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The best way to learn about Portsmouth Abbey School is to connect with our faculty, students, parents and alumni.

WHY A PORTSMOUTH ABBEY EDUCATION

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts

A Liberal Arts curriculum provides:

  • A variety of subjects for a solid foundation
  • Depth of courses to focus on your areas of interest
  • The ability to write, reason, problem-solve and communicate clearly

Why Latin?

Why Latin?

Latin fosters fluency in written language by providing students with an understanding of grammar and syntax.

Physics First

Physics First

Physics is the science that looks at the most basic aspects of time, space and matter to understand how and why things move.

Post-AP offerings are available in physics and chemistry as well as three different options for a second year of biology.

Mathematics

Mathematics

A problem-based and Socratic approach allows students to develop critical thinking and logical reasoning skills.

AP and Post-AP offerings are available to ensure that students never exhaust our math curriculum.

Humanities

Humanities

Students develop 21st-century skills while analyzing and discussing everything from Dante to Marx and Descartes to Milton.

Meet a Tour Guide

The Abbey has taught me to become someone who is independent and acts with kindness.

Austin
Vancouver, British Columbia

Austin

Vancouver, British Columbia
 

Activities: Varsity Soccer Manager, Varsity Squash, Captain Varsity Tennis, Red Key Head

Favorite Abbey tradition? Building an igloo in front of the St. Leonard’s dorm during a snow storm with Quinn ‘23, Bo ‘24 and Jack. C ‘24.

The Abbey has always provided the support and challenge needed to help me reach my fullest potential. Through my classes and extracurriculars at the Abbey, I’ve become very efficient in time management and organization, both skills that will help me in college and beyond.

Sadie
Westport, Massachusetts

Sadie

Westport, Massachusetts
 

Activities: Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Squash, Varsity Lacrosse Captain, Lectio Divina Leader, Spiritual Life Committee, Red Key Head.

Favorite Abbey moment? Winning in overtime in a Lacrosse games at Hilda’s Turf with a wild student section.

Favorite Abbey tradition? Spring Fest!!!

Favorite dining hall meal? Miss Anne's Paninis

Favorite class? Ap Bio! Dr. Mr. Zins gives us full range to design and test our own experiments, encouraging creativity and critical thinking. I absolutely love the sciences and the student-led, hands-on aspect of learning.

The Abbey has helped me realize my academic and athletic abilities and taught me how to achieve my full potential in both.

Bruce
Memphis, Tennessee

Bruce

Memphis, Tennessee
 

Activities: Football Captain, Lacrosse Captain, Prefect of St. Aelreds, Founder of the Pickleball Club, Red Key

Favorite class? AP Bio. with Dr. Zins because the way he teaches the class gives his students hands on experience deciding what experiments to do after the baseline with the potential for failure and instead of teaching the correct experiments he wants us to learn from our failures and figure out the correct experiment on our own.

Favorite Abbey moment? Winning the mud bowl football game against Hamden Hall sophomore year.

Favorite Abbey tradition? Raven Cup Games

Favorite Dining Hall meal? Wings

The Abbey has helped me to grow in both my character and the ways I’m able to display that character in and outside the Abbey community.

Becca
Brooklyn, New York

Becca

Brooklyn, New York
 

Activities: Head Girl, Prefect, Lectio Divina Leader, Yoga Club Leader, Sailing

Favorite class and why? Definitely Literature with Ms. Smith. I’ve really enjoyed reading literature in a word-by-word manner and understanding the devices writers use to make their work meaningful.

Favorite Abbey tradition? Pumpkin hunt!

Favorite Abbey moment? Going out to lunch with my Advisory Group — we are all super close and I’m so lucky to have them as a support system.

Favorite Dining Hall meal? Fried rice and lo mein

The Abbey has taught me what it's like to be an active member of such a strong community. I've learned the importance of getting to know those around me and how to value the opportunities I'm given!

Helena
Hershey, Pennsylvania

Helena

Hershey, Pennsylvania
 

Activities: St. Mary's Prefect, Girls' Varsity Ice Hockey, Mental Health Club Leader, Lectio leader, Form VI Vice President, Track and Field, Red Key

Favorite class and why? My favorite class is Economics with Mrs. Baker! She makes the class really enjoyable and I've learned so much about how the world works.

Favorite Dining Hall meal? The pasta bar!

Favorite Abbey tradition? My favorite Abbey tradition is Springfest! The whole day is filled with Raven Cup events, a cookout and an all school dance at night. It's one of the most exciting days of the year!

Favorite Abbey moment? My favorite Abbey moment was winning the Raven Cup with St. Brigid's!

The Abbey has change the way I go about my everyday life. It was taught me to cherish the little things a lot more. To put in that extra hour of homework or hour in the gym so I can preform at the best level I can, come the test/competitions. The Abbey breeds success.

Luke
Montreal, Canada

Luke

Montreal, Canada
 

Activities: Hockey Captain, Prefect, Lacrosse, Red Key

Favorite Abbey moment? My Favorite Abbey Moment was last year when the Boys' Varisty Hockey team came back from a deficit to beat our Island rival St. Georges in overtime.

Favorite Abbey tradition? I love the dorm events, I think it’s such a great opportunity to bond with your housemates through some friendly competition. ST. AELRED'S ON TOP!

Favorite Dining Hall meal? I’m a huge fan of the General Tso Chicken with the fried rice and egg rolls. Absolutely unreal!

I have grown to be a more grace-filled as well as knowledgable person constantly being pushed to be the best I can be by my peers and teachers.

Regan
Portsmouth, Rhode Island (Day Student)

Regan

Portsmouth, Rhode Island (Day Student)
 

Activities: Track Captain, Prefect, Lectio Divina, Squash, and Spiritual Life, Red Key

Favorite class and why? Humanities was my one of my favorites! Mr. Zelden and Mr. Fisher pushed me to the best I could be and made me a clearer thinker and writer.

Favorite Abbey tradition? Broomball has to be my favorite, playing hockey with a broom and no skates makes for some fun memories.

I've become a leader, gained valuable time management skills and study habits, made some of my closest friends ever

Robert "Bo"
Boulder, Colorado

Robert "Bo"

Boulder, Colorado
 

Activities: Head Boy, Model UN, Tennis, Cross Country, Squash, Lectio, French Horn, Red Key

Favorite Abbey moment? Raven's Cup Junior year

Favorite class and why? AP Art History - Mrs. Micheletti is amazing, interesting subject that is unique among my classes, I love doodling the works of art we study.

Favorite Dining Hall meal? Memorial Day Ribs

Favorite Abbey tradition? Cookies during Conference

The Abbey has taught me what it's like to be an active member of such a strong community. I've learned the importance of getting to know those around me and how to value the opportunities I'm given!

James
Portsmouth, Rhode Island (Day Student)

James

Portsmouth, Rhode Island (Day Student)
 

Activities: Honors Committee, Lacrosse, Golf, Lectio Divina, Spiritual Life, Red Key

Favorite Abbey moment? Lacrosse win against Georges!

The Abbey has taught me the value of education beyond the classroom. What I've learned in my classes goes beyond the subject material and is part of my personal development.

Charlotte
Scituate, Massachusetts

Charlotte

Scituate, Massachussetts
 

Activities: Captain Varsity Field Hockey, Captain Varsity Squash, Captain Varsity Sailing, Culture Club Co-head, Red Key

Favorite Abbey moment? My favorite Abbey moment was going to High School Sailing Nationals in San Diego my Sophomore year. I was proud to represent my school at such a high level.

Favorite Abbey tradition? A tradition I really value here at the Abbey is Sit Down dinners. Having built in time in the year to share a meal with members of the community you usually wouldn't talk to is such a special aspect of our school culture.

Favorite Dining Hall meal? For me, nothing beats the chicken nuggets at the dinning hall. I can't think of a more beloved food by the student body!

Favorite class? My favorite class at the Abbey is Green Chemistry. I love the open ended design of the class and how its catered to students individual passions in Chemistry.

The Abbey has taught me to be an engaged student and member of a community. I have met the best teachers, coaches and classmates and am so grateful.

Maggie
Bristol, Rhode Island (Day Student)

Maggie

Bristol, Rhode Island (Day Student)
 

Activities: Girls' Varsity Soccer Captain, Prefect, Choir Officer of Abbey Singers, Lectio Leader, Squash, Track, Red Key

Favorite Abbey moment? Spring Fest every year!

Favorite class? APUSH (AP U.S. History) AND AP Government & Politics because I love history!

Favorite Dining Hall meal? Mac n Cheese

WHAT DRIVES YOU?

Athletics

Athletics

With 43 teams to choose from, every student can find a place to shine.

Being part of a team gives you the chance to build friendships, hone skills and earn leadership positions on campus. Take your skills to the next level or learn something new; athletics at the Abbey gives everyone a chance to win.

Arts

Arts

Our arts programs, which include visual arts, music and theater serve as catalysts for you to take creative risks, make connections with other academic courses and cultivate new interests.

With state-of-the-art technology and equipment available, you will find something to pique your interest and set your creativity in motion.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND

Virtual Campus Tour

Virtual Campus Tour

Explore our stunning 525 acre campus.

Ready to schedule your tour and interview?

Accommodations and Attractions

Portsmouth Abbey is only 7 miles north of Newport, Rhode Island and about 60 miles south of Boston.

Our students have many weekend opportunities to visit local attractions. We recommend that you explore our beaches, museums and vistas while in town! 

Campus Map

Campus Map

Our campus will become your home.

Campus Map