Frequently Asked Questions

List of 13 frequently asked questions.

• Q. What are the advantages of an all-boys' school?

  A. As a school for boys, we focus on what makes boys tick, both individually and together. We believe that boys' schools can support boys particularly well. Here boys study, think, and achieve in the classroom without embarrassment or apology. They captain teams and star in plays, score goals and write musical scores, win debates and win games.
  
  We work hard to ensure that students leave Belmont Hill as ethical young men of integrity who will become responsible citizens — who will have a passion for learning and a willingness to work hard, take risks, and make a difference.
  
  Many educators believe that single-sex education offers students significant benefits. We endorse that which is positive about boys' schools, while striving to make certain that our students are sensitive to and well prepared for the world in which they live.
  
  Here are links to some resources that affirm the value of single-sex education:
  
  International Boys' School Coalition
  
  About.Com: Private Schools
  
  Boston Globe: The Wonders of a Single-Sex Education
  
  National Association for Single Sex Public Education
  
  
  While Belmont Hill is an all boys' school and has been since 1923, we interact with girls' schools in many different ways. Our students benefit from long-term relationships with two girls' schools in particular: The Winsor School in Boston and Dana Hall School in Wellesley.

• Q. Are school-related expenses other than tuition covered by financial aid?

  A. Yes! Depending on the amount of financial aid you receive, your son may be eligible for aid for books, transportation, technology needs (computer, graphing calculator), school trips (both global and domestic), and many other things. When in doubt, ask the Director of Financial Aid.

• Q. Does Belmont Hill offer AP courses?

  A. Students throughout the Upper School take Advanced Placement tests in 14 different subjects.  In May of 2019, 66 students in Grade 12 completed 219 AP tests, earning 202 scores of 3 or better (92%).

• Q. Is there financial aid available?

  A. Belmont Hill has a long history of socio-economic diversity, and is committed to bringing the best boys in the metro Boston area to its campus regardless of a family's ability to pay. Currently, Belmont Hill provides almost $5.6 million in aid and 27% of the boys enrolled receive some financial assistance. Families may request financial aid information and must submit applications by January 15. For more information on Belmont Hill's commitment to financial aid visit the financial aid homepage.

• Q. Where do students go after graduating from Belmont Hill?

  A.
  Colleges Accepting Members of the Class of 2020
  
  

  Allegheny College	Merrimack College
  American University	Miami University, Ohio
  Amherst College	University of Miami
  Arizona State University	Michigan State University
  Babson College	University of Michigan
  Bates College	Middlebury College
  Belmont University	New York University
  Bentley University	Northeastern University
  Boston College	Northwestern University
  Boston University	University of Notre Dame
  Bowdoin College	Occidental College
  Brandeis University	Pennsylvania State University
  Brigham Young University	University of Pennsylvania
  Brown University	Princeton University
  Bryant University	Providence College
  Bucknell University	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  College of Charleston	University of Rhode Island
  University of Chicago	Rice University
  University of Cincinnati	University of Richmond
  Claremont McKenna College	Rochester Institute of Technology
  Clark University	University of Rochester
  Colby College	Sacred Heart University
  Colgate University	Saint Anselm College
  University of Colorado at Boulder	University of San Diego
  Colorado College	Santa Clara University
  Columbia University	Savannah College of Art & Design
  University of Connecticut	Skidmore College
  Cornell University	University of South Carolina
  Dartmouth College	University of Southern California
  Davidson College	Southern Methodist University
  Dickinson	Syracuse University
  Elon University	The Ohio State University
  Emory University	University of Toronto
  Fairfield University	Trinity College
  Fordham University	Tufts University
  Franklin and Marshall College	Tulane University
  George Washington University	Union College
  Georgetown University	U.S. Air Force Academy
  University of Georgia	University College London
  Gettysburg College	Utah State University
  Hamilton College	University of Utah
  Harvard College	Vanderbilt University
  College of the Holy Cross	University of Vermont
  Indiana University	Villanova University
  Johns Hopkins University	University of Virginia
  Kenyon College	Wake Forest University
  King’s College London	Washington and Lee University
  Louisiana State University	Washington University in St. Louis
  University of Louisville	Wesleyan University
  Macalester College	College of William and Mary
  Marquette University	Williams College
  University of Maryland	University of Wisconsin
  University of Massachusetts, Amherst	Yale University
  University of Massachusetts, Boston
  University of Massachusetts, Lowell

  
  

• Q. Does Belmont Hill have a bus service?

  A. Belmont Hill currently runs six different bus routes through the city of Boston and the surrounding metropolitan area. Click here to see the routes and more information. 
  

• Q. What languages can I take at Belmont Hill School?

  A. For a small school we are fortunate to offer a fairly wide range of languages. All seventh and eighth grade students are required to take Latin, and then have the option to take any of our modern language offerings: Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese. New ninth grade students have the option of taking any of the four language offerings mentioned previously. Students who complete Latin 4 and take the Latin AP exam have the option of taking Ancient Greek.

• Q. How many spaces are available in each grade?

  A. Our two largest matriculation years are the 7th and 9th grade (Form I and Form III). In the seventh grade we generally seek a class of roughly 52 boys while in the ninth grade we have about 20-25 spaces. We also have 12-15 openings in our 8th grade (Form II) and 3-5 openings in grades 10 and 11 (Forms IV and V).

• Q. Are there opportunities for Belmont Hill students to interact with girls at nearby schools?

  A.

  While Belmont Hill is an all-boys' school, we interact with girls' schools in many different ways.  Boys benefit from our long term relationships with three girls' schools in particular: The Winsor School in Boston, Dana Hall School in Wellesley, and Newton Country Day School in Newton.  

   

  The Winsor School Connection

  Since 1973, Belmont Hill and Winsor, an all-girls' school in Boston, have collaborated on a number of projects, most notably in drama. The two schools work together on a newspaper (called The Panel), producing two joint issues per year, and also share a boathouse. The schools plan dances together, including Junior and Senior Proms, and social events, such as skating, open gym, dances, and carnivals, for younger students.  
  

   

  The Dana Hall School Connection

  Belmont Hill and Dana Hall enjoy a variety of joint activities, including dances that bring together girls from Dana Hall and boys from Belmont Hill. Additionally, the two schools have joined forces in the past to collaborate on community service projects.  Last year, ninth and tenth graders from both schools held a "Birthday in a Box" event.  

   

  The Newton Country Day School School Connection

  The seventh graders at Belmont Hill and Newton Country Day School spend a day together at the annual "We LEAD" event, which is facilitated by Peer Leaders and tackles relevant social and health issues.  The two schools alternate who hosts the conference.  Belmont Hill and Newton Country Day also join forces for the New Freedoms event, which unites seniors from the schools to discuss developing healthy habits and relationships.  

• Q. Why is the ninth grade a part of the Middle School?

  A. One of the things that makes Belmont Hill distinctive is that our 9th grade is a part of our Middle School. Whereas in many environments "freshmen" are relegated to the periphery, our 9th graders are expected to be leaders. For new students, this means that they will enter our school able to take an active role in many extra curricular activities while still receiving the nurturing academic support that our younger boys receive. Ninth grade students attend one proctored study hall a day and learn valuable study and organizational skills as they learn the valuable lessons of time management that is necessary for success in the Upper School.

• Q. What is the most important part of the application?

  A. While no one piece of the application process is more important than another, boys must demonstrate that they can excel in a rigorous academic program. Thus, a boy's transcript, recommendations and test scores are carefully reviewed by the admission committee. Though a strong academic record is important, we seek to enroll boys with widespread interests and talents. As a school we ask boys to take part in a whole host of academic, athletic, and extra-curricular activities, and boys who have the energy and interest to challenge themselves in different ways can have an outstanding impact on our campus. Finally, Belmont Hill faculty and students pride themselves on being a "character school," and the admission office is always aware of boys who demonstrate both leadership and outstanding character development.

• Q. What standardized tests do I need to take?

  A. All seventh and eighth grade (Forms I and II) applicants are required to take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). All ninth and tenth grade applicants (Forms III and IV) are expected to take the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT).
  
  

• Q. Why do you have a dress code?

  A. A dress code is one of the most valued traditions at Belmont Hill, but it is not without purpose. We feel that a dress code has a democratizing effect on our student body. Here, one cannot define or separate himself from the community by the manner in which he dresses. We are all one community, sharing similar goals, purposes, and even attire. However, this does not keep students from expressing themselves, as a quick visit to our campus will show boys wearing a vide variety of jacket styles and colors, wild ties, and interestingly matched shirts. Although the majority of our students wear khaki pants and blue blazers, boys are free to wear any colored or patterned slacks and jackets of their choosing.