The Loomis Chaffee School

The Invisibly Elite Loomis is ideal for the high-achieving student who wants a top-tier Ivy League feeder experience, but prefers a campus culture that values kindness and collaboration over pure academic elitism. It is a place for the "all-arounders", who want to be challenged in the classroom while remaining deeply engaged in the community.

Pros: Elite college matriculation, state-of-the-art innovation facilities, inclusive community.
Cons: High-pressure environment during finals, relatively isolated town setting.

Loomis belongs to the top ten school alliance in the United States, offering numerous opportunities for academics, writing, and research. The school boasts ample resources, and its hallmarks are small class sizes and a strong academic atmosphere. Its university matriculation record is excellent, with students generally entering top universities. Located in a traditional New England community, its culture is pragmatic and its pace steady, making it highly regarded by American local families. Academically, Loomis emphasizes comprehensive academic development, with a strong humanities program, especially its writing courses.

LC parent shares personal experience.
Academics: Offers a rich and comprehensive curriculum, a very balanced focus on arts and sciences, high flexibility in course selection, with CL courses available as early as 9th grade. Academic pressure is moderate.
School Atmosphere: The LC community is very close-knit, with excellent DEI initiatives. The community atmosphere is kind and friendly, with almost no competition among students. The school ethos and academic style are upright, and competition among students is healthy.
Support: The academic director, advisor, and subject teachers form a tripartite support system, providing students with comprehensive support in all aspects, including emotional well-being and academics. They encourage students to challenge themselves and maintain close interaction with parents.
Extracurriculars: Abundant clubs, outstanding performance in arts, sports, and community service. Windsor, where the school is located, is safe, and ordering food is convenient.
University Applications: One-on-one application advisors begin in 10th grade and continue until graduation. University applications are handled comprehensively, considering student preferences and personal qualifications. Admission results are also excellent.
School Environment: A compact school layout, with extremely beautiful and elegant school buildings and surroundings.
Summary: LC, one of the Ten Schools Alliance, has an excellent reputation both in the US and abroad. It is definitely a top-tier private boarding high school in the US, trustworthy and reliable. Parents and students are advised to refer to rankings rationally and visit the school in person to experience LC's caring, friendly, and progressive atmosphere.

Loomis Chaffee High School, founded in 1874, is located in the beautiful and easily accessible town of Windsor, near Hartford, the capital of Connecticut. It is an aristocratic school with a long history and one of the 'Little Ivies' ten-school alliance. The campus covers 300 acres, surrounded by vast grasslands, and boasts 17 of the best sports fields in the region, along with two state-of-the-art artificial turf fields. The boarding student ratio is 70%. The school offers over 250 courses, including nearly 60 AP and advanced courses, and fully utilizes experiential learning programs through Independent Study (ISP), extracurricular programs, off-campus studies, and international travel. If a student's passion lies in global or environmental studies, the school's Global and Environmental Studies Certificate Program will be their best choice. The school places great emphasis on improving students' writing skills, and this emphasis on writing is not limited to English classes but permeates all subjects. 10th-grade students participate in a year-long Writing Workshop, held weekly to strengthen their writing abilities. Students can also exercise and enhance their writing skills through various channels, including the student-run school newspaper 'The Log' and literary magazine 'The Loom,' as well as a variety of writing competitions.

As a member of the Ten Schools Admissions Organization, Loomis is undoubtedly one of the top US high schools. I cannot understand FS's ranking. While Niche's rankings also have various issues, they are more recognized by local American parents. Loomis, in terms of school size, courses offered, college matriculation, athletic achievements, and all other aspects, is a long-established top school in the New England region.

Both of my children attend The Loomis Chaffee School, and our entire family is very fond of this understated and elegant institution. The school is a picturesque 15-minute drive from the Connecticut state capital, surrounded by lush greenery and rivers. Before each new school year, the school sends out a very warm email saying, 'welcome back to island.' As a century-old prestigious private boarding high school, its academics are very rigorous, particularly in writing, which is well-known among American high schools and universities. My younger daughter, who wasn't keen on humanities, made significant progress in writing within less than a year of entering ninth grade. Although the school has high academic standards, it encourages older students to provide help to younger students who are struggling academically. The school also boasts a very strong sports program in the New England region, excelling in swimming, ice hockey, and volleyball. Many student-athletes choose to train at nearby clubs to further enhance their skills, and every year, quite a few students are admitted to Ivy League universities. Due to the school's down-to-earth atmosphere, its ranking on Niche.com in the U.S. has reached seventh place in recent years. The school has also begun to expand its influence in China, and we hope Loomis Chaffee continues to thrive.

The Loomis Chaffee School, located in Windsor, Connecticut, is a co-educational boarding secondary school offering grades 9-12. The school currently has 690 students, 400 of whom are boarders, with a student-teacher ratio of 1:5. The school has strong academic capabilities, offering 19 AP courses and no ESL program. SSAT and TOEFL scores are required for international student applications. The overall acceptance rate is relatively low, at 33%. The school has a very long history, dating back to 1639 when Joseph Loomis and his family settled here, influenced by agriculture and the Connecticut River. Generations later, in the early 1870s, four Loomis siblings realized they had all outlived their own children. To commemorate their deceased children and to provide a gift for future generations, they collectively contributed a significant amount of funds and property to establish a secondary school, which is now The Loomis Chaffee School. The Loomis Chaffee School is located in a favorable surrounding environment, with many branch offices of Fortune 500 companies nearby, ensuring a good source of students. The school's overall strength is considerable, offering a rich curriculum and extracurricular activities, focusing on cultivating students' comprehensive qualities and all-round development.

Loomis Chaffee School has professional college counselors who advise students on suitable universities that align with their strengths, interests, and future goals. Over the years, our college placement results have been outstanding; each year, seniors apply to over 300 different universities and are admitted to more than 100 prestigious institutions.

Admitted schools include: Princeton University, Columbia University, MIT, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, UCLA, University of Chicago, Brown University, Cornell University, Northwestern University, Dartmouth College, New York University, Boston College, Duke University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Notre Dame, Bowdoin College, Claremont McKenna College, Amherst College, Pomona College, among many others.

Loomis has educated many renowned alumni, such as former U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz; Henry R. Kravis, co-founder of KKR, one of the world's largest investment firms; internationally renowned fashion designer Jason Wu; and White House correspondent and New York Times columnist Frank Bruni.

The Loomis Chaffee School places great emphasis on the holistic development of its students, offering a wide array of extracurricular activities for them to participate in. These activities span multiple areas, including sports, arts, social service, and academic competitions, among others.

Sports
The school offers various sports programs such as soccer, basketball, baseball, track and field, swimming, tennis, field hockey, and more. Students can participate in different sports according to their interests and abilities, improving their physical fitness and fostering a spirit of teamwork.

Arts Activities
The school encourages students to engage in various artistic activities like painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, dance, music, and drama. These activities help students discover their creativity and talents, enriching their campus life.

Community Activities
The school emphasizes social responsibility and encourages students to participate in volunteer service and community activities. Students can get involved in various environmental, charitable, and educational projects, helping them understand social issues and cultivate empathy and a sense of responsibility.

The school offers over 250 courses, including nearly 60 AP and advanced-level courses, and fully utilizes experiential learning programs through Independent Study (ISP), extracurricular projects, off-campus learning, and international travel. Among its distinctive offerings are public welfare seminars, writing workshops, a four-year Arabic language program, mentored research projects (science and humanities), and a Global and Environmental Studies certificate.

In addition to traditional core courses, Loomis also offers advanced electives in Arabic, Chinese, Economics, Genetics, and Anatomy/Cell Biology. The school also provides art courses in four areas: dance, drama, music, and visual arts.

The Loomis Chaffee School offers a professional writing program to enhance humanities literacy, and students interested in STEM also have access to corresponding equipment, facilities, and programs.

Students with a strong interest in deepening their understanding of the world can consider pursuing the "Global & Environmental Studies Certification" program offered by the Alvord Center for Global & Environmental Studies. This program includes overseas travel and study; recently, students have traveled to countries such as Peru, India, South Africa, the Arctic Circle, Hungary, and Italy for exploration and learning.

The school conducts the Guided Research Project, which aims to enable upper-level students in the humanities to engage in sustained and significant research. For instance, in a recent molecular biology project, students collaborated with surgeons and their labs at Connecticut Children's Hospital and UConn Health to investigate the molecular characteristics of a specific group of stem cells in esophageal tissue, to better understand why and how these cells perform tissue regeneration.

Year after year, Loomis graduates find that their writing skills far surpass those of their peers, regardless of their chosen profession. Good writing skills are essential for laboratory reports in scientific research and research papers in historical studies. The school has long emphasized the importance of excellent writing, and the English department faculty enhances students' writing abilities through a four-year writing plan.

The school leans towards literature and art, possessing robust educational resources in these areas, including top-tier teachers and curriculum design.

Loomis graduates' writing abilities and standards have consistently surpassed those of students from other schools. The school's emphasis on writing is not limited to English classes but permeates all subjects taught within the school. The director of the writing program collaborates with various departments such as science, history, social sciences, and foreign languages to determine the writing proficiency students need to achieve by graduation, and how to help students develop and ultimately reach these abilities through the curriculum design of each subject.

At Loomis, the school allows advanced science students to participate in continuous, significant mentored scientific research. In this year-long program, students conduct authentic research alongside a science faculty member.

Loomis Chaffee High School data: 741 students, student-teacher ratio 1:4, international students 14%, boarding rate 70%, students of color 35%, average class size 11, 75 student clubs and organizations, 70% of teachers hold advanced degrees. Loomis Chaffee Private High School was founded in 1874 in Connecticut and is a prestigious private high school. The school aims to cultivate future talents with critical thinking skills and social awareness. In the summer, the school offers a rich variety of courses and activities for students entering grades 7-12, including a 4-week on-campus enrichment program, 3-week or 6-week online math studies, and a 2-week online writing course. The enrichment program is divided into middle school and high school sections, focusing on writing plus two elective courses. Electives include American History, Business Economics, Leadership Development, Life Sciences, Human Brain and Cognition, Computer Science Algorithms, Computer Programming, Robotics, Public Speaking Skills, Multimedia Art, Photography, and more. Math studies primarily include geometry and calculus courses, providing a platform for students who enjoy and excel in mathematics to delve deeper.

Loomis is located in the historic town of Windsor, the first town in Connecticut's history, near Hartford, the state capital. It is also home to branches of many Fortune 500 companies. Loomis has long emphasized the development of advanced English writing skills, not only teaching students how to write well but also focusing on guiding them to deeply understand writing as a science. The school has its own greenhouse, dedicated to studying plant growth, environmental protection, and sustainable development. This is one of the school's seven signature programs, specifically the Environmental Agriculture formal program, requiring students to participate for three consecutive years. Loomis values students who participate in various sports; athletic prowess is a significant advantage. Many of the school's sports teams are very strong, with the boys' soccer and basketball teams, swimming, and girls' volleyball team consistently winning New England regional championships.

Loomis's summer school offers creative writing courses. In this vibrant writing workshop, students will experience the beauty of creative expression by crafting and revising their own short stories and poems. All students will be full participants in this process, not only learning various methods to help them unlock their writing inspiration but also engaging in sharing and editing each other's work in a positive environment. Discussions will be dedicated to analyzing both student work and the work of professional writers, allowing students to gain a deeper understanding of writing techniques, improve their revision methods, and better comprehend their unique writing styles.

At Loomis, as a student of dance, drama, music, and visual arts, you will have ample opportunities to develop creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative skills, all of which are essential for your academic and personal success. Loomis's curriculum is taught by accomplished artists, musicians, and performers, as well as dedicated professional educators. Featuring purpose-built performance and exhibition spaces in the Hubbard Music Center, Norris Eliott Theatre, and Richmond Art Center, your learning experience will be enhanced and enjoyment provided for the entire community. At Loomis, the Hubbard Music Center boasts a state-of-the-art music performance hall and is home to the Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Jazz Band, Jazz Improvisation Ensemble, and Chamber Music classes. Practice rooms and studios are open daily until evening for music lessons, group rehearsals, and student practice.

Loomis Signature Programs include: Sustainability and Agriculture Programs, where students investigate real-world issues facing the school related to energy consumption and conservation, waste management, and water. Students in the agriculture program study sustainable food systems and work in the school's apiary. Another signature program is Guided Research Projects, which requires high-level students in the humanities or sciences and professional guidance from teachers. In a recently launched molecular biology project, participating students worked with a surgeon in laboratories at Connecticut Children's Hospital and UConn Health to research the molecular characteristics of a specific group of stem cells.

Loomis, established in 1874, is located in Windsor, Connecticut. Although it was misty and rainy today, it did not diminish its beauty at all! Early in the morning, the admission office had already prepared umbrellas for families coming for interviews. This is also the only school so far that provides two tour guides for each family, saying it's to better serve the families – so sweet! Not only does it highly value academics, but it also offers a wide variety of sports. Swimming, wrestling, baseball, volleyball, football, and cross-country have all won league championships. The school facilities are luxurious, with the library featuring large floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the beautiful snowy scenery in the distance. The arts program is also excellent!

A top-tier American high school, one of the original Ten Schools Admissions Organization members, located in Windsor, Connecticut. It's considered one of the 'Little Ivies' and places a strong emphasis on holistic development with a balanced focus on liberal arts and sciences. The school's philosophy is to pursue individual development and serve the community.
9th-grade students are required to take a Freshman Seminar, where they collectively explore how to build a harmonious community, discuss current events, and participate in community service.
The school places great importance on writing, and its graduates possess strong writing skills.

### Overall Situation:
- Nominally, there are no AP courses, but the school's College Level (CL) courses are comparable to AP in difficulty and level, and students also take AP exams after completing them. There is some room and flexibility in course selection; it's recommended to communicate more with the school.
- The 10th-grade English class is special: in addition to regular English classes, students also need to specifically take writing courses to help them improve their overall writing ability.

### Academic Advantages/Features:
- Global & Environmental Studies Certificate (GESC): Focuses on cultivating students' global perspective and environmental awareness. Students need to meet corresponding course and activity requirements to finally obtain the certificate.
- Independent Studies: If interested in a particular field, students in 11th and 12th grades can apply to conduct independent research under the guidance of a teacher.

### Shangxue Mingde Student Feedback:
- Humanities and sciences are relatively balanced, but there are more students strong in humanities than in sciences.
- All teachers are excellent; students can always find a teacher to help solve any problems they might have.

Loomis Chaffee is a co-educational boarding school located in Windsor, Connecticut, close to Hartford, the capital of Connecticut, and Bradley International Airport. I once took students to interview at the school; its facilities and environment are first-rate. Our tour guide was a girl from Hong Kong.

Loomis emphasizes developing students' writing skills. Not only do English classes stress writing, but laboratory reports in science classes and research reports and essays required in humanities courses such as philosophy, history, religion, and psychology also help students improve their writing abilities.

In addition to traditional core courses, Loomis also offers courses like Arabic, Chinese, economics, linear algebra, and multivariable calculus.

The school's Pearse Innovation Center (PHI) offers introductory courses in manufacturing, social and entrepreneurial problem-solving; engineering and design science; problem-solving for the common good; and problem-solving for the business world.

Special school programs include Mountain School (Vt), CITYterm (NY), High Mountain Institute (CO), Chewonki Semester School (ME), and the School for Ethics and Global Leadership (DC).

The courses offered by Loomis are very comprehensive, with a wide range of options available for both foundational science and humanities courses, as well as more distinctive courses like ecology, engineering, robotics, and sustainability.
Loomis's signature school program includes the Global & Environmental Studies Certificate (GESC), which aims to develop students' minds, bodies, and spirits through rigorous academic programs and an inclusive community, with an emphasis on participation, while actively promoting global environmental sustainability.
Loomis places great importance on cultivating students' writing skills, providing numerous writing-related learning resources. In addition to a four-year writing curriculum, courses in other subjects such as history, science, and religion also require students to complete essays, personal reflection reports, narrative articles, and other writing assignments. Upon entering as 9th-grade freshmen, students will participate in a one-year seminar on public interest, held once a week, where the school gathers about 15 students to discuss current events. In these small seminars, students will learn how to confidently express their views, listen to others' perspectives, deliver productive presentations, and also develop a more positive awareness of their citizenship, further understanding how to become beneficial members of society and drive society towards a better future.

Loomis Chaffee is located in Windsor, Connecticut, close to Hartford, the state capital, and Bradley International Airport. The campus covers 300 acres, with 735 students, 73% of whom are boarders, and international students account for 15%. It offers 250 courses, including 70 advanced and college-level courses. Loomis emphasizes cultivating students' writing skills; not only do English classes stress writing, but laboratory reports in science classes, and research papers and essays required in humanities courses such as philosophy, history, religion, and psychology also help students improve their writing abilities. Special courses include a 9th-grade seminar and global environmental studies programs. Additionally, 12th-grade students have the opportunity to participate in real scientific research projects; for example, current 12th-grade students are working on a molecular biology project under the guidance of a Georgetown University professor.

International students were not allowed to stay on campus during spring break. During spring break, the school announced a switch to online classes, and no one was permitted to return to school. The stated reason was to protect school staff, especially older employees. International students were then asked to leave the country immediately. The very next day, international students were asked to return to school as soon as possible to pack their belongings and vacate their dorms. The school displayed coldness and a lack of empathy towards international students during its COVID-19 response.

Loomis is a well-balanced school in all aspects, with a gentle atmosphere that doesn't overly emphasize competitiveness or put immense pressure on students. Instead, it focuses on holistic development, cultivating well-rounded individuals. The school offers many arts and sports activities, with swimming, wrestling, baseball, volleyball, and cross country all having won league championships. Each year, the school secures admissions to top universities such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, and Princeton, and the postgraduate placement of Chinese students is also very strong. The school offers squash courses. In drama, it provides students with a rich curriculum where they can learn not only acting and production but also stage management and theatrical performance skills. While encouraging students to take traditional core courses like biology, chemistry, and physics, the school also offers many other diverse and engaging courses. Advanced Biology is a distinctive part of the school's curriculum. The school also provides several science-related extracurricular activities, including the competitive LC Robotics Team, the Physics Olympiad, and the Science Quiz Bowl team.