Shady Hill is an all gender Pre-K through 8th Grade day school on 11 acres in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Our unique village-style campus is a collection of child-scaled buildings set around courtyards and greens with a web of connecting pathways, play spaces, athletic fields, and wildlife areas.
Founded in 1915 on the back porch of Harvard Professor Ernest Hocking and his wife, Agnes Hocking, the goal was for children to experience an education enriched by the same kind of open-mindedness, inquiry, intellectual rigor, and passion for learning that they valued in their own experiences.
The curriculum is built around Central Subject-a year-long, in-depth study of a people, period of history, an idea or movement-and stresses the interrelationships of many disciplines and the use of original sources.
Through exploration and discovery, rigorous and engaging activities, the mastery of skills, purposeful dialogue and meticulous guidance, our students develop into independent, critical thinkers and life-long learners.
Our beliefs in a diverse and inclusive community, cooperation and collaboration, self reflection, and individual responsibility help students grow into confident, ethical citizens of the school and the world beyond.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Top Ranked MA School
- Grades: Prekindergarten-8
- Enrollment: 531 students
- Acceptance rate: 20%
- Average class size: 16 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Shady Hill School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Massachusetts for:
Category
Attribute
Acceptance Rate
Advanced Degrees
Student Body
School History
School Overview
School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-8
Year Founded
1915
Colors
Blue, Green
School Calendar
First Day of School
Mon. Sep 1, 2025
Last Day of School
Mon. May 25, 2026
Student Body
Total Students
531 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
46%
State avg.: 29%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
100 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
91%
Average Class Size
16 students
List of Courses Offered
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Tuition Notes
2024-2025 tuition ranges from $40,340 for Beginners to $51,840 for Grade 8.
% on Financial Aid
19%
Acceptance Rate
20%
National avg.: 81%
Admissions Director
Sandra Zuckerman
Admissions Associate
Cari Li
Application URL
Endowment Size
$54 million
Sports
Total Sports Offered
12 sports
School Notes
- School Motto: Shady Hill School fosters joyful, active learning informed by multiple perspectives empowering students to be intellectually adventurous and wholeheartedly just.
- School Mascot: Not Available
- Shady Hill is an all gender Pre-K through 8th Grade day school on 11 acres in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- Our unique village-style campus is a collection of child-scaled buildings set around courtyards and greens with a web of connecting pathways, play spaces, athletic fields, and wildlife areas.
- Founded in 1915 on the back porch of Harvard Professor Ernest Hocking and his wife, Agnes Hocking, the goal was for children to experience an education enriched by the same kind of open-mindedness, inquiry, intellectual rigor, and passion for learning that they valued in their own experiences.
- Today, the school continues to strike a balance between innovation and tradition, providing a fundamentally different approach to teaching and learning.
- The curriculum is built around Central Subject-a year-long, in-depth study of a people, period of history, an idea or movement-and stresses the interrelationships of many disciplines and the use of original sources. Each grade's Central Subject has been purposefully designed around the developmental stage of that particular age to captivate and challenge students.
- Through exploration and discovery, rigorous and engaging activities, the mastery of skills, purposeful dialogue and meticulous guidance, our students develop into independent, critical thinkers and life-long learners.
- Our beliefs in a diverse and inclusive community, cooperation and collaboration, self reflection, and individual responsibility help students grow into confident, ethical citizens of the school and the world beyond.
- In 2016 Shady Hill opened a new state-of-the-art STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Center, the Hub, which houses a makerspace, fabrication lab, math classrooms, science labs, and break out spaces.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are Shady Hill School often compared to?
Shady Hill School is often viewed alongside schools like Buckingham Browne & Nichols School by visitors of our site.
What is the acceptance rate of Shady Hill School?
The acceptance rate of Shady Hill School is 20%, which is lower than the national average of 71%. Shady Hill School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Massachusetts with low acceptance rates.
What sports does Shady Hill School offer?
Shady Hill School offers 12 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Flag Football, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball.
What is Shady Hill School's ranking?
Shady Hill School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Massachusetts for: Lowest average acceptance rates, Highest percentage of faculty with advanced degrees, Largest student body and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Shady Hill School?
The application deadline for Shady Hill School is Jan. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
In what neighborhood is Shady Hill School located?
Shady Hill School is located in the West Cambridge neighborhood of Cambridge, MA.
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Popular comparisons: Shady Hill School vs. Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
People that viewed Shady Hill School also viewed these schools: Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Fayerweather Street School, Cambridge Friends School, International School Of Boston and Belmont Day School.
The nearest high school, elementary school and preschool to Shady Hill School is Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (0.1 miles away)
Show me:
Show me:
School
Location
Miles
Grades
Students
Grades: PK-12 | 1,048 students 0.1 miles 80 Gerry's Landing Rd
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 547-6100
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 547-6100
0.1
PK-12
1,048
Grades: PK-8 | 205 students 1.5 miles 765 Concord Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 876-4746
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 876-4746
1.5
PK-8
205
Grades: PK-8 | 140 students 1.2 miles 5 Cadbury Road
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 354-3880
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 354-3880
1.2
PK-8
140
Grades: NS-12 | 579 students 2.1 miles 45 Matignon Road
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 499-1451
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 499-1451
2.1
NS-12
579
Grades: PK-8 | 338 students 3 miles 55 Day School Lane
Belmont, MA 02478
(617) 484-3078
Belmont, MA 02478
(617) 484-3078
3
PK-8
338
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