St. Paul's School

St. Paul's School, located in Concord, New Hampshire, is a historic top-tier private boarding secondary school in the United States. Since its founding in 1856, it has consistently aimed to cultivate future leaders equipped with a global perspective, critical thinking, and a sense of social responsibility.
The campus dormitories feature diverse styles, ranging from 19th-century Gothic architecture to 20th-century modern designs. Each dormitory is equipped with common activity spaces, kitchens, and fireplaces, facilitating students' organization of group activities. All faculty and staff live on campus, and the Headmaster's house is open to faculty and students every Saturday evening, offering food and a space for interaction, fostering a close-knit community atmosphere.
Academically, the school is renowned for its rigorous standards and diverse curriculum, covering traditional subjects, a wide array of AP courses, and interdisciplinary research projects. It encourages students to explore the boundaries of knowledge, fostering creativity and critical thinking skills. The small class size model ensures that each student receives ample attention, and teachers not only instruct in the classroom but also serve as mentors in extracurricular activities, helping students overcome challenges and unlock their potential.
Extracurricular activities are equally rich, encompassing fields such as art, music, drama, and sports, with a particular emphasis on practical performance opportunities, allowing students to grow on real stages.
The school places great importance on fostering a global perspective and a sense of social responsibility. It broadens students' cultural understanding through international exchange and overseas study programs, while also emphasizing practical community service, encouraging students to directly participate in social service, and learn to care for others and contribute to society.

1. The Building Healthy Communities (BHC) program aims to support and sustain safe, healthy, and inclusive communities and cultures at St. Paul's School as part of its mission to "educate for the greater good." Taught as part of the school's values, the BHC initiative is broad and interdisciplinary. The principles of kindness and living honorably are central to the Living in Community (LINC) curriculum – the School's comprehensive, evidence-based residential life program – and are further reinforced through academic programs, chaplaincy, counseling, and leadership training programs.

2. Campus Security: The School's Security Department provides efficient and reliable 24-hour service, 365 days a year. Security personnel and vehicles are equipped with two-way radios. The department offers a wide range of security resources, including campus patrols by uniformed officers, crime prevention and reporting, event planning assistance, safety checks, security escorts, parking management, and activation of the emergency notification system. The Security Department works closely with first responders (fire, police, and ambulance) from Concord, New Hampshire, to ensure a timely and effective response. The department is a member of the New Hampshire Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (NHACLEA), which regularly meets to discuss safety and security issues affecting college and school communities.

3. Community Outreach Programs: Dedicated to providing students with opportunities to understand themselves and others, while building relationships within SPS and the local community. Examples include coordinating over 20 community service projects in the Concord area and overseeing fundraising activities for valuable causes.

1. Academic Excellence: Average SAT score 1440, average ACT score 33, 78% of students achieve an AP score of 4 or higher, 97% of students achieve an AP score of 3 or higher.

2. Location: The school is located in the town of Groton in northwestern Massachusetts, about a 1-hour drive from Boston.

3. GRoton Accelerate Challenge Enrich (GRACE): Provides students with an opportunity to use their summer break after 9th grade to accelerate their academic progress. GRACE enhances the flexibility of the Groton curriculum, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential in Mathematics, Chemistry, English, and Latin. For students, GRACE will accelerate their exposure to the most advanced courses.

4. Arts: All students can participate in drama courses; three-quarters of Groton students study applied courses in various music disciplines. They sing in the school choir; collaborate with the Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Steel Drum Ensemble; and join various small recital, jazz, and choral groups.

5. Comprehensive Sports Facilities: 12 international squash courts, 8 indoor tennis courts, 3 indoor basketball courts, 2 ice rinks, locker rooms, training rooms, indoor track, a multi-purpose/dance studio, a four-lane, 25-yard swimming pool, with an area of over 250,000 square feet. External facilities include seven sports fields, one artificial turf field, and 10 outdoor tennis courts.

1. Academic Excellence: Average SAT score 1410/1600; Average ACT score 32/36
2. Location: St. Paul's School was founded in 1856, located 68 miles north of Boston, situated on a historic 2000-acre campus in the capital of New Hampshire.
4. School Facilities: These include 18 dormitories, Ohrstrom Library, Friedman Community Center, Oates Performing Arts Center, Hawley Observatory, Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul, Lindsay Math and Science Center, and the newly renovated Visual Arts building and Crumpacker Gallery. Sports facilities include a 95,000 square foot athletic and fitness center, an 8-lane indoor swimming pool, 2 climbing walls, 2 ice hockey rinks, squash and tennis courts, a 2000-meter boathouse rowing course, and 9 sports fields, including illuminated artificial turf fields.
5. Independent Study Program: Students can apply for the Independent Study Program (ISP) during their sixth year, which is a year-long program. ISP activities may include internships, semesters abroad, film production, or writing a short story, but all emphasize the experience and understanding of self-direction gained through independent work. Proposals are submitted to a committee of faculty and students, and approved projects are supervised by a faculty advisor chosen by the student.
9. Rich Weekend Activities: Weekend activities are sponsored by on-campus clubs, groups, or residences, including dances, variety shows, or movies held at Hargate.

University Admission Data:

Admission statistics from 2020-2023: 29 admitted to Brown University, 22 to Yale University, 18 to Columbia University, 11 to Harvard University, 11 to Cornell University, 10 to the University of Chicago, 10 to the University of Pennsylvania, 9 to Dartmouth College, 7 to MIT, 7 to Princeton University, 2 to Duke University, etc.

St. Paul's School places great emphasis on the holistic development of its students. The school offers over 70 extracurricular activities, 17 sports activities, and 20 art courses for students to choose from.

These activities are also an important part of the SPS experience, providing opportunities for leadership, learning, and personal growth for student-athletes of all ability levels and interests.

The school offers a dozen sports programs such as lacrosse, tennis, soccer, cross country, ice hockey, skiing, wrestling, track and field, swimming, yoga, rock climbing, golf, etc. Students can participate in different sports programs according to their interests and abilities, and can also choose to join different sports teams in different semesters.

Fall: Cross Country, Soccer, Ice Hockey, Football, Volleyball

Winter: Skiing, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Squash, Wrestling

Spring: Baseball, Crew, Lacrosse, Tennis, Softball

Art Activities:

The school values the cultivation of fine and performing arts, offering excellent visual arts, including painting, graphic design, pottery, sculpture; as well as recording arts, performing drama arts, and film production and photography courses.

Students can use art studios, performance halls, dance and music studios, theaters, and the Crumpacker Gallery, which exhibits works by students as well as local, national, and international artists.

St. Paul's School integrates English, history, and social sciences into its humanities department. The compulsory humanities curriculum for students in grades 9-11 combines aspects of English literature, history, politics, economics, culture, society, and more.

The humanities curriculum is designed not only to teach students historical facts or rhetorical structures but also to teach them how to see the world, a principle that runs through the school's entire educational philosophy, curriculum, extracurricular activities, and campus culture. The school provides students with a free environment, hoping they can be themselves, become their best selves, and prepare for future challenges.

The Applied Science and Engineering Program (ASEP) is a project-based STEM curriculum that promotes individual learning. Its purpose is to provide students interested in science with increased breadth, depth, and personal development opportunities during their studies, preparing them for future entry into world-leading science programs.

In the program, they will learn how to ask questions, formulate solutions, and reflect on previous problems. Students participating in the program can gain externship opportunities to further explore scientific interests, with specializations including engineering, astronomy, computer science, biology, and more.

Tailored to each student's interests and abilities, the program aims to further foster students' interest in specific scientific fields and guide them to successfully complete practical research internships. This program not only gives students the opportunity to enter some of the leading laboratories in the United States but also grants them educational autonomy.

St. Paul's School, also known as St. Paul's or SPS, is a co-educational boarding school affiliated with the Episcopal Church, widely recognized as one of America's elite boarding schools. Founded in 1856, the school occupies 2000 acres in beautiful New Hampshire, boasting an excellent geographical location.

Initially, St. Paul's School was an all-boys school, aiming to educate boys from upper-class families. Beginning in 1971, the school started admitting girls, making SPS one of the first boarding schools to do so. It also holds the distinction of hosting the first ice hockey game and building the first squash court in the United States.

St. Paul's School is a highly renowned secondary school in the United States. To date, 535 students from 18 countries attend the school, making it a home for students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Founding Year: 1856

School Type: Comprehensive Boarding School

Grades Offered: Grades 9-12

Location: New Hampshire

Boarding Rate: 100%

International Student Ratio: 16%

Student-Teacher Ratio: 1:5

St. Paul's School data: Student population 535, student-teacher ratio 1:5, international student percentage 16%, boarding percentage 100%, teachers with advanced degrees 73%, accepts ISEE, SAT, PSAT scores. 113 faculty members on staff. Students come from 37 states and 24 countries. 40% of students receive financial aid, 48% are students of color. Average class size is 10, with 145+ course offerings. St. Paul's academic standard is very high. Although St. Paul's does not offer AP courses, the difficulty of the courses it provides is at least equivalent to or even higher than AP courses. This point is well-understood and recognized by various universities in the United States. St. Paul's offers a very comprehensive curriculum, achieving the goal of teaching according to students' aptitude. If you are a student interested in science, you can choose many advanced science courses; but if you are more interested in humanities, the school offers a large number of history, social studies, and literature courses for you to choose from. Therefore, at St. Paul's, with the help of teachers, you can more proactively learn the subjects you are passionate about.

St. Paul's School has always been known for its rigorous academics and high standards. The school's philosophy for educating students is "Freedom With Responsibility." Compared to other schools, St. Paul's is the only school with a highly professional ballet company. The school's dance program aims to develop an enjoyable and artistically rich learning environment, while fostering technically skilled dancers with strong professional ethics and nurturing various types of dance talent. Outstanding dancers can audition for St. Paul's School's ballet company and receive one-on-one instruction from teachers. The school's ballet company also collaborates with many renowned dance companies, and after graduation, dance students have gone on to many prestigious universities and dance companies, such as The Juilliard School, Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, New York City Ballet, and more.

The SPS Applied Science and Engineering Program (ASEP) enhances the breadth and depth of the curriculum for science-interested students, fostering their personal development. Tailored to each student's interests and abilities, the program aims to further cultivate students' interest in specific scientific fields and guide them through successful practical research and internships. This program not only provides students with opportunities to enter some of the leading laboratories in the United States but also empowers them with educational autonomy. The program consists of four parts: a Fall/Winter Preparatory Workshop designed to help interested students find summer internship opportunities in university labs and companies; a Spring Applied Science and Engineering Seminar course to prepare students for their summer internships; an Off-Campus Summer Internship, during which program supervisors communicate with each student, and students must regularly submit self-reflective journals; and an Applied Science and Engineering Capstone Course, where students design and implement projects related to their SPS internships. The capstone course includes weekly lab meetings where students present their summer research findings to the faculty. Students can conduct project research in various locations within the school, such as the Kwok Engineering Lab in the Lindsay Math and Science Center, the Molecular Biology Lab, and the Holley Observatory.

SPS places great emphasis on humanities courses. The school also has an innovative teaching method, combining history and English classes, which has shown excellent results. SPS mathematics classes cover vectors, BC calculus, and extend into geometry. Every science and mathematics course offers honors classes. A new science building is currently under construction at the school. SPS provides students with additional support. Many of the school's teachers hold Ph.D. degrees, and most are professors from top universities (including Ivy League institutions). The school employs a small class size teaching model, fostering very close relationships between students and teachers. Students are expected to study diligently in class, and the school also provides resources such as mentors and study rooms to support them. Overall, the school does not solely focus on students' test scores; instead, it encourages students to develop more efficient and comprehensive learning methods.

St. Paul's School is an independent, co-educational boarding high school located in New Hampshire. The student-to-teacher ratio is 5:1. Currently, there are 535 students enrolled.

The school offers over 60 extracurricular activities, 17 sports activities, and 20 art courses.

Signature Program: Adopts the SPS 360 teaching model, which integrates social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth into all aspects of each student's life.

Interdisciplinary Courses: These courses combine content from two or more different fields into one, allowing students to gain knowledge of very cutting-edge interdisciplinary subjects, such as interaction design.

College Admissions: The average SAT score for graduates of this school is 1395, and the average ACT score is 31. Previous graduates have gone on to prestigious universities such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Princeton University, MIT, Columbia University, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Emory University, Northwestern University, and others.

St. Paul's School is a fully residential learning community that pursues the highest academic ideals. The school strives to challenge students intellectually and morally, cultivate a love for learning, and commit to serving as servant-leaders in a complex world. Built upon the Anglican tradition, St. Paul's School teaches students to respect themselves and others; to respect mental, physical, and emotional health; to protect the natural environment; and to provide better service.

St. Paul's School has two distinctive academic programs:
- Applied Science and Engineering Program (ASEP): At St. Paul’s School, ASEP students engage in project-based, self-directed STEM projects that prepare them for world-leading science programs. Students learn to test solutions to problems and consider their pros and cons before developing revisions. The ASEP program invites students to take advantage of numerous science-related internship opportunities after the 11th grade summer, including engineering, astronomy, computer science, biology, and more. Beyond disciplinary branches, the ASEP program emphasizes hands-on learning, empowering students to take ownership of their education.
- Classical Honors Program: The Classical Honors Program offers advanced courses in Latin and Ancient Greek, allowing students to earn a special Classical Honors Certificate upon graduation. This program helps students develop language proficiency and critical analytical skills comparable to those of university students, thereby improving their chances of entering the most competitive universities.

100% boarding, no day students. After reading the student handbook, I feel that the management is quite strict and leans towards being conservative. There are four chapel times per week, and attendance is mandatory. The handbook states: "Attendance at morning chapel is mandatory, seating is assigned and attendance is taken each day."

In St. Paul, music is in the air we breathe. The sounds of orchestras, choirs, soloists, jazz bands, and various other ensembles constantly emanate from the music building and chapel. Students can enroll in courses covering basic music skills, music theory, composition, sound design, or take private lessons with any of the 5 full-time or 25 visiting music faculty members. Music rehearsals typically take place in the evenings, early mornings, and during some lunch periods, so students don't have to choose between music and other activities. Approximately 30% of the school's students take music classes, and over 25% actively participate in one of the ensembles. Student-run music groups and clubs are vibrant, including three a cappella groups that perform year-round.

The first impression upon entering St. Paul's School is as if one has stepped into a fairy-tale world. This top American boarding high school, with a history of over a hundred years, is not only large in scale, but its 100% boarding policy is also its biggest characteristic. Besides strong academics, it also boasts its own ballet troupe, and the school's facilities are extremely comprehensive and luxurious. The admission office welcomes batches of applicants from all over the world every year, which shows how fierce the competition is. In recent years, St. Paul's has shown a preference for students with strong musical instrument talents, strong STEM backgrounds, and bright, lively personalities.

As one of the top three boarding high schools, parents and students visiting the campus are always deeply impressed by its high-end and grand atmosphere. All facilities are absolutely first-class, and the teachers are very nice. The school focuses on students' holistic development, and the atmosphere is excellent. Admission requirements for students are very high; standardized test scores are a given, but even more emphasis is placed on English application ability beyond standardized scores, comprehensive academic performance, and distinctive extracurricular characteristics.

### Overall Situation:
- Very strong in both humanities and sciences.
- Integrates English, history, and social sciences into the humanities department. The required humanities curriculum for students in grades 9-11 combines aspects of English literature, history, politics, economics, culture, society, etc., and is quite challenging.

### Academic Strengths/Features:
- Advanced Topics: For 12th-grade students who have completed advanced courses in a particular field and wish to delve deeper, they can find a relevant advisor, submit a written application to the school, and upon approval, complete independent study under the guidance of the teacher.
- Independent Study: For 12th-grade students, research directions and content are very broad, such as internships, filmmaking, novel writing, etc. Once the application to the school is approved, they can proceed.
- Interdisciplinary Courses: Combines content from two or more different fields into one course, allowing students to learn about cutting-edge, intersecting knowledge and train their perspectives and thinking.

### Shangxue Mingde Student Feedback:
- Humanities courses are a very distinctive arrangement at St. Paul's. For Chinese students, it can be somewhat difficult to adapt at first. Not only do they need to learn knowledge from different fields, but exams often comprehensively assess students' thoughts and insights. Achieving high scores requires strong interdisciplinary thinking and comparison skills. However, once adapted, it becomes particularly interesting. This knowledge from different fields is not unrelated; on the contrary, it forms an interconnected network. After grasping the connections within this network, one feels their thinking has elevated to a new level.

St. Paul's School has always been renowned for its rigorous and high-level academics. The school's philosophy for educating students is "responsible freedom," encouraging students to independently manage their study life and take responsibility for their actions. All teachers and students live together on campus, fostering close teacher-student relationships and an atmosphere like a big family. Short-term cultural exchange programs are one of the school's signature features; enrolled students have the opportunity each year to participate in cultural exchange programs at top private high schools in the UK. The school provides students with modern classrooms, laboratories, computer rooms, libraries, art centers, astronomical centers, science centers, galleries, and more. The school has a total of 18 dormitory buildings, with each housing approximately 25-40 students. Every dormitory building features common spaces, equipped with kitchens and fireplaces, where students can organize activities.

St. Paul's School, located in Concord, New Hampshire, is a 100% boarding school. Last year, I took students' parents to visit the school, and found it to be a very warm institution. The school prepares every student to be ready to change and challenge the world. It supports and nurtures students' growth and development in intellectual, spiritual, athletic, and emotional aspects. Its alumni include three presidential candidates, six senators and representatives, twelve U.S. ambassadors, and ten heads of various U.S. executive agencies, all distinguished graduates of St. Paul's School.

School Strengths and Specialties:

1. SPS places great emphasis on humanities and language courses. The school also employs an innovative teaching method, combining history and English classes, which has shown excellent results.

2. The school is renowned for its rigorous and high-level academics. Its curriculum offers 79 courses in human and social sciences, 23 in mathematics, 58 in languages, 23 in sciences, and 56 in arts.

3. SPS provides additional support to its students. 74% of its teachers hold advanced degrees, many have doctorates, and most are professors from excellent institutions (including Ivy League universities).

4. The ballet program is outstanding, with dancers working one-on-one with teachers, guest instructors, and choreographers. Its repertoire includes both classical and contemporary works. Guest teachers and choreographers include members of internationally renowned companies.

Among the top 10 American high schools, St. Paul's has the most unique cultural atmosphere.
With a 100% boarding rate, community integration and student engagement are extremely high, fostering close teacher-student relationships.
Due to the school's religious background, it is very strict regarding moral constraints and norms; students are not allowed to make fundamental mistakes. Although SPS is a church school, it does not force students to believe in a religion, requiring only one religious course over four years; the school offers 21 AP courses, with a broad and in-depth curriculum.
It particularly excels in the humanities, with St. Paul's Classical Honors Program being the most noteworthy. This program allows students who are already studying Latin and Greek to apply, and applicants for the top humanities honors courses must have at least two years of language learning foundation and submit teacher recommendations. It is a highly valuable and representative course at SPS, suitable for students interested in language and classical literature who have reached a certain proficiency level.
SPS's school philosophy emphasizes independent learning ability, making it one of the few schools that do not require study hall. Because high school studies involve challenging courses and heavy workloads, although the school provides encouragement and mutual support, children who lack self-initiative, planning skills, and stress resilience may find it difficult to keep up with the learning pace; admissions are relatively conservative: preference is given to graduates from American junior high schools, which makes competition for international students more intense. In addition to academic requirements, applicants also need to have a unique aspect and special experiences to impress interviewers.

Whether students are focused on visual arts, dance, music, or drama, the art curriculum will push their creative boundaries. The school's commitment to the arts is evident in its resources. Students have access to art studios, performance halls, dance and music studios, a theater, and the Crumpacker Gallery. The Crumpacker Gallery showcases works by students as well as artists with national and international reputations. Regardless of students' artistic interests and abilities, the SPS arts program will provide opportunities for exploration and development. St. Paul's curriculum offers independent study projects and field trips, and brings world-class artists to the school to teach. Throughout the academic year, exhibitions and performances provide inspiration for exploring new approaches. On stage, in studios, and in classrooms, the team of teachers comprises talented artists, performers, and scholars. Visiting artists also enrich the arts program—past visitors include singer Patty Larkin, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, singers from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Boston Philharmonic conductor Ben Zander, among others.

1. The school's signature program is the Civics Honors Seminar, designed to foster a deeper and more nuanced understanding among students of why individuals gather to form governments, how governments operate, and the rights and obligations we possess as citizens. Students are encouraged to engage with the complex world.
2. St. Paul's students have the opportunity to participate in a renowned British private secondary school cultural exchange program. As part of the exchange, students attend classes with local students, reside in student dormitories, participate in regular school activities, and visit local cultural and historical sites.
3. School facilities include: Ohrstrom Library, Friedman Community Center, Oates Performing Arts Center, Hawley Astronomical Center, St. Peter and St. Paul Chapel, Lindsay Math and Science Center, as well as the newly renovated Visual Arts Building and Crumpacker Gallery. Sports facilities comprise a 95,000-square-foot athletic and fitness center, an 8-lane indoor swimming pool, 2 climbing walls, 2 hockey rinks, squash and tennis courts, a 2000-meter boathouse rowing facility, 9 playing fields, and an artificial turf field.
4. The BHC program also expands upon the academy's traditional relationship-building curriculum through a series of visiting experts who provide research-based education and training to faculty and students.
5. The school has a science lab, and freshmen interested in science can spend a lot of time in the lab.

1. **Grading System:** St. Paul's School uses five levels for its grading system: High Honors, Honors, High Pass, Pass, and Unsatisfactory, departing from the traditional A, B, C, D, F grades. The school conducts a placement test. Freshman courses are offered in two difficulty levels: regular and Honor. If a student demonstrates strong academic abilities, it is highly recommended to perform well on the placement test to qualify for Honor-level courses. For students with special artistic talents, direct contact with relevant teachers is advised.
2. **Ice Hockey Firsts:** St. Paul's School was the first school to introduce Canadian ice hockey and built the first ice hockey rink in the United States in 1884.
3. **New Head of School:** Kathleen C. Giles took office as the new head of SPS in 2019. She previously served as the head of the renowned boarding high school Middlesex School for 16 years and held various roles at Groton School, including dean, college counselor, English teacher, and coach. The new head holds a Master's degree in Education, a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, and an undergraduate degree, all from Harvard University.
4. **Ballet Company:** SPS boasts its own ballet company, the St. Paul’s School Ballet Company (SPSBC). Teachers provide one-on-one instruction, with courses typically lasting one year, offering four distinct performance opportunities annually.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., the school welcomed international students who had nowhere to go after spring break back to campus. The school specifically arranged two dormitory buildings for these returning students, and teachers would also look after the children. The medical office remained open all day as usual, and the library was also open to students free of charge. Students who wished to return to their home countries could do so; live online classes were scheduled for the morning whenever possible, and some recorded lessons were also provided. Dormitory supervisors and academic advisors contacted students via email. We give a thumbs-up to our school – it's highly ranked yet not aloof, very warm and welcoming.

St. Paul School, located in New Hampshire, was founded in 1856 and is one of the most renowned private boarding schools in the United States. All teachers and students live together on campus, fostering close teacher-student relationships.

The school's educational philosophy is "Freedom with Responsibility," advocating that students consciously arrange their own study and life, and take responsibility for their actions.

The school has always been known for its rigorous academics and high standards. 74% of its teachers hold advanced professional titles. The curriculum offers 79 courses in human and social sciences, 23 in mathematics, 58 in languages, 23 in sciences, and 56 in arts.

St. Paul School implements the Harkness teaching method, where all students sit around a round table in class, allowing everyone to see all faces and engage in mutual discussion and conversation. The school's final grading system consists of five levels: High Honors, Honors, High Pass, Pass, and Unsatisfactory, rather than the traditional A, B, C, D, F.

Sports are an indispensable part of St. Paul School, and the school's athletic programs provide opportunities for choice and challenge for every student. St. Paul School was the first school to introduce Canadian ice hockey, establishing the first ice hockey rink in the United States in 1884.

[On-site Report from the 2019 China Recruitment Fair]
Four current parents share their experiences:
12th Grade Parent:
Full boarding greatly helps students develop extracurricular activities. They have ample time and easily find classmates with similar interests.
Parents need to consider if their child is physically well-prepared.
As grades advance, homework increases, and sleep decreases. It's not an exaggeration for a child in 11th grade to sleep only 1.5 hours.

10th Grade Parent:
Although the school is arts-oriented, it has also developed in the STEM field in recent years. With the school's endorsement, students' academic records have high credibility when applying to US undergraduate programs. The school fosters reading, writing, and critical thinking skills in humanities. Math also allows students to skip grades.

9th Grade Parent:
Two months into school, besides sports which the students are enthusiastic about, the child's favorite is Latin class, mainly because the teacher teaches so well that students are interested in attending.
Students describe the atmosphere among them as "cordial."
The school arranges mentors to guide students' learning, and also organizes many activities to help children socialize.

Around a dozen Chinese students (who speak Chinese, including those from mainland China, US junior high, Hong Kong, Canada, and even Chinese Americans) enrolled in the fall of 2019. Those from Shanghai come from well-known international schools and bilingual schools in the city. Their English is excellent, and their interests and special talents are very prominent.

[2019 China Recruitment Fair Live Report] Elaboration on the school's goals for student development:
1. Children possess a broad range of knowledge to cope with the development and changes of the future world.
2. Well-rounded children, with teamwork and leadership skills. Children understand winning and losing. Cultivation (or well-roundedness) comes from life experiences, including various competitions, sports, arts, and community service.
3. A good environment, with the school providing hardware facilities and teaching staff to support student development.
4. Emphasis on character education.

Regarding religion, the school does not require students to believe in any particular faith. Parents do not see anything wrong with religious schools. Furthermore, a parent shared a small detail: when students feel stressed or irritable, they can go to the school chapel to meditate, and even smelling the old wood can help them calm down.

St. Paul's School is one of only six fully boarding schools in the United States. All students are boarders, though local students have the option to go home on weekends. Furthermore, all faculty and staff also reside on campus, which is a significant characteristic of St. Paul's School. The Headmaster's residence opens its doors every Saturday evening, preparing an abundance of food to welcome any students and teachers willing to join the weekend party. The school highly emphasizes this, and hopes that applicants can confirm their strong liking for this atmosphere when applying. The school requires every student to participate in some athletic activities each semester until they become a senior (final year student). Current students have the opportunity each year to participate in cultural exchange programs at top private high schools in the United Kingdom. Students will attend classes and daily activities at the host school, as well as visit local cultural and historical sites. The school's ballet troupe collaborates with many renowned dance companies, and every year outstanding students from the troupe gain admission to Ivy League universities such as Yale, Stanford, Columbia, and prestigious institutions like The Juilliard School.