St. Paul's School is committed to educating the whole person and preparing students to make contributions to a changing and challenging world.
The philosophy of St. Paul's School defines education as all of the structured experiences in which students participate: course work, athletics, activities, and our life together as a fully residential school.
These opportunities involve valuable interaction between faculty, students, and staff.
Quick Stats (2023)
- Grades: (Boarding) 9-12
- Enrollment: 530 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $62,000
- Acceptance rate: 16%
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 15
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
St. Paul's School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 296 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Boarding Focus
School Resources
School Resources
Selectivity
Offering Breadth
Student Test Scores
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1856
1906
Campus Size
2000 acres
125 acres
Student Body
Enrollment
530 students
315 students
% Students of Color
48%
25%
% International Students
19%
20%
% Students Boarding
100%
69%
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
Yes
No
Frequency of Saturday Classes
Weekly
Weekly
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
76%
71%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$673 million
(Endowment as of 6/30/2022)
(Endowment as of 6/30/2022)
$25 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$62,000
$62,000
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
n/a
$35,070
% Students on Financial Aid
40%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$55,869
(Need-based)
(Need-based)
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No
Acceptance Rate
Application Deadline
Jan. 15
Jan. 15
Acceptance Rate
16%
58%
Dean of Admission
Dana Anselmi
Associate Director of Admission
Tim Caryl-Klika
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
19
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
63
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
@SPSVogue, 13 Blues and Islands Caribbean Affinity Group, American Sign Language Club, Angler’s Society, Asian Society, Braille Club, Chess Club, Chinese Society, Classical Film Society, Classics Society, Common Ground, Cooking Cultures Club, Criminal Justice Reform Group, Dairy Appreciation Society, Debate, Deli Line, Eco Action, Engineering and Robotics Club, Entrepreneurs Club, Fly Tying Club, Funkdefied, GAINS, GSA, Horae Scholasticae, Humans of SPS, iLaf, Indian Society, International Society, Investing Club, Japanese Society, Justice and Social Equity for Asians and Asian Americans, Kitchen Society, LatinX, LettuceHeads, Mock Trial, Model UN, Onyx, Physics & Astronomy Club, Plant Appreciation Society, Ski Club, Sports Appreciation and Debate, SPS Boxing Club, SPS Tech, Student Cultural Alliance, Surf Club, Tea and Coffee Club, The Biology Society, The Minecraft Society, The Pelican, The Testostertones, The UNICEF Club, The Voyager, Tides, Transitions, Ultimate Frisbee Spikeball Champions League Society Club Team, Vibes, Women of Color, WSPS, Yoga Club, Young Democrats, Young Independents, Young Republicans, Young Women’s Club
@SPSVogue, 13 Blues and Islands Caribbean Affinity Group, American Sign Language Club, Angler’s Society, Asian Society, Braille Club, Chess Club, Chinese Society, Classical Film Society, Classics Society, Common Ground, Cooking Cultures Club, Criminal Justice Reform Group, Dairy Appreciation Society, Debate, Deli Line, Eco Action, Engineering and Robotics Club, Entrepreneurs Club, Fly Tying Club, Funkdefied, GAINS, GSA, Horae Scholasticae, Humans of SPS, iLaf, Indian Society, International Society, Investing Club, Japanese Society, Justice and Social Equity for Asians and Asian Americans, Kitchen Society, LatinX, LettuceHeads, Mock Trial, Model UN, Onyx, Physics & Astronomy Club, Plant Appreciation Society, Ski Club, Sports Appreciation and Debate, SPS Boxing Club, SPS Tech, Student Cultural Alliance, Surf Club, Tea and Coffee Club, The Biology Society, The Minecraft Society, The Pelican, The Testostertones, The UNICEF Club, The Voyager, Tides, Transitions, Ultimate Frisbee Spikeball Champions League Society Club Team, Vibes, Women of Color, WSPS, Yoga Club, Young Democrats, Young Independents, Young Republicans, Young Women’s Club
College Matriculation
Year: 2019
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
Georgetown University
25
Brown University
23
Cornell University
21
Harvard University
19
University of Pennsylvania
17
Columbia University
16
Dartmouth College
16
Yale University
16
Middlebury College
12
Boston College
11
School Notes
- St. Paul's School is committed to educating the whole person and preparing students to make contributions to a changing and challenging world. The philosophy of St. Paul's School defines education as all of the structured experiences in which students participate: course work, athletics, activities, and our life together as a fully residential school. These opportunities involve valuable interaction between faculty, students, and staff. In addition to its academic curriculum, St. Paul's School requires participation in four other areas of community life to complement the academic endeavors of our students: the Living In Community Program, the Community Outreach Program, Athletics, and the Chapel Program. The School's commitment to education and caring for the whole person, as reflected in this all-encompassing view of education, supports and nurtures the intellectual, spiritual, physical, and emotional development of our students.
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- John Kerry - U.S. Senator, Massachusetts
- Garry Trudeau - Cartoonist, Doonesbury
- Robert Mueller - Director, FBI
- Lorene Cary - Author/Speaker
- Jeff Halpern - NHL All-Star
- Hobey Baker - Renowned hockey star and World War I war hero
- Edward Harkness - Philanthropist
- William Randolph Hearst - Newspaper publisher
- Nick Stoller - Filmmaker and Producer
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does St. Paul's School cost?
St. Paul's School's tuition is approximately $62,000 for boarding students.
What schools are St. Paul's School often compared to?
St. Paul's Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Phillips Exeter Academy, Deerfield Academy, Phillips Academy Andover by visitors of our site.
What is the acceptance rate of St. Paul's School?
The acceptance rate of St. Paul's School is 16%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 58%. St. Paul's School's acceptance rate is ranked as one of the top boarding schools with low acceptance rates.
Who are famous alumni from St. Paul's School?
St. Paul's School famous alumni include: John Kerry, Garry Trudeau, Robert Mueller, Lorene Cary, Jeff Halpern, Hobey Baker, Edward Harkness, William Randolph Hearst and Nick Stoller.
What sports does St. Paul's School offer?
St. Paul's School offers 19 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Ballet, Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Dance, Field Hockey, Football, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Nordic Skiing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball and Wrestling.
What is St. Paul's School's ranking?
St. Paul's School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High percentage of boarding students, Large financial endowment, Highest endowment/student, Low acceptance rates, Most extracurriculars offered and High average SAT scores.
When is the application deadline for St. Paul's School?
The application deadline for St. Paul's School is Jan. 15.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
One of the biggest qualities that stood out during my time at St. Paul's was the campus and the community. You will not come across a more beautiful campus in New England. Covering a span. . .
St. Paul's was unique in that it was 100% boarding. Attending a school where absolutely all of the students (and the majority of the staff) reside on the same campus for the entire academic. . .
One of the most memorable and unique aspects of SPS is the boarding atmosphere. Everyone lives on campus in school housing, even students who hail from the local town. Teachers live on campus. . .
Recent Articles

Mastering the Boarding School Selection Process: A 5-Step Guide
Discover the ultimate 5-step guide to choosing the perfect boarding school for your child. Explore essential factors, such as academics, campus facilities, extracurricular activities, and more. Make an informed decision to provide your child with an enriching and transformative educational experience. Read now!

5 Founders and Their Boarding Schools
What prompts somebody to start a boarding school? The motives range from idealism to munificence right on through to capitalism. The common thread seems to be ample capital and a vision of what education can do.

April 24, 2023
Top 5 Reasons To Study Dance At A Boarding SchoolFrom meeting world-renowned guest artists to balancing busy rehearsal schedules, students share how boarding school is preparing them to dance professionally.