Suffield Academy

We are glad you are interested in learning about Suffield Academy. our gorgeous campus, and our commitment to common goals and values. Suffield’s mission is important and unique. It is an essential part of who we are, guiding our philosophy and program.

Specifically, the mission reads: “Suffield Academy is a coeducational independent secondary school serving a diverse community of boarding and day students. Our school has a tradition of academic excellence combined with a strong work ethic. A commitment to scholarship and a respect for individual differences guide our teaching and curriculum. We engender among our students a sense of responsibility, and they are challenged to grow in a structured and nurturing environment. The entire academic, athletic, and extracurricular experience prepares our students for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and active citizenship.”

There is an emphasis here on helping students succeed, and focusing on the distance they travel during their years on the Suffield campus. Our mission also speaks to the nature of our community—what it feels like to be at Suffield. This is a school that combines challenging academics and high standards with an encouraging, supportive faculty. This clarity about who we are gives Suffield an important position in the independent school world. We hope you enjoy this website and that you will take an online tour of our offerings. Most of all, we hope it inspires you to come visit so you can see and feel what makes Suffield a truly special environment.

Suffield Academy is a coeducational independent secondary school serving a diverse community of day and boarding students. Our school has a tradition of academic excellence combined with a strong work ethic. A commitment to scholarship and a respect for individual differences guide our teaching and curriculum. We engender among our students a sense of responsibility, and they are challenged to grow in a structured and nurturing environment. The entire academic, athletic, and extracurricular experience prepares our students for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and active citizenship.

We take our mission statement to heart in all we do at Suffield. It is an essential part of who we are and guides our philosophy and program. This is a school that combines challenging academics and high standards with an encouraging, supportive faculty. This unwavering mission rests at the heart of why our school is thriving. Students come to this small New England town from all parts of the world, dedicating themselves to their studies and self-discovery. Each year brings new surprises as students discover unknown talents—sometimes it is the sports star who unearths an affinity for acting or the technology whiz who is surprised to find a passion at the potter’s wheel.

Our broad-based academic offerings derive from our faith in the liberal arts as a foundation for learning. The programming balances strong core curriculum with unique elective courses and a distinctive Leadership Program. From 16 AP prep courses, to our regional studies program, to our peer tutors and academic support—we have excellent offerings for everyone. The same is true in our extracurricular programs, where outstanding interscholastic athletic teams are complemented by robust arts and non-competitive options like SOLO.

Over the past decade new facilities have been constructed for academics, athletics, the arts, college counseling, residential life, yoga and mindfulness, and a recently expanded dining room and student center. We care about what it feels like to be at Suffield and want each student to be successful and inspired. The soul of our school is its tremendous clarity of purpose, with young women and men being guided by nurturing, deeply invested adults. The success stories we see each year are remarkably uplifting—whether they be graduates enrolling at the most selective colleges and universities, students heading out to focus on areas they had never tried before arriving here, or most importantly, young women and men leaving with self-confidence and the knowledge that they have the skills to succeed. There is so much more going on at Suffield than what happens in the classroom, and this clarity about who we are gives Suffield an important position in the independent school world.

At Suffield, faculty members serve as teachers, dorm parents, advisors, and coaches. The close-knit relationships between students and faculty are at the heart of what makes Suffield so special. Our community is large enough to allow for a richly diverse population, yet small enough to make every face on campus familiar. This is an environment that has a profound impact on people’s lives, where lifelong friendships are made, and where individuals can make a difference.