average Percentile SSAT | 72% | - |
| Acceptance Rate | 45% | 60% |
| Director of Admissions | Meghan Fonts | |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Steve Pietraszek | |
Course Listings: |
||
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses | |
Sports: |
||
| Total Interscholastic Sports Offered | 16 | 13 |
Interscholastic Sports
|
||
| Baseball | Basketball | |
| Cross Country | Equestrian | |
| Field Hockey | Football | |
| Golf | Ice Hockey | |
| Lacrosse | Sailing | |
| Soccer | Softball | |
| Squash | Swimming | |
| Tennis | Track and Field | |
College Matriculation: |
||
| Year: 2004-2008 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
|
|
| Boston College | 15 | |
| University of Rhode Island | 15 | |
| Fordham University | 14 | |
| College of the Holy Cross | 10 | |
| George Washington University | 10 | |
| Georgetown University | 10 | |
| Providence College | 10 | |
| Catholic University of America | 8 | |
| Dickinson College | 8 | |
| New York University | 7 | |
School Notes:
- Portsmouth Abbey School is a coeducational boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12. Founded in 1926 by the English Benedictine community, the school is located on a 550-acre campus along the picturesque shores of Rhode Islands Narragansett Bay.
- The Portsmouth Abbey education is grounded in the Western intellectual tradition, from ancient Greece and Rome and continuing into this century. This classical curriculum is balanced by a focus on spirituality, athletics, the arts and fun.
- The school's mission encompasses the importance of reverence for God and the human person, respect for learning and order, and responsibility for the shared experience of community life.
- Portsmouth Abbey School is located on 550 acres on the beautiful shores of Narragansett Bay. On the school's grounds is the world class Carnegie Abbey Club Golf Course.
- Portsmouth Abbey School Graduate Receives Top Honor in State for Advanced Placement Scholarship.
- Saturday, May 17, 2003, the entire student body, members of the Board of Regents and special guests attended a ground breaking ceremony at Portsmouth Abbey School to celebrate the start of construction on a new 16,800 square foot, $3.9 million dollar state-of-the-art Squash and Fitness Center. The new Center was completed in 2004.
- The Reverend Hugh Diman Merit Scholarships The Reverend Hugh Diman Scholarships honor the founder and first headmaster of the School. The Diman Scholarship is a prestigious merit-based scholarship grant. One is awarded each year to a boarding student entering grade nine. The recipient receives a full scholarship equaling the annual tuition, room, and board. All Diman Scholarships are renewed each year of the student's career at Portsmouth, subject to a satisfactory assessment by the Merit Scholarship Committee. To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, candidates must meet the following requirements: Superior results on the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) which should be taken by January 31. Outstanding academic achievement, as demonstrated through current school transcripts and teacher recommendations. Enthusiastic endorsement from the candidate's Headmaster, Principal, or Guidance Counselor. Abbey Scholars Boarding and Day candidates in all Forms are eligible to be selected as Abbey Scholars. As many as ten highly qualified students each year will be awarded merit scholarships. Scholarships for boarding students are awarded in the amount of $7,000. Day students receive $5,000 scholarships. Abbey Scholars are not precluded from obtaining additional financial assistance should the family qualify for financial aid.
- School accreditations: NEASC
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Christopher Buckley - writer and political satirist; former Managing Editor of Esquire Magazine; chief speech writer for Vice President George H. W. Bush; author of Thank You for Smoking
- John E. Pepper, Jr. - Chairman of the Walt Disney Company
- Robert F. Kennedy - U.S. Senator from New York; U.S. Attorney General
- Edward M. Kennedy - U.S. Senator from Massachusetts
- Peter M. Flanigan - Assistant to President Richard Nixon
- Benedict Fitzgerald - American screenwriter - In Cold Blood, Wise Blood; co-wrote Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin screenplay for The Passion of the Christ
- Charlie Day - actor, writer, executive producter - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- William Ruckelshaus - first Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; former FBI director and U.S. Deputy Attorney General
- Profile last updated: 03/29/2011
School Map:
Get:driving directions 
Weather: 10-day forecast or monthly climate averages.
Nearby Boarding Schools:
- St. George's School - 357 students - 7.1 mi. away - view location
- Tabor Academy - 517 students - 26.5 mi. away - view location
- Milton Academy - 675 students - 46.9 mi. away - view location
- St. Mark's School - 347 students - 51.5 mi. away - view location
Tip: Zoom in/out using the slider below. View aerial photos using the Satellite or Hybrid buttons.
- Co-ed school
- Boys school
- Girls school
Note: Data has been gathered from schools, government and commercial data sources.
Quick Links:
- Request:
Info / application from Portsmouth Abbey School - Go:
Visit school website, 
Add to my saved schools - List: More boarding schools in Rhode Island
- Use: Search schools tool, Compare schools tool, More research tools
- Return to: Boarding school directory
- Get help: Find an educational consultant & get expert advice
Recent Boarding School Articles:
-
How To Pay for Boarding School
Because paying for boarding school involves so much money, let's look at the options available to you. -
How Private Schools Evolved in the United States
Private schools came first. Then public education took root. -
Boarding Schools in a Minute
Boarding Schools in a Minute gives an overview of independent high schools in North America. -
The Boarding School Application Process
Applying to boarding school requires completing a sheaf of forms. We look at how to accomplish this important task. -
5 More Schools and Their Founders
A private school in its infancy is quite different from the mature community it becomes over time. I wonder what the founders of these five schools would think about them today. I bet they would be very proud of their creations.
