Cushing Academy Boston

• Founded: in 1865
• Location: Ashburnham, Massachusetts, USA
• Age of students: 12-18 years
• Total number of students: 445 people (about 30% of foreigners)
• Type of program: joint (mixed)
• Type of accommodation: residence (board, more than 372 people)
• Language of instruction: English.

Today Cushing Academy Boston (Cushing Academy Boston School) is considered one of the oldest and most prestigious boarding schools in the United States working on a mixed educational system: boys and girls from both the US and other countries can equally learn here - More than 26 states are represented in the institution according to the latest statistics (foreigners in the school are about 30%). Founded by Cushing Academy Boston (School Cushing Academy Boston) was in 1865: its founder and main investor was entrepreneur and philanthropist Thomas Parkman Cushing.

The academic course of Cushing Academy Boston is considered quite complex: it is a prestigious, high-quality education that prepares young students independent, independent and confident individuals who are ready to enter the best world universities and build a successful career in the future. The academic program here is successfully combined with the active development of personal qualities - ambition, purposefulness, analytical and critical thinking, diligence - and "extra-curricular skills": creative skills, sports and physical training. The school community provides pupils with all-round assistance, encourages active participation in the life of Cushing Academy Boston, academic and extra-curricular employment, aspiration for self-development and education.

The common uniform here is not accepted, as well as the strict religious course - the school does not belong to the church, accepts students of any confession and religion, color, nationality and language.

For foreigners, it is possible to attend additional language classes "English as a Second Language" (ESL), but we recall that for enrollment it is necessary to confirm a fairly good level of knowledge (from the middle and above). The ESL program is specially designed for pupils for whom English is not native: so they can well prepare for effective teaching in school and university, more actively participate in the academic and extracurricular life of the school. For example, they organize an International Evening Dinner every year, a regular festival dedicated to the celebration of the Lunar New Year, cognitive trips and excursions - all this is done by a special International Club. In each class, no more than 10 people are engaged, which gives the teacher the opportunity to give each student a maximum of personal attention and carefully track personal progress, difficulties and achievements.

We also note the special program PG: this is an additional year of schooling for those who are not confident in their abilities and want to better prepare for entering a college, a higher school or a university.

Great attention is paid to professional university counseling. From the very first year of study at Cushing Academy Boston, the consultant helps students plan their educational and extracurricular plans, choose a college, faculty and specialty, prepare and submit documents correctly, prepare for exams and introductory interviews.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

Does graduating from a U.S. high school improve chances of getting into top U.S. universities, such as Ivy League schools?

Attending a U.S. high school doesn't necessarily enhance the quality of your application, but it can prepare you for the educational format in the U.S. For Ivy League admissions, a high GPA and proficiency in English are basic requirements. What makes an application stand out is a well-rounded, unique profile demonstrating potential to excel and contribute to the university's reputation.

More than 85% of students permanently live on the school grounds at the boarding school - for them several cozy, comfortable houses were prepared. The 7 main houses are in the central part of the campus, a few more are located within walking distance from the main buildings, in a small distance.

Bedrooms with personal amenities are equipped with telephone and internet access, a place for study and shelves, storage cabinets for books, books and personal belongings. Most rooms are designed for 2 people (they are mostly given to beginners), there are also single-seat accommodation options: starting from the second year of study, students can choose for themselves a corps, a room and a neighbor with notification to the administration.

Residents and teachers are on duty at the residences 24/7: they monitor the observance of cleanliness, order and discipline, help students in solving any domestic or administrative issues. Among the responsible and successful students are the elders, who work closely with the administration and educators, help organize events and holidays, and regulate the life of each House.

Board meals - delicious, balanced and varied; on the preliminary application it is possible to organize an individual ration (for medical / religious indications). The supplier of food for students is the company Aramark: it is recognized in the US food industry leader, has developed several innovative unique concepts for creating not only useful but also delicious, mouth-watering dishes.

Activity list: air hockey, excursions, table tennis

The main goal of the school is the harmonious and all-round development of students, therefore extra-curricular activities are assigned a very important role. A large number of electives and events are organized for students (especially on weekends), excursions and concerts, carnivals and theatrical performances, film screenings, various clubs, clubs and interest studios.

1) Art, creativity and design

Through art, each student can express himself, his feelings and moods, display personal experiences and history - and the school's programs are adapted for both beginners and more experienced creators who want to learn new tools, techniques and techniques.

• Fine arts here are taught at a level well above the national average - well-established infrastructure and equipment for classes, professional educators and the widest choice of courses give students every opportunity. You can master jewelry art (work with silver and ornamental stones), sculpture and ceramics, stained glass and glass molding (including glass melting), graphics or painting, engage in photography or architectural design.
• Theatrical and dramatic art gives students the opportunity to work both on stage and behind the scenes. Before lunch, students are engaged in classrooms and improve the theoretical knowledge of the material, and in the evening hours rehearse, write and direct plays and performances, work with costumes, scenery, light and sound.
• The choreography is closely connected with the work of the drama studio - many young dancers participate in the big annual production of the Winter Musical: it can be both a classical work and a modern popular production. Twice a year choreographic production is staged, usually in the spring and autumn seasons.
• Music: a huge number of bands - choirs, jazz bands, orchestras, chamber or baroque music collectives. You can study the history and theory of music, take individual lessons in playing instruments or vocals.

Graduates of Cushing Academy Boston often become recognized, talented and highly paid artists, artists, athletes or scientists, after going to prestigious universities of artistic orientation after school. With the students are engaged both school teachers, and invited artists or specialists, there are educational tours, excursion thematic trips both in the USA and abroad. The most talented students have the opportunity to show their work to the world in the city, to participate in major exhibitions in Boston, New York and even London.

2) Sports

Physical development, strength and endurance are considered one of the oldest traditions of the students of Cushing Academy Boston - this is most evident in the development of athletics. With the students  there are excellent qualified coaches: they are ready to teach both beginners and more experienced, advanced athletes, they are able to work both individually and with teams and teams. Student teams Cushing Academy Boston participate in competitions throughout New England, the USA and even travel abroad to international tournaments. The number of sports available to students on an amateur and professional level is simply huge (some of them are divided by season):

• Athletics
• Ice hockey
• tennis
• football (soccer)
• lacrosse
• American football
• skating
• general fitness
• exercise in the gym
• fishing
• field hockey
• skiing
• baseball
• cross-country running
• basketball
• golf
• volleyball
• softball and others.

3) Clubs and communities of interest

Each student will find something to do here and a whole team of new like-minded people!

• socially useful works, volunteering
• environmental protection
• Cultural club
• 3D printing
• literary magazine The Hatch
• extreme basketball league
• UN Youth Model
• creation and management of virtual projects
• E-book readers club
• animated circle
• yoga section
• Foreign club (foreign languages ​​and culture)
• "Young investors" and much more.

The initiative of students in the creation and management of clubs is only encouraged: if there is no community in the school yet, but the students believe that it needs to be created, the administration will allocate all necessary forces and resources for this.

4) Excursions, field trips and thematic trips

On weekends, the students cheerfully, with pleasure and pleasure spend time both on trips and on campus - the administration organizes for them a rich and diverse extracurricular program:

• joint screenings on the big screen
• disco and dance marathons
• International evenings: languages, culture, cuisine
• a meeting of hostels and joint events in the Houses
• Theater performances, performances, concerts and performances
• evenings in residences
• sea ​​fishing
• pizza parties
• ski trips
• festive and elegant Graduation Ball
• joint sports, tournaments, relay races and competitions
• musical concerts and performances.

Excursions outside the school territory are not only entertainment trips, but also various scientific expeditions, socially useful and charitable events, cognitive days off:

• Mountain day: the whole school (and students, and the administration) annually make an ascent to the Monandok mountain (classes are canceled on this day)
• Excursions to the most interesting cities of New England: Lexington, Concord, Salem and Plymouth
• Travel to other states: Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut
• Sightseeing tours, walks and shopping in Ashburname and much, much more.

• According to 2019 information, the average SAT score is 1340, and the average ACT score is 32.

A spacious campus (an area of ​​more than 162 acres) Cushing Academy Boston is less than 100 kilometers from Boston, Massachusetts' main city, located in the heart of Ashburnham. On the campus for students everything that can be needed for study, living, sports and leisure activities is prepared:

• The main educational building with spacious, bright auditoriums and modern equipment
• Innovative Center for Fine Arts Emily Fisher Landau
• own bookstore
• a lot of sports fields, halls, grounds, several stadiums: indoor and outdoor, for individual lessons and team sports
• comfortable residences for living
• its post office
• medical Center
• an extensive library with electronic and printed sources
• computer classes
• digital learning center with self-education zones
• numerous scientific and practical laboratories for study and research
• several cafes, coffee shops and shops within walking distance of the campus
• various creative and craft workshops
• The Student Center is the main place for leisure, rest and communication of students - it is open 7 days a week: a room with video games, a swimming pool, laundry and dry cleaning, a hall for events and concerts.

The school's medical center is ready to provide qualified assistance to any student 24 hours a day: 24/7 professional nurses are on duty, there are general practitioners during the day, and if necessary hospitalization of the patient is taken to the Heywood Hospital nearby (4 miles).

It is also worth mentioning the excellent, innovative Center for Fine Arts Emily Fisher Landau, which provides students with the widest opportunities for self-expression - the visual arts here are developed at a much higher level than the national average. The ceramic studio owns 9 pottery wheels, electric and wood burning furnaces, an extruder and special apparatus for smooth, easy rolling of clay. In the photo studio students work with professional digital equipment Epson (printers, film drying, more than 12 premium magnifiers) and special equipment for making (burning) CD / DVD discs. Equipped with a special studio for jewelry: here you can make dining utensils and instruments, jewelry made of silver, see a unique collection of forging tools (there are samples of 1880!), There are many workshops for graphics, drawing and painting. They carry students and classes in a glass workshop: under the guidance of professional artists they will learn how to make amazing glass ornaments, work with copper foil and solder glass, create beautiful stained-glass windows.

The Academic Center named after Joseph R. Curry also helps students to improve in the academic part and in their hobbies. There is a spacious dance studio and rehearsal rooms for individual lessons, a theater laboratory, ultramodern multimedia laboratories and multi-channel sound recording studios.

Tuition fee at Cushing Academy Boston on the main program is $ 59,750 (including boarding and boarding, leisure and entertainment, sports and excursions). The price of summer courses is $ 10,395 for 5 weeks (including accommodation and meals at the boarding house, teaching aids and materials, basic medical insurance for the entire period).

The indicated cost is not included and is paid additionally:

• Registration fee
• Examination Boards
• Deposit for tuition
• Payment for materials for art studios and workshops = $ 350 / course (only for summer programs for 5 weeks)
• Additional academic and language classes (optional): ESL course = $ 9000 / year, academic support for foreigners = from $ 8000 / year, individual academic support = from $ 15400 / year
• Additional leisure activities and excursions (optional): Saturday trip to Boston for the whole day = $ 325
• Air tickets in both directions
• Transfer in both directions = from 60 $ / trip
• Compulsory medical insurance
• Laundry service = $ 135
• Personal pocket expenses
• Visa fees and services, translation and certification of documents
• Consular fee (paid at the Embassy).

Extras:

• Transfer (one way) 60 USD
• Deposit for a course/programme 500 USD
• Study materials
• Visa fees
• Flight tickets
• Medical insurance
• Registration fee (for a programme/course) 6500 USD

Requirements for applicants become stricter, depending on the age of the student and class, in the place in which he aspires:

• Grade 9-10: SSAT test results (Secondary School Admission Test)
• Grade 11-12: PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) or SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) test results.

Foreign students should additionally prepare the results of the TOEFL test (Test of English as a Foreign Language), demonstrating a sufficiently high level of English. For them, (most often) there is a small internal introductory testing, which distributes needy students to ESL classes: a written, oral block plus listening.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision