Brooks School

Brooks School
Name	Brooks School
Established	1926
Type	Private, boarding & day
Head	John R. Packard
City	North Andover
State	Massachusetts
Country	United States
Campus	Suburban, 251 acres
Enrollment	~385
Faculty	~70
Colors	Blue & white
Mascot	Shepard
Affiliations	Independent School League, National Association of Independent Schools

Brooks School. Founded in 1926 by the Reverend Endicott Peabody, the founder of Groton School, Brooks is a co-educational, college-preparatory boarding and day school for grades 9–12. Situated on the shores of Lake Cochichewick in North Andover, Massachusetts, the school emphasizes a rigorous academic program within a close-knit community, preparing students for leadership and service. Its mission is rooted in the principles of intellectual growth, ethical development, and meaningful contribution.

History

The school was established through a generous gift from Mrs. G. Brooks, a descendant of the original settler John Brooks, for whom the Merrimack Valley town of North Andover is named. The founding headmaster, Frank D. Ashburn, a graduate of Yale University and former faculty member at Phillips Academy Andover, shaped its early character, drawing inspiration from the New England boarding school tradition. Throughout the 20th century, it evolved significantly, admitting day students in 1971 and becoming fully co-educational in 1979. Key figures in its development have included headmasters such as H. Peter A. Benelli and Lawrence W. Becker, who oversaw major expansions of its facilities and academic offerings. The school has maintained a long-standing affiliation with the Episcopal Church while welcoming students of all backgrounds.

Campus

The 251-acre campus features a blend of traditional Georgian and modern buildings centered around a main quadrangle overlooking Lake Cochichewick. Historic structures include the original Schoolhouse, Alumni Hall, and the Chapel of St. George, while contemporary additions feature the Center for the Arts, the Robert L. Underwood Auditorium, and the McIntosh Center for Mathematics and Science. Athletic facilities are extensive, including the Henry T. Lane Gymnasium, the John H. Foote '49 Rink for ice hockey, numerous playing fields, and a boathouse for the crew team on the lake. The campus also encompasses wooded trails, student residences like Peabody House and St. Mark's House, and the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library.

Academics

The academic program follows a traditional liberal arts curriculum, requiring courses in English literature, history, mathematics, laboratory science, and world languages such as Latin, French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese. Advanced study is available through a wide selection of Advanced Placement courses and honors sections across all disciplines. Distinctive programs include the Brooks School Washington Program, a semester-long study of American government in Washington, D.C., and the Bray Innovation Lab, which emphasizes engineering and design thinking. The school maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio, fostering a Harkness-style pedagogical approach in many classrooms, and all seniors complete a capstone project prior to graduation.

Student life

Residential life is organized around a house system, with faculty families living alongside students in dormitories like Ashburn House and Ward House. The school schedule includes required attendance at bi-weekly chapel services, which are non-denominational and often feature addresses from students, faculty, or outside speakers. A broad array of extracurricular activities includes debate with the Brooks Debate Society, publications like the literary magazine The Brooksian, and numerous community service initiatives through the Community Service Board. Weekends offer organized trips to cultural venues in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, as well as on-campus social events and performances by groups like the Brooks Chamber Singers.

Athletics

Athletics are a core component of the experience, with all students required to participate in interscholastic or intramural sports each term. The school competes in the Independent School League against rivals such as Phillips Exeter Academy, Milton Academy, and St. Paul's School. Traditional strengths include boys' and girls' ice hockey, which plays in the Prep Hockey Conference, and rowing, which trains on Lake Cochichewick and competes at events like the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships. Other notable programs include lacrosse, soccer, and squash. The mascot, the Shepard, honors a beloved campus dog from the school's early years.

Notable alumni

Graduates have achieved prominence in diverse fields such as politics, arts, and business. In public service, they include former United States Senator John Chafee, former Governor of Massachusetts Paul Cellucci, and diplomat William vanden Heuvel. The arts are represented by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet James Merrill, novelist John P. Marquand, and actress Michele Lee. Leaders in industry and media include former NBCUniversal executive Robert C. Wright, and Forbes magazine publisher Timothy C. Forbes. Other distinguished alumni encompass Olympic rower Aquil Abdullah, historian David McCullough, and environmentalist Henry L. Diamond.

Category:Educational institutions established in 1926 Category:Private high schools in Massachusetts Category:Boarding schools in Massachusetts