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The Portsmouth Abbey education is grounded in the Western intellectual tradition, from ancient Greece and Rome and continuing into this century. This liberal arts curriculum is balanced by a focus on spirituality, athletics, arts and co-curriculars.

Overview

Mission

The aim of Portsmouth Abbey School is to help young men and women grow in knowledge and grace.

As a Benedictine boarding and day school committed to excellence, we embrace the Catholic faith while nurturing reverence for God and the human person, love of learning, and commitment to community life.

Board of Directors

Mr. Christopher Abbate ’88 P’20 ’23, Chairman

More than ever, the Abbey stands tall as a unique and greatly needed respite in a fast-paced world that is losing contact with the anchoring and guiding principles that provide our backbone of focus and purpose.

Our History

Our History

Originally called Portsmouth Priory, the School officially opened with 18 students in September of 1926.

We remain rooted in this great history while looking forward to the future.

Overview

Academics

Our wide range of academic offerings satisfies and nurtures the curiosity of every student.

They leave the Abbey prepared for the academic rigor of colleges and universities thanks to our small class sizes, passionate teachers, and engaging content.

Meet Our Faculty

Meet Our Faculty

In most disciplines you are able to ask really interesting and creative questions. What I love most about science is that there is an infrastructure in place that allows you to actually find out the answers to those questions via experiments. The scientific method is an extraordinarily powerful framework to understand our world and I love investigating it with my students.

Dr. Stephen Zins

Dr. Stephen Zins Head of the Science Department

Abbey Curriculum

Abbey Curriculum

In this ever-evolving world, we work to strike a balance between forward thinking innovation and stability rooted in tradition

Curriculum

We encourage our students to ask big questions: Who am I? What is my place in this world? Where am I going? How do I know? Our independent academic and co-curricular programming encourages students to develop reverence for God and the human person, respect for learning and order, and a sense of responsibility for the shared experience of community life, as we prepare our students to engage in successful college careers and in the world beyond formal education.

Enrichment

Enrichment

Our enrichment programs allow students to travel the world and apply lessons in the classroom to real life experiences.

Over the course of four years at Portsmouth Abbey, 70% of students experience life beyond Cory’s Lane by immersing themselves in another culture.

Overview

School Life

More than 350 students call our campus home and within it find a place to build friendships, create traditions, and grow within our inclusive community.

Boys in St Martins Room - School Life

Once you become part of the Raven community, you will have a lifelong home.

Residential Life

Residential Life

Our House system lies at both the heart of our mission and the boarding school tradition.

Residential Life

Students live, study, and sleep in eight individual Houses alongside faculty Houseparents and their families.

Spiritual Life

Spiritual Life

At the core of our mission is the desire to grow in knowledge and grace.

The spiritual life of our School is rooted in the Benedictine ideal of a community life of work and prayer (“ora et labora”). Our spiritual life programs seek to provide spiritual growth centered in intellectual development.

Leadership & Community Service

Leadership & Community Service

We often say that the best leaders are ones without a title.

Leadership & Community Service

Our students naturally grow into strong leaders over time here at the Abbey, empowered by the characteristics true to our mission of reverence, respect, and responsibility.

Overview

Arts

Students have numerous opportunities to create and engage in higher thinking through visual art, drama, music, and more.

Arts

As part of our liberal arts curriculum, we have kept artistic endeavor alive and thriving at the Abbey.

Music

Music

Our music program offers opportunities for one-on-one lessons with experienced teachers.

Music

We also offer the opportunity to partake in one of our many ensembles of different musical styles.

Performing Arts

Performing Arts

Working on either side of the curtain, students learn about the immediate but indelible nature of this most collaborative of the arts.

Performing Arts

Performing in front of a large audience can have a profound impact on a student. It is an exhilarating experience that builds self-esteem and confidence, and helps students in future leadership, artistic, or public speaking situations

Mr. Jay Bragan

Mr. Jay Bragan Dom Ambrose Wolverton Chair in Performing Arts

Visual Arts

Visual Arts

Our visual arts program is a catalyst for students to problem-solve and sharpen their understanding of other subjects.

With opportunities for painting, drawing, ceramics, art history, and photography, the possibilities are endless.

Overview

Athletics

Each student has an opportunity to compete in one or more of our 43 teams.

Athletics

Our athletics programs offer lessons in sportsmanship, cooperation, resilience, sacrifice, and leadership.

Teams

Team Pages

The rewards of athletics participation are immediate and enduring.

Rewards of athletics

Our diverse athletics offerings provide boys and girls equal opportunities in a variety of team and individual sports.

Schedules & Results

Schedules & Results

Schedule & Results

Alumni Athletes

Alumni Athletes 

Alumni Athletes

At the Abbey, I learned what it truly meant to be a teammate. Squash is an individual, ladder sport but we always treated each other with respect and cheered each other on.

Claire Davidson '16

Claire Davidson ‘16#1 ranked squash player at Tufts University