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Discover How We Own Our Learning

5th Grade Leadership at Bancroft School in Worcester, MA

Thank you for your interest in Bancroft!

Since 1900, Bancroft has proudly stood in the heart of Worcester as an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory day school. Here, we prepare talented, well-qualified, and motivated college-bound students, PreKindergarten through Grade 12, to pursue and realize their academic, personal, and social potential. Our families come from 63 different cities and towns around central Massachusetts representing many different backgrounds and experiences that help make Bancroft a unique and diverse learning environment.

We provide a comprehensive, caring, and creative curricular and extracurricular program that fosters an experience of excellence for each individual. Inspired students, a superior faculty, and engaged families thrive in our diverse, safe, and supportive community.

We afford students the opportunity to discover their passion in life and to learn to embrace confidently and responsibly the moral and ethical challenges of being lifelong learners, teachers of others, and citizens of an increasingly complex global community.

Please enter your contact information in our inquiry form and a member of our admissions staff will reach out with more information. We look forward to getting to know you!

ADMISSIONS PROCESS - CLICK THE TAB OF YOUR DESIRED DIVISION

Pre-K or K

Applying to Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten

Led by an accomplished team of early childhood educators, including specialists in science, technology, music, library, and physical education, Bancroft's PreKindergarten and Kindergarten programs spark children's passion for learning while providing the fundamental skills for success.

Children enrolling in PreKindergarten are 4 years old by September 1st of their starting year.

Children enrolling in Kindergarten are 5 years old by September 1st of their starting year.

Inquire

The Admission Office is here to support and guide you through the admission process.

If you haven't done so already, please fill out the online inquiry form or call us at 508.854.9227.

We will gladly send you information, including specific details about the application process.

online inquiry form

Visit

All applicants are required to attend a Student Admission Visit where your child will have the opportunity to spend time with the classroom teacher.

For more information, please contact the Admission Office at 508.854.9227 or email admission@bancroftschool.org.

Apply

Applications to PreKindergarten or Kindergarten are considered on a rolling basis.

For a complete list of required materials, visit our Apply Page.

Apply Now!

Lower School (Grades 1 through 5)

Applying to Lower School (Grades 1–5)

Bancroft's Lower School builds a strong foundation of academic skills and ethics in a nurturing, stimulating environment that enables students to realize their greatest potential.

With a regular schedule of specials classes including French, Spanish, the arts, technology, and physical education, our community fosters love of learning, global awareness, responsibility for self, respect for others, and friendship.

Inquire

The Admission Office is here to support and guide you through the admission process.

If you haven't done so already, please fill out the online inquiry form or call us at 508.854.9227.

We will gladly send you information, including specific details about the application process.

online inquiry form

Visit

All applicants are required to attend a Student Admission Visit where your child will have the opportunity to spend a morning in the classroom.

During this time, we will be offering virtual admission visits. For more information, please contact the Admission Office at 508.854.9227 or email admission@bancroftschool.org.

APPLY

Applications to Bancroft's Lower School are considered on a rolling basis.

For a complete list of required materials, please contact the Admission Office at 508.854.9227 or email admission@bancroftschool.org.

Apply Now!

Middle School (Grades 6 through 8)

Applying to Middle School (Grades 6-8)

In a safe, challenging, and experiential learning environment, our Middle School strives to develop confident learners, well prepared to address the demands of Upper School.

Dedicated teachers promote independence and organization as students transition to more abstract and inferential thinking.

Middle School students are steeped in a culture of compassion and respect. Through the community service program and a curriculum that celebrates world cultures, Bancroft's Middle School teaches students to think beyond themselves and to embrace their roles as global citizens.

Inquire

The Admission Office is here to support and guide you through the admission process.

If you haven't done so already, please fill out the online inquiry form or call us at 508.854.9227.

We will gladly send you information, including specific details about the application process.

online inquiry form

VISIT

As part of the admission process, applicants will schedule a student and parent interview with a member of the admission staff.

Please contact us to schedule your virtual visit.

APPLY

All first round application materials and forms must be submitted no later than February 1, 2021. Students who apply after the deadline will be considered on a rolling basis.

For a complete list of required materials, visit our Apply Page.

APPLY NOW

Upper School (Grades 9 through 12)

Applying to Upper School (Grades 9–12)

Bancroft's Upper School (US) is a college-preparatory environment of academic challenge and support. US students are encouraged to think critically, take risks, and cultivate habits of discipline and curiosity conducive to a lifetime of learning. In this community, based on respect and mutual caring, students lay the foundation for lives of moral consequence.

Students build confidence in their unique identities and talents as they explore the arts, develop athletic skills and team spirit, and enlarge their sense of community both locally and globally to deepen their social and moral awareness.

Inquire

The Admission Office is here to support and guide you through the admission process.

If you haven't done so already, please fill out the online inquiry form or call us at 508.854.9227.

We will gladly send you information, including specific details about the application process.

online inquiry form

VISIT

As part of the admission process, applicants will schedule a student and parent interview with a member of the admission staff.

Please contact us to schedule your virtual visit.

APPLY

All first round application materials and forms must be submitted no later than February 1, 2021. Students who apply after the deadline will be considered on a rolling basis.

For a complete list of required materials, visit our Apply Page.

Hope Graham Program

Applying to the Hope Graham Program

For students in Grades 2–8 with language-based learning differences

Applications to our Hope Graham Program are accepted on a rolling basis.

Building upon Bancroft's commitment to nurture, respect, and educate diverse learners, the Hope Graham Program (HGP) at Bancroft School is designed for students with diagnosed language-based learning differences (LBLD) or dyslexia in Grades 2 through 8.

HGP students join their companion class in Bancroft's Lower or Middle School for all non-language-based subjects and activities, including science, computer skills, music, drama, art, and P.E., as well as recess, lunch, field trips, and special events. In Grades 6 through 8, HGP students also join their companion class for interscholastic sports, health, clubs, technology, and advisory.

The typical admission process for the Hope Graham Program at Bancroft School involves the three steps outlined in the columns below.

For Hope Graham applications for grades 2-5, please Apply Online. For Hope Graham applications for grades 6-8, please Apply via the SAO (Standard Application Online).When these steps are complete, the Admission Committee will let you know as quickly as possible about the final admission decision.

SUBMISSION OF TESTING

We will ask you to submit a complete psycho-educational or neuropsychological evaluation of your child, completed within the past 18 months. All information should be submitted to admission@bancroftschool.org.

**The testing must include a Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V), and a clear statement of your child’s learning profile.

At times, Bancroft School might request additional testing to inform our admission decisions.

PARENT VISIT

Next, we will contact you to arrange a virtual parent interview during which you will have an opportunity to meet with the Hope Graham Program Director, take a virtual tour of the school, learn about the program, and ask questions.

At the same time, we may ask you clarifying questions pertaining to your child’s testing, learner profile, strengths, and challenges.

Student Visit

All applicants are required to attend a virtual Student Admission Visit where your child will have the opportunity to spend time with a Hope Graham classroom teacher.

During this time, we will be offering virtual admission visits. For more information, please contact the Admission Office at 508.854.9227 or email admission@bancroftschool.org.

Admission Calendar

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Meet With Admission

Campus tours allow parents the opportunity hear about our programs and meet with an Admission Officer to ask questions. You can also schedule a tour at your convenience. You can also call 508-854-9227 or email the Admission Office to schedule your tour.

SIGN UP FOR A TOUR

Bancroft at a glance

Bancroft Viewbook

School Profile

Quick Facts

Who we are: The premier PreK-12 coeducational independent day school serving Central Massachusetts and MetroWest Boston

Location: 34-acre campus with 16 acres of athletic fields on the northeast side of Worcester, Massachusetts

How we began: Founded by parents in 1900

Enrollment: Approximately 400 students from 63 cities and towns, including 20 international students in the Upper School

Student/Teacher ratio: averages 5:1

Average class size: 13 students

Advanced Placement: 17 Courses and Independent Studies

Diversity: 31% students of color

College Matriculation: 100%

Graduates: Attend the most competitive colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad

Alumni: 3,500 affiliated worldwide

Faculty/Staff: number 124, 67% of whom hold advanced degrees

Financial Aid: $4 million awarded annually

Endowment: $27 million

Libraries: 2, which include more than 50 online research databases and thousands of e-books

Sustainable Energy: 900 Solar Panels providing 17% of Bancroft's energy needs

Accreditation: NEASC-accredited and a member of AISNE and NAIS

Campus Map

School History

Founded in 1900 by a group of Worcester parents interested in providing a rigorous education for their children, Bancroft is the oldest coeducational Pre-K–12 independent day school in Central Massachusetts.

1900-1902

1900–1902

Bancroft School named in honor of George Bancroft (1800–1891)

The founding families named the School in honor of George Bancroft (1800–1891), a Worcester native and accomplished scholar, Secretary of the Navy, Ambassador to Prussia and England, and renowned historian.

The original Bancroft School charter formed a corporation... “for the purpose of providing a complete school training for boys and girls of all ages, Kindergarten, Primary, Intermediate, and Academic Departments.”

The School opened in a large house at 93 Elm Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. By 1902, Bancroft had outgrown that facility, and a new school was constructed at 111 Elm Street.

1902-1922

Bancroft School on Sever Street

From the school's founding until 1913, Bancroft was coeducational at all grade levels. Beginning in 1913 the School continued to admit both boys and girls through Grade 8, but only girls in the Upper School.

In 1919 the School added Gray Gables, a boarding component, and continued to attract resident students until 1943. At that time, the Trustees decided to discontinue the residency program and focus on a mission as an independent day school.

1922-1958

Image of Bancroft School in 1922 on Sever Street

In 1922, in order to accommodate an enrollment of over 250 students, Bancroft moved from Elm Street to larger quarters on Sever Street. During this time the School continued to expand its enrollment and also began to attract students who lived in surrounding towns. By 1955, the building on Sever Street no longer met the needs of the students and the administration announced the plans to build a state-of-the-art facility on 27 acres of land on Shore Drive.

1958-Present

Image of the Bancroft School in September 1958

The final move to the present site at 110 Shore Drive took place in September 1958. Since the move to Shore Drive, the School has continued to grow to its present enrollment of some 400 students. In 1967, the School admitted boys to Grade 9 for the first time in decades. By 1974, three boys joined the girls as graduates, and the School has remained co-ed since that time.

To ensure that the School is always ready to meet current and emerging program challenges, Bancroft has followed a continuous process of physical and technical modernization.

21st Century

Bancroft School in Warcester, MA state-of-the-art classrooms and technology centers

Today, we have state-of-the-art classrooms and technology centers, campus-wide wi-fi, and a library of print and e-resources. In 2010 and 2011, the School took a major step toward our goal of environmental sustainability by installing a total of 896 high-efficiency solar panels, making Bancroft School the single largest solar electric system in the City of Worcester. Bancroft School will continue to provide the infrastructure and resources to ensure every student an experience of excellence.

Heads of School

Even more important than the buildings and facilities, however, are the people—the students, faculty, and parents—who have defined the Bancroft community since 1900. With more than 3,500 living alumni, Bancroft continues to live our mission of preparing young people to be lifelong learners, teachers of others, and citizens of the globe.

Heads of School 1900 to Present:

1900–1915: Frank H. Robson
1915–1926: Miriam Titcomb
1926–1938: Hope Fisher
1938–1943: Bradford M. Kingman
1943–1946: Edith J. Jones, Acting Head
1946–1959: Henry D. Tiffany
1959–1960: Elizabeth Vandermoer, Acting Head
1960–1981: Wyatt Garfield
1981–1992: Marigolden Tritschler
1992–1998: Theodore G. Sharp
1998–1999: Wyatt Garfield, Interim Head; Edgar A. Gauthier, Interim Head
1999–2014: Scott R. Reisinger
2014–2022: James P. "Trey" Cassidy III

Bancroft's Learning Lab Method

Using an active, student-centered teaching approach we call the Learning Laboratory Method (LLM), Bancroft helps students develop the skills, knowledge, and character to thrive in today’s ever-changing global community. Flexible learning spaces and schedules, community partnerships, local field trips, international travel opportunities — every aspect of the School — supports LLM and feeds into a robust environment in which students own their learning.

The Admissions Team

Susie Whelan Horan

Director of Enrollment Management

admission@bancroftschool.org

Heather RoyAssociate Director of Admission - Middle & Upper School

hroy@bancroftschool.org

Meg Byron

Associate Director of Admission - Lower School & Hope Graham Program

mbyron@bancroftschool.org

Enrich

Schedule a Tour

Experience what it means to own your learning. Schedule a visit to our campus today.