Rectory School

When first sending our kids to Rectory, we were nervous about letting them live on their own and step into a new, unknown community.

However, it was quickly apparent that Rectory had become like a second home for them, receiving support from teachers and dorm parents as well as fostering close relationships with other students. We watched our kids try new things, be academically challenged, and learn how to be more independent, and Rectory’s emphasis on community really enforced our trust in the school.

One of the best things about Rectory is the small, tight-knit community and the relationship students can develop with teachers. The advisor system is especially helpful, as we as parents often communicate through advisors and feel secure that our kids have an adult they can go to.

Overall, we Rectory has been a great experience for the family and we would recommend everyone to attend.

Parent of 6th and 8th Grade Students

We feel incredibly fortunate that our child has been part of the Rectory community. The school truly feels like a warm, close-knit family where every student is known, supported, and encouraged to grow.
Rectory offers a well-balanced education — strong academics combined with athletics, character development, and confidence-building. We’ve seen tremendous growth in our child, both academically and personally.
We are deeply grateful for this experience and would wholeheartedly recommend Rectory to any family seeking a supportive and well-rounded environment.

— Parent of a 9th Grade Boarding Student

"Sending our child to a school so far away in the US was initially a source of great anxiety for us. We chose Rectory School because we wanted a close-knit, family-oriented community rather than a large institution, and as parents of a graduating 9th grader, we can confidently say it was the best decision we ever made.

At Rectory, everyone truly knows each other. The faculty and staff treat the students with genuine care and sincerity. We have watched our child grow immensely—not just academically, but as an individual. They have become more independent, confident, and well-rounded. If anyone asks for advice on junior boarding schools, I would recommend Rectory without hesitation. Our affection for this school will remain long after graduation, and we look forward to visiting again to see the faculty and watch the school continue to thrive."

— Parent of a 9th Grade Student

Easy Decision!

Rectory has been a wonderful experience for our child. The school’s curriculum really helped him grow from a curious kid into a student who’s excited to learn. After 3 years, he’s become more confident, motivated, and willing to take on new challenges, which has been great and so thankful for a parent to witness.
The small class sizes make a difference. The teachers truly know the kids and give each of them personal attention(our 1 on 1 with the teachers tell us just that). And the dorm parents are pretty great. They cared for our son like family and knew little things about him that showed how much they paid attention. Knowing he was in such a supportive environment gave us a lot of comfort(besides, when he lives in the dorm, he becomes much more independent and responsible than at home!)

We’d happily send our next child to Rectory. It’s a place where kids not only learn well but also grow up surrounded by people who genuinely care about them.

When we first looked into boarding school for middle school, we were nervous—it felt like a big leap. But Rectory has been incredible for our child. The teachers really get middle schoolers, and the support has been amazing both academically and emotionally.

Our child has grown so much—more confident, more independent, and genuinely excited to go to class. The dorm staff are like a second family, and we always feel like we’re in the loop.

What we love most is how personalized everything is. They meet kids where they are and help them grow at their own pace. Plus, our child has tried new sports, made great friends, and found interests we didn’t even know they had.

If you're considering Rectory, I’d say go for it. It’s been the best decision we’ve made.

— Parent of a 7th Grade Boarding Student

Rectory is a second home for both my son and me.

As a parent, nothing matters more than knowing your child feels known, supported, and genuinely happy. That has been our experience at Rectory. The school challenges students academically while helping them grow in confidence, character, and independence. The teachers create an environment where children feel safe to try, stretch, and become their best selves.

I am also a Rectory alumnus, and choosing to send my son there was one of the most meaningful decisions we have made. Seeing him grow in the same place that once shaped me has been deeply moving.

If I had to choose again, I would choose Rectory without hesitation. To our family, it is more than a school. It is home.

Parent of a Seventh Grader and Rectory Alumnus

My son joined Rectory in 6th grade and is now in 8th grade, and we are extremely satisfied with his experience here.

Rectory feels more like a warm, loving extended family. The teachers and dorm parents know the students very well, not only focusing on academics but also caring about their overall growth, which gives us immense peace of mind.

Over these past three years, we have clearly seen changes in our son – he has become more independent, confident, and better at building friendships. Boarding life has helped him develop good habits and a strong sense of responsibility.

Academically, the school offers a rich curriculum, and the IIP program provides excellent support for new students, helping them adapt smoothly. We particularly appreciate the school's personalized attention, where teachers provide guidance and help tailored to each child's characteristics.

Regarding high school applications, the school also provides very strong support and clear guidance.

Overall, Rectory is a highly recommendable school, and we are deeply grateful for the growth it has brought to our son.

Rectory School, located in Pomfret, a town in northeastern Connecticut, is a boarding middle school that I am very fond of. I have visited the school multiple times before, and each time I could feel its warm, inclusive, and loving atmosphere. The campus spans 138 acres, with a beautiful environment. Teaching buildings, dormitories, a library, and sports facilities are all very well-equipped, making life and study very convenient. The school adopts a small class teaching approach, with a student-teacher ratio of approximately 1:5. The teachers are dedicated and responsible, and the curriculum is challenging, including subjects like Latin, Spanish, advanced mathematics, and science. The most special feature is the IIP one-on-one tutoring program, which provides personalized support based on each student's learning style. International students also receive specialized English tutoring. The spring MELP program is highly noteworthy; students can choose a topic based on their interests, form teams for research, conduct field visits, and finally complete a comprehensive report. This experiential learning particularly hones students' critical thinking and teamwork skills. This year, one of our students successfully graduated from Rectory and was admitted to The Webb Schools in California, continuing his excellent academic journey.

Principal Zhan's Review: The school focuses on personalized learning paths that meet student needs, complemented by a wide range of sports programs and extracurricular activities. It emphasizes not only academic excellence but also students' social-emotional well-being, with its motto being responsibility, respect, honesty, and compassion.
Rectory aims to foster a respectful and recognized community. The school's sports program requires all students to participate once every three months, offering sports such as soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, ensuring students can find activities that match their interests and skill levels.
Regarding cultural heritage, from the beginning of the academic year, children are divided into two teams, orange and black, and compete throughout the school year. During this period, both groups of children seize every opportunity to participate in competitions to earn points, and in May of the following year, the total scores will be tallied to determine the winning team.
In terms of academic development, the choices are very rich! For 7th graders alone, there are 5 math courses available: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, 7th Grade Math, and Pre-Algebra. Upon enrollment, children will take math and second foreign language exams, and after the exams, they will be divided into classes according to their skill levels.
In terms of community building, as the internet develops and our world becomes increasingly smaller, the school believes that emphasizing cultural awareness and diversity is becoming more and more important. It encourages students to embrace multiculturalism. The school welcomes students from all over the world, creating a diverse and inclusive learning environment.
For emotional support, the school provides all students with mentors and 'Advisor Blocks,' ensuring opportunities for children and advisors to meet 1-on-1 and in group settings. These communications help children resolve personal and academic issues.

We are very pleased that our child is studying at Rectory School. Our child has made significant progress academically, as well as in time management. What we clearly observe is that our children do not use their phones much. This brings them many benefits, such as having more time for physical activities, interacting with people, focusing on their studies, and getting sufficient sleep and rest. They have become accustomed to an independent environment, washing dishes themselves, preparing their own clothes for school, doing their own laundry, and organizing their belongings. We sincerely thank the school administration for educating our child during the past semester. We truly hope the school will continue to support our children in making further progress.

I am Tram, mother of two children: Nguyen Tam Nguyen in 7th grade and Nguyen Mai Han in 9th grade.
We are very happy that our children study at Rectory School.
My children have shown clear progress academically, as well as in time management. What we clearly see is that our children do not use phones much. This brings them many benefits: they have more time for physical activity, interacting with people, focusing on studies, and getting enough sleep and rest.
They are accustomed to an independent environment, washing dishes themselves, preparing their own clothes for school, washing their clothes, and organizing their belongings themselves.
We sincerely thank the school board for educating our children during the past semester. We very much hope the school will continue to support our children in making further progress.
Sincerely thank you.

The year my child was in 7th grade was when the dreadful COVID pandemic struck. All students were learning online. Although my family was safe in our fairly large villa in District 7, I believed that if my child continued online learning for too long, it would easily affect their mental well-being. By the end of 7th grade, with the expectation that 8th grade would also be online, I decided to send my child to study at Rectory.

My child's journey to boarding school in the US initially faced difficulties due to the pandemic. When my child started school, I wasn't allowed to visit them on weekends because the school feared spreading the virus to the children. It wasn't until Thanksgiving, at the end of November, that I was able to pick up my child. I also brought my child's roommate back to Boston because their parents couldn't travel due to work. Reuniting with my child brought indescribable joy, and what made me incredibly happy was that my child was very well-behaved, more independent, and especially showed gratitude towards their parents.

At Rickertree Middle School, students have the opportunity to learn the ocarina. The ocarina course begins with a brief history of the instrument. The ocarina is a wind instrument that has developed in countries of different cultures over the past 12,000 years. The ocarina is famous for its music in the video game 'The Legend of Zelda', and the films 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Wizard of Oz'. Although there are many types of ocarinas, the course at Rickertree Middle School mainly focuses on the 12-hole transverse ocarina. By the end of the semester, after studying the instructional manual and reading various Western sheet music, students will be able to play a variety of popular and traditional music. In this process, they will learn the basics of reading music and music theory. As a perfect introductory instrument, this course will be open to students of all musical abilities, including those with no prior musical foundation or ability. The school will provide each student with an instructional manual and a personalized guide.

Rectory is a warm big family where children receive a high level of attention, making it an excellent choice for kids coming to study in the US for the first time. The school's care for children during the pandemic was also remarkable; few American elementary/middle schools could match Rectory's thoughtfulness and meticulousness. Children here are eager to take on challenges and have excellent relationships with their classmates. We are very glad we chose Rectory.

Founded in 1920, Rectory School is located in the small town of Pomfret, Connecticut, right next to Pomfret High School. It's a 1.5-hour drive from Boston, admits students from grades 5-9, boasts first-class facilities, and is a high-quality American junior boarding school. Rectory emphasizes personalized teaching and harmonious relationships. At Rectory, there's a saying, "Rectory is Relationships," which refers to the close bonds among students, between students and teachers, between teachers and parents, and the entire community, much like a large family.

The IIP (Intellectual Individual Program) is a distinctive feature of Rectory. Established in the early days of the school and continuing to this day, it aims to provide one-on-one guidance for students with diverse learning styles and abilities, helping them better adapt to school life and enhance their personal learning capabilities. For international students who need it, Rectory also specifically offers one-on-one tutoring for English reading and writing.

Rectory places great importance on student participation in extracurricular activities. In sports, it offers not only regular activities such as basketball, volleyball, ice hockey, field hockey, tennis, and cross-country running, but also sports like squash, fencing, swimming, and golf. In the arts, Rectory has a dedicated art teaching building and an exhibition center, providing students with various opportunities for artistic learning and display, such as winter drama performances and spring musical performances, with students themselves designing the stage, lighting, and scenery for these productions.

My two children are both students at Rectory, and the elder one has already graduated and entered an American high school. Rectory is undoubtedly the first choice for children studying in the U.S. for the first time. It provides an excellent transition, both academically and in terms of psychological well-being.
From the perspective of a child's growth, this school has a high teacher-to-student ratio, giving great attention to each child. The school itself is not large, and with its IIP program, every child, especially international students who are new arrivals, feels deeply cared for. I believe this is most important for a child who is only a little over ten years old. During the 2020 pandemic, Rectory was the only American junior boarding school that provided accommodation for international students. When only a few children were left, they moved directly into Principal Mr. Williams' home until the summer holiday in June. Our entire parent community was deeply moved by this.
From an academic perspective, the school places great emphasis on balanced and comprehensive development. The school's success in placing students into American high schools has continuously improved in recent years, with many children entering top U.S. high schools. The school also offers at least twenty to thirty sports courses, as well as other distinctive programs.
Regarding the relationships within the international student families, parents have consistently maintained very good communication and thoughtful interaction. There are gatherings and sharing sessions in different cities every year. Most notably, after each application season, the 9th-grade seniors fully share their high school application experiences with their younger peers.
In summary, I highly approve of this school. I also strongly recommend it to all children studying in the U.S. for the first time.

My child studied at Rectory for three years and has now graduated, entering his dream high school. He particularly loved Rectory and thoroughly enjoyed his time there. Even during the pandemic, he always clamored to go back and see the headmaster and teachers. Their bond was very deep. The teachers took excellent care of him. At Rectory, my child also discovered some hobbies and potential; the headmaster and teachers always strongly supported the children in pursuing what they wanted to do, providing a great platform. During short breaks amidst the pandemic, the campus was open to international students, which solved a huge problem. Recalling our first visit now, my child fell in love with this warm home at first sight. After three years, whenever my child is asked about Rectory, his first response is always: 'Rectory is like a warm big family.'

The teachers at Rectory provided the children with meticulous care. My child loves the school and the teachers very much, and has deeply integrated into school life. Rectory is a warm family. During the pandemic, whether it was the curriculum arrangements or daily life arrangements, especially opening the campus during holidays, everything was very nice. As a parent of a student, I am very grateful to Rectory.

Rectory School offers a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. All our extracurricular programs provide students with the opportunity to learn in a safe and friendly environment. Located at the Collins Art Barn, our extracurricular programs offer various activities provided by extracurricular teachers to make students' after-school experience more engaging. These activities include after-school tutoring, arts and crafts, organized games, and outdoor play, allowing children time to exercise and play with their peers!

Rectory is truly a school that leaves one speechless, yet so many agencies recommend it. Is it really worth those high service fees?

Rectory School and Principal Mr. Williams place great emphasis on the holistic development of children. The school boasts complete hardware facilities and a diverse student body, providing children with ample space for development. The teachers are all very friendly, encouraging children, and paying attention to their mental well-being. Teachers address children's problems through conversations with them. All the school's efforts during the pandemic deeply moved the parents! This is a boarding middle school very suitable for international students.

I recorded a 4-minute video to explain to parents at http://www.findingschool.net/virtual-tour/103

Our child has graduated from Rectory and moved on to a good high school. Looking back at the two years spent there, our entire family is filled with gratitude. All the teachers at Rectory created a home-like warmth for our child, ensuring that a child who was away from home for the first time, living on campus, could grow happily with a healthy mind and body. The school emphasizes a balanced development of personality and academics, encouraging students to cultivate an independent, confident, positive, and responsible attitude towards life. Therefore, when applying for high school after graduation, our Rectory child had a significant advantage and was favored by top American high schools.

When I visited the school, I immediately felt its warmth. In the Admission office, there was calligraphy written by Chinese students. Students not only gained a lot academically but also grew, becoming more proactive and independent.

I personally visited Rectory, which is located in a picturesque rural area in Connecticut, only 1.5 hours' drive from Harvard University in Boston. It boasts first-class facilities, and offers boarding for grades 5-9. The school teachers are very loving and caring. The school's creed is responsibility, respect, honesty, and compassion, and personalized learning is the cornerstone of Rectory's education.

School advantages:

1. The school is located in the beautiful Connecticut countryside, and Rectory is right next door to Pomfret School.

2. The school adopts a small class teaching method, with a teacher-student ratio of up to 1:4. Therefore, teachers can quickly identify and understand each student's unique learning style, helping students better grasp academic knowledge.

3. The school is a century-old boarding middle school in Connecticut, with an excellent geographical location, only 1.5 hours' drive from Harvard University in Boston. It has a beautiful environment, first-class facilities, and very loving and caring teachers.

4. Sports and arts are excellent. Rectory's music program is also very distinctive, including individual music projects, and the school also provides various opportunities for artistic display.

As a parent of a Rectory student, whose child has been there for nearly three years and is yet to graduate, I am deeply grateful to Rectory. I've witnessed my son's growth step by step over these three years. The school's care for the children's daily lives and studies is beyond words. Most importantly, he has learned independent thinking and become a child with strong self-control, and will be able to quickly integrate into high school life. Regarding some parents' disrespectful hearsay about the school, I believe they do not deserve to be a parent of this school!

It was with great sadness that I saw the shocking reviews of my alma mater, Rectory. I sincerely consulted Chinese parents whose children graduated from Rectory in the past three years. Their opinions were largely consistent: 1. Rectory, as a school, does not focus on academics. Students' in-school honors and college placements are more linked to parents' donations. 2. Students who engaged in "out-of-line" behaviors, such as dating, hugging, kissing, or even more disreputable acts, had no impact on their college admissions. Instead, these behaviors became something for lower-grade students to emulate. 3. The principal understands Chinese people better than Chinese people themselves, making the school even "more social" than Chinese society. This has escalated in recent years, severely distorting the entire school's values. 4. The school "arranges" college admissions. Except for local American graduates, most others feel "complicated" about their alma mater, and some even have psychological trauma.

It is heartbreaking for children under 12 to be away from home and parents, studying in such a school. Thank you, FS, for letting parents understand their children's schools. I also hope FS publishes less content that is already available on school official websites. What truly helps us are the suggestions and opinions from current parents, not the monotonous praise from agencies.

Last month, the school sent graduates' luggage to a family's temporary residence in the U.S. via expensive UPS shipping. The family discarded all items with "Rectory" characters, including clothing. In early March, in-person classes were suspended nationwide. Different schools had different refund policies; Rectory only refunded $2000, suggested it be donated to the school, and refused to provide a refund breakdown.

Our family's educational philosophy is that getting into any school depends on one's own ability; the family will not donate a single cent. It's not that we can't afford it, nor that we're unwilling to spend. We know that donating money harms the child. Is spending a lot of money just for a high school ranking useful? If money can improve my child's status at school, then this school is too much of a failure.

At Rectory, having too much "presence" can also lead to a certain degree of bullying. The extent of the children's bullying has reached the point of calling white black, but the school administration consistently ignores these incidents because the children spreading rumors are wealthy and powerful.

One time, my child felt like they were getting a fever; their condition wasn't right in the morning, so they hurried to the infirmary. Upon measuring, the temperature wasn't over 38 degrees, and they were immediately scolded, "You just want to skip class, don't you?" At that time, the child was already very uncomfortable, full of grievance, and had to return to class. By the afternoon, the child's temperature was already 39.5, but they still didn't want to go, fearing being yelled at again. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, they went. That experience made me extremely angry. This is the so-called "care" one receives for an annual tuition of $70,000, this is the so-called "harmonious big family."

The school's atmosphere is extremely poor. It is not recommended to choose Rectory.

The academic level of Rectory students can be directly reflected in their high school life. I don't know other students, so I won't comment on them. But the few students I tutored before were, without exception, like internet celebrity rich kids: arriving just in time for class and leaving immediately after, never studying, hiring ghostwriters for essays, and finding stand-ins for exams.
These children donate money to get into some highly-ranked, academically strong schools. But once there, instead of being positively influenced by the school's uplifting atmosphere, they choose to feign illness or depression to skip classes. Eventually, they are unfortunately advised to withdraw or face penalties such as suspension.
If you want your child to succeed, Rectory is not your best choice. You might consider other schools, such as Fay, Rumsey Hall, and so on. At other schools, I believe your child can focus more on their studies, rather than on the bad habits of flaunting family wealth and partying.

Parents from Rectory a few years ago were very enthusiastic, often organizing offline activities to help each other. However, current offline gatherings have changed. Each year, parents spare no effort, using all their connections, for the headmaster to pay more attention to their children during his visit to Beijing. A single meal can cost thousands of RMB per person, the headmaster travels in a dedicated car, and the content of these dinners is nothing but excessive flattery towards Rectory and the headmaster. The original simplicity is long gone.

It is clear that the recent reviewer, for undisclosed reasons, cannot objectively and fairly evaluate Rectory. My child attends this school, and I have also been in touch with many families who have left and those who are currently enrolled (some families who graduated many years ago still attend new family gatherings annually). Rectory does not have the issues mentioned by this reviewer. The school management is strict, yet it cares for every child. The atmosphere is warm, and it is reassuring for middle school children away from their families to grow up in such a school. This reviewer should not exaggerate individual children's issues, as it is disrespectful to these children. Our children are thriving there, they love this school very much, and we hope the school continues to improve.

It is a boarding junior high school in the same category as Hillside, offering K-9 education. There are three boys' dormitory buildings, and the girls' dormitory capacity is 1/4 of the boys'. The school's boarding students are primarily from China, Korea, and a very small number of Americans. The school's principal, Fred Willimas, visits China annually, and the school values students who come with donations. The number of Chinese graduates has been increasing year by year. In 2020, approximately 17 Chinese students graduated, with two entering top-tier US high schools (top 10) and several other Chinese students entering US high schools ranked around 50. In terms of high school placement, its performance among US junior high schools is relatively weak. The school plans to build a new girls' dormitory building, which families considering applying to the school may find noteworthy.

The most prominent feature of Rectory is its personal attention. At Rectory, there's a saying: 'Rectory is Relationships.' This emphasizes harmonious relationships and close ties among students, between students and teachers, between teachers and parents, and with the entire community, creating an overall atmosphere more akin to a big family.
This personal attention is also fully reflected in the academic arrangements. The signature program, IIP (Intellectual Individual Program), is a personalized individual learning guidance program that the school established in its early days and has continued to this day. Initially, it provided one-on-one guidance for students with different learning styles and abilities, such as study method guidance, after-school homework assistance, and especially efficient one-on-one tutoring for international students in English reading and writing. In recent years, the IIP program has largely expanded to offer enrichment, providing one-on-one independent academic research guidance for students with advanced capabilities.
For more details, please see the long review.

The Individualized Instruction Program (IIP) has received awards, providing one-on-one instruction to students with diverse learning styles and abilities. The school offers a broad and challenging curriculum, including the study of global languages—Latin, Spanish, and Chinese—as well as advanced mathematics and physics.
The distinctive Linchpin Individualized Academic Guidance Program features dedicated personnel who guide students daily with their homework. Additionally, for international students, the school not only provides 45 minutes of daily ESL but also offers a personal student tutoring program that greatly assists international students in mastering English.
March Experiential Learning Program (MELP): The MELP project is a signature program of the school, held during the first week of each spring semester, and is highly popular among students. By participating in MELP, students can gain hands-on experience in deeply exploring a topic. Some projects are conducted on campus, while others are off-campus. Its aim is to stimulate students' creativity and strengthen their problem-solving skills.