The Newman School
🇺🇸 Boston · Founded 1945 · IB / American · Ages 12-18
Reviewed by Priscilla Han · 2026-07-23
A
Curricula
IB, American
Age range
12-18
Languages of instruction
English
Annual fees
SGD USD 36,000–72,000
Enrollment
265
Boarding
Yes
IB authorised
DP
Accreditations
Tier Profile
We only tier dimensions backed by a public inspection verdict or verifiable accreditation. Other dimensions show a data flag — never a guessed score.
BrightKey's Assessment
A small independent 7-12 school in Boston's Back Bay, founded 1945, built around the International Baccalaureate with a school-diploma alternative. Notably the only boarding school in the city of Boston, with a compact, internationally diverse community of about 265 students from 40 countries.
Why These Ratings?
Inspection & AccreditationA — Excellent
US schools sit under regional accreditation rather than a graded government inspectorate, so the ceiling for this dimension is A. Newman publishes clear programme, fee and admissions information, but no accrediting body (e.g. NEASC/NEAS&C) or formal IB World School authorization is stated on its own site, and no IB score data is published, so the rating is held at A rather than pushed higher on documented outcomes.
Strengths & Trade-offs
Strengths
- International Baccalaureate at the core of the curriculum, with dedicated IB pathways in Grades 11-12
- Only boarding school located in the city of Boston, offering boarding for Grades 9-12
- Small scale and 6:1 student/faculty ratio support individualized attention
- Genuinely international community: about 18% international students, 40 countries and 23 languages spoken
Trade-offs
- No accrediting body or formal IB World School authorization is published on the school site (unverified)
- No IB average or exam-results data published, so academic outcomes cannot be assessed
- Small enrollment (about 265) means a narrower peer group and activity range than large schools
Is It Right For You?
Best For
- ✓Families seeking an IB-focused education in central Boston
- ✓International students wanting a small, diverse day or boarding community
- ✓Students who prefer a personalized, low-ratio environment over a large campus
Not Ideal For
- ✕Families wanting a large school with extensive facilities and broad elective ranges
- ✕Those requiring published, verifiable exam-outcome and accreditation data before deciding
Curriculum
The International Baccalaureate pedagogy is described as at the core of the curriculum; students may pursue either the IB programme or The Newman School high school diploma. IB Diploma authorization is school-reported (IB testing fees are charged in Grades 11-12) but not independently verified here.
Fees
Tuition for 2026-2027 (school-published): domestic day (Grades 7-12) USD 36,000; boarding (Grades 9-12) USD 72,000. International day USD 44,000, boarding USD 72,000, plus an international fee of USD 8,000. Additional fees include an activity fee (USD 500) and IB resource/testing fees in Grades 11-12; international students must also purchase health insurance.
Admissions
Applications via Ravenna inquiry form (SAO also accepted); a tour and interview are required. Accepted tests include HSPT, ISEE, SSAT (code 5314), PSAT, ACT or SAT; Duolingo English Test preferred for English proficiency. Priority deadline Dec 5, 2025; regular deadline Jan 31, 2026.
Campus Life
Located at 247 Marlborough Street in Boston's Back Bay, the school offers about 30 clubs and activities and boards roughly 50 students. Motto: Cor ad Cor Loquitur. Alumni include Martin J. Walsh, Mayor of Boston 2014-2021.
University Placement
School-reported · not independently verified
No university-destination or IB score data is published on the school site; placement outcomes are not stated and are therefore unverified.
Sources
Every verifiable fact carries a public source — verify it yourself.
- The Newman School — Home · 2026-07
- Mission, History and Leadership · 2026-07
- Admissions · 2026-07
- Tuition and Financial Aid (2026-2027) · 2026-07
📬 Get notified when we publish new university guides
Compare The Newman School with
Side-by-side: curriculum, fees, accreditation, honest trade-offs