Sprawled across a lush 300-acre campus, Loomis Chaffee’s 700+ member-strong student body is made up of 70% boarding students and 30% day students.
Many of the best preparatory schools include both categories of students, ensuring greater diversity within the learning and residential environments.
To touch more on diversity, Loomis Chaffee is proud of the cultural diversity within its student population, who hail from 50 countries and 33 states.
Learning environments are primarily centered on hands-on experiences or Socratic discussions. Traditional departments like science, math and foreign language exist, but the course offerings are considerably more specific and interdisciplinary than their counterparts at other schools.
Within the social sciences department, for example, all classes are elective. Students can enroll in courses like Neuropsychology or Contemporary Economic Perspectives.
Many English courses in high schools are simply called English I, II, III, or IV. At Loomis Chaffee, there are several options for each level of English. For instance, students in English IV can focus their analysis and writing on graphic novels or stories of war.
A Loomis Chaffee education will certainly prepare disciplined, imaginative learners for high-octane positions in technology- and business-centered areas.
Ahead, we discuss details on Loomis Chaffee’s acceptance rate, ranking, and tuition. We’ll be sure to touch on exciting athletic programs and extracurricular activities before sharing a summary of the application process. Finally, we’ll divulge more appealing amenities that draw students to apply annually!
Loomis Chaffee Acceptance Rate
Loomis Chaffee’s acceptance rate is 18%.
Admission to Loomis Chaffee has steadily grown more competitive throughout the years. Stellar applicants boast nearly impeccable academic records and impressive extracurricular resumes.
Standardized test scores are part of the application review process.
The middle 50% of students representing the incoming class of 2021 scored between 630-730 on the evidence-based reading and writing section of the SAT, between 590-760 on the math section of the SAT, and 28-33 for the ACT composite.
Those scholars who are special enough to obtain entry to Loomis Chaffee will undoubtedly spend most of their learning time in classes averaging 11 students.
The 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures that students receive significant one-on-one attention from a supportive village of 180 faculty.
Loomis Chaffee students have over 250 courses at their disposal, 70 of which are offered at the advanced or college level of rigor.
Within the Computer Science, Design Thinking, and Entrepreneurship Department, a currently featured course is Problem Solving for the Greater Good.
In this class, students apply design thinking principles to on-campus or community issues, one of which has global or environmental implications.
Loomis Chaffee Alumni
Loomis Chaffee’s alumni network is a powerhouse of high achievers in the business, arts, and government realms.
Various political figures, including former United States Secretary of State George Shultz, graduated from Loomis Chaffee. Philanthropist John D. Rockefeller is also an illustrious graduate of the school.
Diana Farrell, a graduate of the class of 1983, has held several interesting positions throughout her career. At one time, she was the founding president and CEO of the JPMorgan Chase Institute. Later, she served as a Council on Foreign Relations member and as Deputy Assistant on Economic Policy to former President Barack Obama.
Speaking of President Obama, Loomis Chaffee has a fashion connection to former First Lady Michelle Obama. Graduate and famous fashion designer Jason Wu designed the First Lady’s inaugural ball gown, among other stunning creations.
It is no surprise that many Loomis Chaffee alumni go on to experience a thriving career in the entrepreneurship world.
The school’s facilities connect students to cutting-edge technologies and provide spaces to design prototypes and test their creative ideas.
The Pearson Hub for Innovation is one such place on campus and serves as the headquarters for the school’s robotics program.
Loomis Chaffee Tuition
Tuition at Loomis Chaffee depends on the student’s program: day or boarding. Boarding students pay $65,350 per year, while day students pay $49,670 per year.
There are additional fees included in a Loomis Chaffee preparatory school education. All students pay a $960 technology fee and a health center fee ($625 for boarders and $300 for day students). International students pay an extra fee of $1,060.
What are the fees actually used for? The technology fee covers access to data and student-utilized networks, libraries, research resources, etc.
Students can sign up to receive alerts from an emergency notification system and use a Microsoft 365 Office account.
Did you know that Loomis Chaffee actually operated as a tuition-free school through the 1960s? In the 2022-2023 academic year, Loomis Chaffee gifted over $12 million in need-based financial aid to an entire third of its student body.
Students can additionally take advantage of a lending library for textbooks and various supplies.
Several scholarships and grants are available, including the Kravis Scholars Program. Named for alumnus Henry R. Kravis, a graduate of the Loomis Chaffee class of 1963, the program provides financial aid grants to students who demonstrate profound leadership aptitude and potential.
Scholars receive an overseas travel grant, a pre-Loomis summer orientation, a free laptop, and access to an exclusive mentorship program.
Loomis Chaffee Ranking
Loomis Chaffee has recently been ranked the #3 best boarding high school in Connecticut and the #4 best STEM high school in Connecticut, according to popular college and high school rankings site Niche.
In addition to its glistening 100% graduation rate and Ivy League-represented list of schools its graduates frequently attend, Loomis Chaffee builds its ranking on leadership.
It is clear that school leaders value an education that cultivates leaders who think critically and work together well. Opportunities for leaders include positions as tour guides, orientation leaders, student club officers, peer mentors, and international student ambassadors.
Loomis Chaffee is also highly regarded for its emphasis on strong writing skills. In their sophomore years, students meet in once-weekly writing workshops, where they draft, receive feedback, and apply feedback to a broad range of writing purposes, audiences, and formats.
Opportunities for writers to flex their talents include The Log, the official student newspaper; The Hourglass, a global news forum; and The Loom, a student-led literary magazine.
What Athletics and Extracurriculars are Offered at Loomis Chaffee?
Loomis Chaffee’s athletics department houses over 60 varsity, JV, and III-level teams within 30+ sports.
One thing’s for sure: Loomis Chaffee dominates in the Founders League. It is perfectly normal for several of their teams to maintain a winning streak of five or more championships within a span of a decade.
The women’s volleyball team at Loomis Chaffee is undoubtedly an example of that excellence, and its recent alumni have matriculated to colleges like Brown and Sewanee.
The women’s ice hockey team won the most recent Founders League Championship in 2021 before sending exceptional student-athletes to universities like Dartmouth, Princeton, and Middlebury College.
Other consistently victorious teams include the boys swimming team, boys’ baseball team, girls’ lacrosse team, and boys cross-country running, track, and field teams. Additional athletic amenities include athletic training, physical therapy and rehabilitation, mental healthcare services, and nutritionists.
Students have stimulating social lives at Loomis Chaffee. In addition to a host of athletic offerings, Loomis Chaffee advertises 75+ clubs and organizations within the arts, cultural, and academic niches.
The area is home to bowling alleys, movie theaters, a smattering of restaurants, and even a Six Flags amusement park!
Community service is an integral part of student social activity. Many join the Community Engagement program, while others tutor young students.
Outlets like the Pelican Service Organization – the school’s most extensive and oldest student-led service club – connect students with numerous community initiatives and partners.
From therapeutic riding barns to children’s hospitals, volunteers visit diverse settings to invest in their community.
Should You Apply to Loomis Chaffee?
Several key initiatives at Loomis Chaffee make it a worthwhile preparatory school to apply to.
The Global and Environmental Studies Certificate (GESC) is available for students who wish to engage in interdisciplinary, experiential learning opportunities focused on sustainability and conservation.
There is an exciting line-up of faculty-led study-away options at Loomis Chaffee this year. In March, students will seek to understand how African American history and Gullah-Geechee culture are preserved in Savannah, Georgia, and the Sea Islands.
Another group will embark on a journey to the town of Santa Maria de Dota in Costa Rica, where they will participate in a community project.
In June, scholars will investigate a high-density area of centenarians in Sardinia, Italy, one of the world’s five Blue Zones (centenarians meaning people who live to be over 100 years old).
Opportunities change every year, but most emphasize investigation and sustainability as themes.
Applying to Loomis Chaffee is an excellent choice for ambitious, high-achieving students – especially those who enjoy participating in high-competition sports teams.
The school is selective, so it is essential to use your application materials as a way to stand out among other impressive candidates.
First, submit an inquiry form. Next, schedule an in-person or digital interview. After that, you can submit your application, fee, official transcripts, and three letters of recommendation: one from an English language arts teacher, one from a mathematics teacher, and a School Report (typically completed by a guidance counselor).
Loomis Chaffee does accept additional recommendations and actually encourages them for students who opt not to provide standardized test scores in their application packages.
Another distinct feature of the Loomis Chaffee application process is the Parent/Guardian Statement. All parents or guardians must sign this form.
