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Founded in 1900, Bancroft School is Worcester’s premier PreK-12 independent day school. Through active, inquiry-based learning and challenging experiences, we empower students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make a difference in their community and the world.
Lower School
Lower School
Grades PreK - 5
Middle School
Middle School
Grades 6 - 8
Upper School
Upper School
Grades 9 - 12
Who We Are
Small school, Big opportunities
Small school, Big opportunities
With an average class size of 12, each Bancroft student receives one-on-one guidance. Our campus features three distinct divisions with students ranging from four to 18 years old. The exchange of ideas and perspectives transcends the boundaries of age and grade. Students are engaged in athletics, extracurriculars, and leadership opportunities from day one—no matter their grade level.
Find Your Voice
Find Your Voice
We empower students to recognize their strengths and guide them in making meaningful choices about how and what they learn. At Bancroft, we treat each student as an individual with a unique history and trajectory.
Learn By Doing
Learn By Doing
Hands-on learning helps students improve their problem-solving skills and apply knowledge to real-world situations.
Stronger Together
Stronger Together
We encourage parents and families to be part of the student’s journey of exploration and discovery. Bancroft provides an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all of our students.
Take it outside
Take it outside
When we take lessons beyond the classroom setting, we experience learning in action. Students regularly explore our beautiful 34-acre campus, our frog pond, or the Worcester Art Museum.
Bancroft Stories
The Scholar
Kai S. '33
"My favorite class is science because we get to do a lot of different creative and fun things. I also really like math because I think math is so interesting. Math can be challenging if you want it to be and I enjoy challenging myself. It's really fun to gamify it. It feels like you can solve anything with math. I am so grateful that we have these amazing teachers at Bancroft. They give me confidence, and I look up to them as role models. They also help you when you're feeling sad. You can talk with them, and they'll make you feel better."
The Team Player
Keeley B. '23
"Bancroft basketball has given me lifelong friends and provided me with the most supportive team I could have asked for. My coaches, teammates, and teachers all supported my goal of continuing to play the game at the collegiate level. Bancroft offers a rigorous academic program, so I had to learn time management, organization, self-advocacy, and many additional skills to help me succeed on and off the court. I will forever be grateful for the Bancroft community and the Bancroft girl's basketball program."
The Artist
Ben M. '27
"Bancroft has given me the confidence to do things like speech and theater because they both gave me new opportunities and were welcoming. Theater and speech are my favorite activities at Bancroft but there is really so much to get involved in like sports, AP classes, and different clubs. The classes are challenging but our teachers really help you balance everything. If they ever have criticism, it's always constructive and something to help you grow, which I appreciate. They're always here for support."
The Entrepreneur
Neelu M. ‘14
"Bancroft really helped me to change my view of what was possible. I was able to be, and wanted to be, involved in so much. I was in Jazz Band. I ran track and played tennis. I was in the musical one year. I worked on the set design another year. I was in French Club. It was so nice to have the opportunity to try so many different things. It really made college less overwhelming. I also felt so well prepared academically for college with how much I was challenged in the classroom."
Bancroft at a Glance
439
Students in Three Divisions
34
Acres of Campus
6:1
Average Student/Teacher
Ratio
12
Students Average Class Size
65%
of Faculty Hold
Advanced Degrees
38%
Students of Color
$4.5
Million in Financial Aid
Annually
51%
of Students Receive Financial
Aid
100%
College Acceptance Rate
Uniquely Bancroft
STEM & Robotics
Every year, Bancroft's award-winning team of aspiring coders and builders puts their heads together to design robots—with the help of Coach Elisa Heinricher — for competition on the national stage. The Robodogs even host their own VEX Robotics tournament on campus annually.
Athletics
Athletics and Physical Education are integral parts of the PreK to 12 Bancroft experience. Beginning in Lower School, physical education classes teach collaboration, cooperation, and sportsmanship. Team sports begin at the Middle School level with a no-cut policy that invites everyone to participate. The Upper School athletic experience features 18 competitive varsity programs.
Speech Team
Who says you can't be a nationally recognized speech team and have fun at the same time? Meet the Speechies! In their 20 years of existence, the Bancroft Speech team has been a force in the Massachusetts Speech & Debate League. Working with experienced coaches, students become well-versed in acting, public speaking, poetry, argumentation, and current events. They participate in competitions all over the state and country, and they win. A lot.