Lawrence Academy
Lawrence Academy is a coeducational independent school of 395 students located in Groton, Massachusetts.Offering grades 9-12, LA is home to an equal split of day and boarding students, within a welcoming, open educational culture.Immersive, individualized learning is essential to our program, and our knowledgeable faculty teach students how to think, not what to think.Throughout the year, our teachers assess students' interests and needs and adapt to them.Our goal is to see students grow in knowledge, confidence, and empathy.Within Lawrence Academy's healthy environment of rigorous learning, students graduate as well-developed individuals with a mission and a passion for that purpose.
Quick Stats (2022)
- Grades: (Boarding) 9-12
- Students: 425 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $67,875
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $54,350
- Acceptance rate: 37%
- Average class size: 13 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
The ninth grade program is completely unique to Lawrence Academy. It teaches students how to learn and develop thinking skills rather than immediately be immersed in facts and dates. It develops a strong. . .
Top Rankings
Lawrence Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 308 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
School History
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1793
1907
Campus Size
140 acres
125 acres
Student Body
Enrollment
425 students
300 students
% Students of Color
20%
25%
% International Students
9%
20%
% Students Boarding
41%
70%
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
65%
70%
Summer Program Details
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$29.6 million
$25 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$67,875
$59,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$54,350
$32,995
Tuition international students
$67,875
$54,500
% Students on Financial Aid
32%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$40,035
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No
Acceptance Rate
Application Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Jan. 15
Average Percentile SSAT
55%
-
Acceptance Rate
37%
58%
Director of Admissions
Mike Polsonetti
Associate Director of Admissions
Rob Olsen
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
22
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
32
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
A Taste of Groton Club, A/V Communications Club, Admissions Tour Guides, Asian Culture Club, Business Club, Coding Club, Community Service Advisory Board, Consortium (literary magazine), Debate Club, Dorm Proctor, Environmental Sustainability Council, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), Girl Up Club, Grilling Club, Judiciary Council, Makers Club, Moral Courage Task Force, Pawsitive Vibes Dog Club, Peer Counseling, Peer Tutoring, Spartan Science, Spoken Word Poetry Club, Student Government, Student/Faculty Senate, Umoja (Unity), Yearbook
Arts and Music Programs:
Dance Program, Jazz Band, L.A. Singers, Lawrencian Chorale, Stage Crew, Theater
A Taste of Groton Club, A/V Communications Club, Admissions Tour Guides, Asian Culture Club, Business Club, Coding Club, Community Service Advisory Board, Consortium (literary magazine), Debate Club, Dorm Proctor, Environmental Sustainability Council, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), Girl Up Club, Grilling Club, Judiciary Council, Makers Club, Moral Courage Task Force, Pawsitive Vibes Dog Club, Peer Counseling, Peer Tutoring, Spartan Science, Spoken Word Poetry Club, Student Government, Student/Faculty Senate, Umoja (Unity), Yearbook
Arts and Music Programs:
Dance Program, Jazz Band, L.A. Singers, Lawrencian Chorale, Stage Crew, Theater
College Matriculation
Year: 2015 - 2018
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
Connecticut College
13
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
12
Northeastern University
12
Brandeis University
10
Elon University
9
Trinity College
9
Boston College
8
Boston University
8
New York University
7
Bates College
6
School Notes
- Lawrence Academy embraces an individualized approach to learning in a highly collaborative community of 400 boarding and day students. LA features a balanced academic program of intellectual development, self-discovery, wellness, and a desire to serve the greater good.
- Our curriculum is supported by LA`s advisory program; daily meetings between adults and a group of 4-8 students. In the classroom, faculty teach students how to think, not what to think. Our Research and Immersive Learning electives allow students to pursue topics independently. Meanwhile, the Omnibus program pursues essential and complex health conversations.
- Co-curricular activities are key to the LA experience. Our Dance students are mainstays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, while the LA Singers frequently grace the stage at Carnegie Hall. LA Spartans compete in the Independent School League and our student-athletes often move on to compete on NCAA squads. Clubs, diversity groups, and leadership roles of nearly every ilk also encourage students to develop in confidence and character.
- Winterim, LA`s two-week experiential education program, takes students outside the classroom. Science excursions to the Galapagos Islands, volunteering at a refugee camp in Greece, or exploring the legal system in Boston and Washington, D.C., are just a few of Winterim`s opportunities.
- LD types supported: Mild Learning Differences
- Lawrence Academy accreditations: NEASC, TABS, NAIS, AISNE
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Tim Armstrong - AOL Chairman and CEO
- Dana Messina - CEO and owner of Steinway Piano
- Audrey McNiff - Managing Director at Goldman Sachs
- Page McConnell - Keyboard player for Phish
- Steve Heinze - '88 Olympian in men's hockey and former NHL player for Boston Bruins and LA Kings
- Laurie Baker - Three time Olympian in women's hockey
- Antoine Wright - NBA player for Dallas Mavericks
- Tyler Beede - Player for the San Francisco Giants
Profile last updated: 06/29/2021
Recent Articles

Want To Teach In A Boarding School?
Teaching in a boarding school is the same as teaching in a public school, right? Not exactly. Some explanations here.

Academics: Advanced Placement
As part of your evaluation of boarding schools, you will examine the academics. We look at one aspect of what many schools teach, namely, Advanced Placement courses.

Are You Looking At The Wrong Schools?
By "wrong schools", I mean schools that don't fit your needs and requirements. Finding the "right school' implies that the school meets 99% of what you require. More here.