Established in 1974 in Cambridge, MA, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (BB&N) is an independent day school serving grades Pre-K-12.
School Mission BB&N is an academically excellent, diverse, and inclusive community where students develop into lifelong learners who lead with kindness, curiosity, and integrity.
We prepare students to be responsible and open-minded as they engage with the world around them.
Our Values Inquiry - We promote curiosity and critical thinking to inspire a lifelong love of learning.
Integrity - We strive to be honest, conscientious, and accountable in our actions even when no one is watching.
Belonging - We foster a culture of respect, well-being, and connection that values all individuals and empowers them to discover and be their authentic selves.
Kindness - We strengthen our communities by recognizing our common humanity and treating ourselves and others with respect and compassion.
Quick Facts (2025-26)
- Top Ranked MA School
- Grades: Prekindergarten-12
- Enrollment: 1,043 students
- Average class size: 15 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 10
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Buckingham Browne & Nichols School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Massachusetts for:
Category
Attribute
ACT Score
Student Body
Sports offered
Extracurriculars
School Overview
School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-12
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Mild Learning Differences
Year Founded
1974
School Calendar
Student Body
Total Students
1,043 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
49%
State avg.: 30%
Students by Grade

Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
156 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
58%
Average Class Size
15 students
Number of AP Courses
19 courses
Advanced Courses
Art HistoryCalculus AB
Calculus BCChemistry
Chinese Language & CultureComparative Government & Politics
Computer Science AComputer Science Principles
English Language & CompositionEnglish Literature & Composition
European HistoryFrench Language and Culture
Human GeographyLatin
MacroeconomicsPhysics 1
Physics CSpanish Language & Culture
StatisticsUS Government & Politics
Average SAT score
1420
(Out of 1600)
Average ACT score
33
(Out of 36)
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Jan. 10
Tuition Notes
Tuition for 2025-2026
• Beginners to Grade 3 – $47,000
• Grades 4 and 5 – $52,000
• Grade 6 – $64,400
• Grades 7 to 12 – $66,900
% on Financial Aid
25%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$48,213
Admissions Director
Julie Wadland
Admissions Associate
Amy Pratt
Application URL
Sports
Total Sports Offered
19 sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
68 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Affinity LunchChamber Music
ChorusCommunity Council
Community ServiceJazz Band
Literary GroupLS Chess club
LS Orchestra
Club or Organization:
Activism ClubAnimal Rights Club
Arabic ClubArt for Social Change
Asian American Student AssociationBB&N Yearbook: Perspective
BeeBee&N Beekeeping ClubBest Buddies
BSAE (Brothers Seeking Academic Excellance)CHASM (Current Happenings Across STEM)
Chess ClubChinese Club
Christian ClubComedy Club
Community Engagement Leadership Board (CELB)Composition Club
Computer Science ClubCreative Writing Club
Drama ClubEcoReps
EMPOWEREntrepreneurship Club
FemCoFilm Club
French ClubGAINS (Girls Advancing in STEM)
GSAHistory Club
International & Humanitarian Business ClubInvestment Club
Jewish Cultural Club Knights SectionLatin Club
Literature ClubMath Club
Medical ClubMIND Club
Model UNMusic Club
Outdoor RecreationPing Pong Club
Point of View (political opinion magazine)Puzzle Club
Quiz BowlRobotics Club
Rocketry ClubRound Square Committee
Rugby ClubRussian Club
Scrabble ClubSHADES (Students Honoring and Accepting Differences and Embracing Similarities)
Spanish ClubSpeech & Debate
Spikeball ClubStudent Tour Guides
Surf ClubThe Spectator (art and literary magazine)
The Vanguard (School newspaper)Ultimate Frisbee Club
W.I.N.S. (Women in National Security)
School Notes
- School Motto: Honor • Scholarship • Kindness
- School Mascot: Knight
- BB&N's commitment to academic excellence is shared by students, teachers, and families alike.Across our three campuses, educators collaborate to design engaging curricula that parallels student interests and prepares them to be responsible and open-minded leaders as they engage with the world.
- BB&N's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and global education (DEIG) is tangible. Our engagement in service work, numerous language and study abroad programs, and diverse student body are all products of our decades-long work to build a school community that reflects the world we live in.With an integrated learning approach and an expansive range of academic and extracurricular opportunities, BB&N students are encouraged to pursue their interests, embrace challenges, and take ownership of their educational journeys as they develop into lifelong learners.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are Buckingham Browne & Nichols School often compared to?
Buckingham Browne & Nichols School is often viewed alongside schools like Shady Hill School by visitors of our site.
What sports does Buckingham Browne & Nichols School offer?
Buckingham Browne & Nichols School offers 19 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rock Climbing, Sailing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball and Wrestling. Buckingham Browne & Nichols School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in Massachusetts for most sports offered.
What is Buckingham Browne & Nichols School's ranking?
Buckingham Browne & Nichols School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Massachusetts for: Highest average ACT score, Largest student body, Most sports offered and Most extracurriculars offered.
When is the application deadline for Buckingham Browne & Nichols School?
The application deadline for Buckingham Browne & Nichols School is Jan. 10.
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