The Bement School provides an education based on time-honored school traditions and values for children in kindergarten through ninth grade, day and boarding.
From the classrooms to the dorms, we live and learn as a family, while encouraging responsibility for our own work and actions.
Our rich, secondary school preparatory curriculum motivates and challenges students with thematically coordinated courses, a celebrated fine arts program, and diverse athletic offerings.
The student/teacher ratio is 5:1 and class size averages 12 students.
A three-week mini-term gives the entire school community an opportunity to study in-depth a common theme. Topics have included the Dominican Republic, food, diversity, the environment, medieval times, and the ocean.
Bement actively seeks an academically diverse, international, and multicultural student body.
Recent graduates have matriculated at following secondary schools: Deerfield, NMH, Williston, Andover, Milton, Suffield, Choate, Hotchkiss, Taft, Berkshire, Loomis Chaffee, Emma Willard, Lawrenceville, Peddie, Westminster, Mercersburg, Miss Porter's, and Blair and many other fine schools.
Our junior boarders, grades 3 through 9, live eco-friendly dorms of 10 students with dorm parents who commit themselves to closely monitoring each boarder's personal as well as academic growth.
The pervasive atmosphere at Bement is that of a family, learning and living together.
Students and adults at Bement work together to create a climate of acceptance, kindness, stimulation, and challenge in which the academic, creative, physical, and emotional growth of each child is nurtured and realized and to best prepare them for secondary schools.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Top Ranked MA School
- Grades: Kindergarten-9
- Enrollment: 229 students
- Yearly Tuition: $32,930
- Acceptance rate: 45%
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Dec. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
The Bement School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Massachusetts for:
School Overview
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-9
Year Founded
1925
Summer School Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details
School Calendar
Student Body
Total Students
229 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
12%
State avg.: 29%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
45 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
34%
Average Class Size
12 students
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Friday dress is khaki skirt/pants with blue blazer, tie with collared shirt
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Dec. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
$32,930
Tuition Notes
Kindergarten: $24,236
Grades 1-2: $24,236
Grades 3-5: $25,280
Grades 6-9: $32,930
Boarding: $81,855
% on Financial Aid
36%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$14,450
Acceptance Rate
45%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Kimberly C. Loughlin
Admissions Associate
Roselle Garro
Endowment Size
$12 million
Sports
Total Sports Offered
17 sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
15 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Eco Club, Gay-Straight Alliance, Literary Magazine, Math Club, Robotics Club, Student Council
Arts and Music Programs:
Concert Choir, Dance, Drama/Theater, String Ensemble
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Circus Arts, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Skiing and Snowboarding
Eco Club, Gay-Straight Alliance, Literary Magazine, Math Club, Robotics Club, Student Council
Arts and Music Programs:
Concert Choir, Dance, Drama/Theater, String Ensemble
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Circus Arts, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Skiing and Snowboarding
School Notes
- Fine arts for every child every day
- Daily physical education and sport offerings with team sports starting in grade 5
- Academic rigor for a range of student learners
- Small boarding population allows for individual attention
- Diverse international population
- World language instruction grades K-9
- LEAP
- Nestled in the heart of Historic Deerfield, Bement offers a unique experience for our forty boarding students. The small size of our boarding community means that each of the four ten-person dormitories feels like a real home. The dorms are centered around common rooms with features including fireplaces, tables with space to spread out and play cards or board games, kitchenettes, and plenty of couches and chairs so that the entire dorm can relax together. Family-style meals in our dining hall provide an opportunity for students to dine with a diverse group of peers and dorm parents. Boarders often pitch in to help take care of our campus: they help our kitchen staff set up for meals and clean up afterward, shovel snow during our New England winters, and are responsible for daily and weekly chores in the dorm, including doing dishes, taking out the trash and recycling, and vacuuming. Just like the members of a family, Bement students and adults work together to live and learn successfully.
- Bement boarders build close relationships with many of the adults in our community. With just ten students per dorm, the two dorm parents who lead each dorm get to know each boarder well. From eating three meals a day together to helping with homework, from relaxing in the dorm to participating in exciting weekend activities together, boarding students and their dorm parents build strong relationships during the school year. Many of our dorm parents also work as teachers and coaches, allowing students to interact with their dorm parents in the classrooms and on the playing fields as well as in the dorms. Boarding students also have an opportunity to see some of their classroom teachers in a different context when these teachers proctor evening boarder study halls. All teachers at Bement, and especially dorm parents, are fully committed to making Bement a wonderful home for our boarding students. It is not uncommon to see teachers taking a group of boarders to a special dinner, to church on a Sunday, to a play at a local school or theater, or out for ice cream after a sports game!
- Our weekdays in the dorm are busy and full. Each day begins with the entire boarding community gathering for breakfast in the dining hall. Then, it`s off to a full day of classes, followed by sports practices or games. After an hour of downtime in the dorm, it`s time for dinner and study hall. Evenings in the dorm are a time to call, email, or Skype home, make a snack, get homework help from a dorm parent, and prepare for the next day.
- On weekends, we take full advantage of all that our beautiful campus, the Pioneer Valley, and New England have to offer. Weekends are full of a variety of activities. Some of these are trips to other places, like visits to local fairs and festivals, malls, movie theaters, and museums like Mass MoCA and the Norman Rockwell Museum. We also enjoy excursions to local hotspots like Northampton and Shelburne Falls, and special, longer trips to Boston and New York City. Other activities are closer to home, like swimming at our head of school`s house, competitive rounds of bingo in our dining hall, bike rides on Old Main Street, hikes up the nearby Pocumtuck Ridge, sports games, and craft workshops on campus. Each weekend, we strive to strike a balance between time to relax and study, time spent in small, dorm-based groups, and time as a full boarding community.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does The Bement School cost?
The Bement School's tuition is approximately $32,930 for private students.
What is the acceptance rate of The Bement School?
The acceptance rate of The Bement School is 45%, which is lower than the national average of 69%.
Does The Bement School offer a summer program?
Yes, The Bement School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What sports does The Bement School offer?
The Bement School offers 17 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Dance, Diving, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Soccer, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee and Winter Track. The Bement School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in Massachusetts for most sports offered.
What is The Bement School's ranking?
The Bement School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Massachusetts for: Most sports offered and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for The Bement School?
The application deadline for The Bement School is Dec. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling (applications are due on Dec. 15 / Feb. 1 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
School Reviews
5 10/27/2023
Bement is a school where the kids LOVE to learn. They also learn to socialize, play sports, eat meals together, have art and PE on a daily basis, learn new languages, and learn about different cultures. The Bement teachers truly care for each student and raise the bar so that each child stretches and reaches their potential!!!! Bement is simply amazing!!!! In every aspect!
5 6/23/2023
Class of 2019 here. It was a great place with a VERY strong math and history program that set me up very well for high school. Dorm life was amazing. I absolutely loved it there.
5 6/21/2021
Since starting at Bement in the 6th grade, I have watched my son blossom into a confident young man who has improved academically and socially. We are so delighted that we chose The Bement School because of the strong academic program, the amazing boarding experience, the athletic program, the music program, and the dedicated staff who have been there to support us from day one. As he moves on to high school, I am rest assured that he has all the skills necessary to succeed in high school and college with what The Bement School has taught him. I highly recommend Bement to families who want their young ones to learn to "fly on their own wings."
5 4/14/2021
Bement is a great place. The new leadership is doing an excellent job of navigating difficult times. We feel fortunate that the kids have been in-person all year even during a pandemic when most schools have been shut down. Challenging work and a well-rounded education.
5 2/24/2021
Despite all the challenges of this past year, Bement kept an even keel and maintained a balance of safe in-person academics, arts and athletics. This exceptional accomplishment represents community teamwork from administration, faculty, staff and families. Now more than ever, we are appreciative of Bement education!
5 2/22/2021
I am grateful for the way Bement has sought to make things as normal as possible during very difficult times. It has been a boon for my particular child to be able to BE at school and to be seen, heard, to play, to vibe off the other students and teachers, and to be held aloft by friends of all ages who come together with common goals, with inspiring actions, glued into place with love, respect, fun, passion and dedication, even in these times of great uncertainty. The Bement School truly does help our kids learn to fly on their own wings. I cannot stress enough that in a quest to find a school aligned with higher values and higher learning, where the physical and emotional is an essential component of education, Bement is 32 flavors, and then some. My own child has been finding his way, sometimes needing the light held by others, to see his own way forward. You can count on Bement to shine the light for your child, so that your child can shine their own light for others on the path forward. My heart is full and happy when I see that my son is learning and doing and becoming in a place where he truly matters, and he KNOWS it.
5 2/9/2021
Our family LOVES this school! From the daily fine arts and P.E. classes to the small class sizes and constant communication from my children's teachers, Bement is all about community building. Our children have attended Bement since kindergarten, and we have been impressed by how the school has supported and encouraged their very different interests over the years. This school values integrity and respect for others, and the faculty model these traits daily.
5 2/4/2021
We spent two years researched and visited three top schools for our daughter prior to her start with Bement. We chose Bement because we loved the all-around and balanced approaches, family feel community and great teachers. Three years with Bement now, our daughter still cant wait to go to school every day :-). We love Bement teaches our daughter "Fly on your own wings"!
5 1/22/2021
We initially became interested in The Bement School for its teaching of foreign languages in the Lower School. Yet, after our five years here, have watched our son mature in confidence, depth of character, and excitement to learn & attend school from the cello to Algebra! We credit Bement — its incredibly dedicated teachers, staff & community for teaching to the whole child and fostering a true sense of belonging in our complicated world.
5 1/23/2020
Bement was a great school in 1964 when I had been a day student for eight years. It's better now. A wonderful place to be a kid.
5 10/7/2018
My two sons love this school. Recess at least 2 times a day, PE & arts every day, wonderful teachers!
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