Do I need to be a Roman Catholic to attend the School?
Although Portsmouth is one of two Catholic boarding schools on the East coast, and two-thirds of the student body is Catholic, you do not have to be Catholic to attend. Our non-Catholic students often remark about how comfortable they are in a Catholic environment in which they are not pressured to amend their beliefs, but are encouraged to share their personal opinions both in and out of the classroom.
I noticed that all students are required to play a sport each season. Do I have to be an athlete to attend the School?
Portsmouth has enjoyed a fine tradition of successful athletics, fielding teams comprised of both proven athletes and also students who arrive at Portsmouth with no prior athletic experience. In addition to the afternoon sports selections, students may opt to share their time with others through a community service internship or participate in a dramatic production of the theater department.
What do students do on the weekends?
Each weekend, Portsmouth provides activities both on and off-campus in order to entertain our students. Regularly scheduled dances, lectures, athletic contests, and movies occupy students' free time, as well as frequent bus trips to Newport, Providence, Boston, and local mountains for skiing.
What is the role of the Monastery on campus?
The 13 Benedictine monks of the Monastery own and operate the School, working in both the administration and the classroom. Each dormitory is assigned a member of the Monastery to act as a Chaplain for the House. The influence of the monks -- the Christian beliefs, values, and ideals their daily lives embody, their passion for scholarship and love of beauty, their zestful engagement with life -- deeply affects every Portsmouth Abbey student. The relationships formed between students and monks last through the years with a permanence that insures that graduates will find a familiar face upon visiting their alma mater, creating strong alumni ties.
Will I have a roommate?
Normally, new students are given a roommate in order to make it easier to adapt to a new environment. For applicants to the upper Forms, either a roommate or a single room is a possibility, depending upon the available space in the dormitory.
When can I see my family?
Abbey students enjoy three, four-day weekends during the academic year, one each term. In addition, students are given a week-long break at Thanksgiving, approximately a three-week vacation for the Christmas holidays, and another approximately three-week vacation in March as a spring break. On weekends when School is in session, students are allowed to take overnights to either go home or to a friend's house, leaving on Saturday night and returning Sunday evening in time for Study Hall. Families and friends are always welcome on campus for sporting events and other School functions, such as lectures, theatrical performances, and athletic awards banquets.
I am a day student applicant. How will I feel being a day student at a boarding school?
Portsmouth is approximately 70% boarding students and 30% day students, the latter coming from within a half-hour radius of the School. Although the Abbey is a boarding school primarily, day students are valued members of the School community. Each day student is encouraged to interact with boarding students. Portsmouth has been proud of the lack of segregation between boarding and day students on campus, creating an environment in which day students experience the cultural diversity of the boarding program, and boarders befriend day students and are able to visit their homes.
Where is the School located?
Portsmouth Abbey is located in Portsmouth, on Aquidneck Island, in the state of Rhode Island (Directions & Map). Approximately one hour and 15 minutes south of Boston, 40 minutes southeast of Providence, and four hours from New York. The School is also 15 minutes from the historic tourist town of Newport, providing our students with a myriad of activities, restaurants, and shops to visit on the weekends.
What kind of student do I need to be to apply to Portsmouth?
Applicants to Portsmouth Abbey typically possess an academic record of high achievement, or a record of moderate achievement with the potential for greater success. The demanding academic curriculum at Portsmouth requires that the application process strictly enroll only students who possess the academic skills to succeed at the School.
What colleges do Portsmouth's graduates attend?
In the past years, Portsmouth has enjoyed a very fine college matriculation record, sending students to Harvard, Brown, Cornell, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, the University of Chicago, Boston College, NYU, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy, among others. A complete college matriculation list is available on the College Counseling Office homepage.
How do I get in touch with my child's teachers?
Each student at Portsmouth is assigned a faculty advisor, a member of the faculty to oversee and direct their academic progress at the School. Students meet with their advisors each week to insure that their learning is proceeding smoothly. As a parent, you are encouraged to contact your child's advisor regularly to receive updates on their studies. The home phone numbers of all faculty members are listed in the student handbook, and both parents and students are encouraged to use them.
How do I arrange for extra help?
The schedule for each academic class day contains a 40-minute conference period during which the entire School is free. The purpose of this common period is to facilitate the arrangement of extra-help sessions between students and faculty. These meetings can be for either voluntary or mandatory sessions, at the initiative of either the teacher or student. This is merely the most formal time for extra help. As Portsmouth is primarily a boarding school, the vast majority of faculty live on-campus, allowing students to seek extra-instruction at odd hours of the day, even late at night.
How can I get more information about Portsmouth Abbey?
To receive more information, you can either call the Office of Admissions at (401) 683-2005, or contact us via fax at (401) 683-6766, or e-mail to: admissions@portsmouthabbey.org or click here and fill out an inquiry form. We look forward to hearing from you and introducing you to Portsmouth Abbey School.
International Students Frequently Asked Questions
Which standardized test do I have to take for admission to Portsmouth Abbey School?
The only test that the Admissions Office requires is the SSAT (Secondary School Aptitude Test). It is mandatory for all students who apply and cannot be replaced with a TOEFL or SLEP test. If a student has taken a SLEP or TOEFL, they may enclose it with their application if they wish, but it's not required.
Will I be able to travel home for vacations?
Portsmouth Abbey School gives its students ample time for traveling, especially its international students. Students will, on average, have a two-and-one-half-week vacation for Christmas and another in March after the winter term ends. The Thanksgiving vacation is also nine days long, giving most students enough time to travel home. Students who are not able to fly home for a long weekend are often able to stay at a local host family's home.
How do I get to the School from the airport?
Prior to leaving on vacation, students can sign up to return on School transportation if they fly into Providence's TF Green airport. There are also buses that run back to Portsmouth from Boston, New York and Darien, CT, following vacations.
Are international students eligible for financial aid?
Portsmouth Abbey School does not distribute financial aid to international students.
What countries are represented at Portsmouth Abbey School?
Students enrolled at Portsmouth Abbey School for the 2009-10 year come from Albania, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, China, Colombia, Cote d'Voire, Croatia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the USA.
