About

This is where amazing things begin. Where anything is possible. At Choate, you are capable of achieving anything, and we would be honored to be a part of your exciting journey.

Our students stand out for their desire and drive for knowledge, their passion, their creativity, their energy, and their commitment to service. Over the past century we have had the privilege of knowing and nurturing over 17,000 graduates, and they’ve made us proud of the remarkable and distinctive lives they’ve chosen to live. Choate alumni are leaders, innovators, catalysts, and true originals. Their unique way of seeing the world reflects our focus on the Life of the Mind: we aim to foster critical and independent thinking, deep intellectual curiosity, exploration, and a lifelong love of learning in everything we do.

We see potential in our students to pursue their goals and dreams through our academic, athletic, and artistic programs, along with our close-knit and collaborative community.

As one of our students, we will equip you to explore existing interests and passions as well as to discover new ones, in preparation for the world beyond our walls. You will be guided along the way by passionate educators who are excited about their craft and who are energized by what they do every day.Choate is a place where, if you have a great idea, you can find the resources and a kindred spirit to help you bring your idea to fruition. We find this to be a hallmark of our community — for our students and faculty. If you want to be part of a dynamic and robust learning community we welcome you to consider joining us at Choate Rosemary Hall.

About Our Community

Choate is a warm and caring ensemble of students and faculty who embrace learning, living and enjoying life together. Mutual respect and kindness have a big impact here, too: we encourage you to invest in the lives of others, on campus, in our wider community, and even across the globe. We believe that your willingness to serve and give selflessly speaks volumes about your character – and provides the foundation for a life well lived. Guiding along the way is our committed faculty. You will have mentors in, and outside of the classroom, and all the guidance you need to be successful. We want you to feel at home here. Our close-knit community always has room for more new friends, and that community will only be richer with you as a unique part of it.

Academics

As one of the country's top independent schools, Choate prides itself on reading and writing across the curriculum; critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and independent thinking; and the use of technology. But Choate does more.

Whether you choose to immerse yourself in our core academic program – with honors and/or Advanced Placement courses in all disciplines; academic teams in mathematics, debate, economics, robotics, and Model U.N.; – or to become involved in a Signature Program in the Arts, Science Research, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, Environmental Immersion, or Study Abroad – Choate provides the opportunity for you to explore existing interests and passions as well as to discover new ones, in preparation for the world beyond our walls. To ensure we prepare you for your future, not our present, we are in the process of expanding our program. A state-of-the-art facility for mathematics, computer science, and robotics will open in the spring of 2015. The new building will be home to our first i.d.Lab. Inspired by the creativity and innovation we see in today’s science and technology industries, we look forward to providing new space for our students to imagine, invent, dream, and design. Existing courses such as Architecture, Introduction to Robotics, and the physical science-track of our Science Research Program, will take place down the hall from new courses such as Visual Mathematics, Reverse Engineering, and Design Thinking and across the path from courses in Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Sculpture. This is one example of what makes Choate a great school academically. While embracing our tradition of excellence and achievement, we continue to innovate and evolve our program to reflect the classroom of today, for the students of tomorrow.

Athletics

With 81 interscholastic teams in over 30 sports – varsity, junior varsity and thirds – along with intramural and dorm teams, we make room for the superstars and those who want to try a sport for the first time.  “Students choose Choate not only to be part of a winning team, but to join a successful program,” says Director of Athletics, Ned Gallagher. It’s also typical of Choate student-athletes to excel in sports they never have even tried before arriving in Wallingford. Gallagher’s own cross-country teams illustrate this point. Among the 50 or so boys on the Wild Boars squad each season, typically only a handful had any serious training or running experience before coming to Choate. Still, the team produced record numbers of All-League and All-New England honorees en route to winning back-to-back New England championships. The focus of athletics is learning about sportsmanship, testing limits, striving for excellence – individually and as part of a team. At Choate, it's not just a handful of elite athletes and coaches who participate in sports. Here, everyone is involved. And we mean it! Choate students participate in athletics at least 2 terms per year. We think it's important for everyone to have the chance to play. With a wide variety of teams and a variety of playing levels, we have room for the superstars and for the beginners. In an era of increasing specialization, creating a whole person is imperative. Because most of our coaches teach and also live in residential houses with student, faculty are able to keep tabs on student-athletes as whole people.

Arts

At the dedication of the Paul Mellon Arts Center, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and alumnus Edward Albee ’46 christened the spectacular I.M. Pei-designed facility “an auditorium of ideas.” Today, the description seems as apt as ever.

Philosophy and Curriculum — “The arts department,” says Director of the Arts, Kalya Yannatos, “embodies the belief that engagement in the arts is an essential part of a creatively inspired life. Every Choate student is encouraged to experiment and experience one or more art forms, taking risks and expanding their knowledge and perception of self in connection to the larger world.” Individually-crafted schedules allow Arts Concentration students dedicated time to further develop in their chosen discipline with guidance from our faculty, while maintaining a strong academic program. Project-based learning, in-depth process and rehearsals culminate in exhibitions, recitals and productions.

Educational Opportunities

In addition to working with our dedicated faculty, students have many opportunities to interact with professional artists in workshops and master classes and to see performances here and at theaters that include Yale Repertory, the Long Wharf Theatre and Wesleyan Center for the Arts. Our music students have the opportunity to take lessons with teachers from Yale, Wesleyan, and Hartt School of Music. Dancers learn from professional companies who perform on our main stage, rehearse in our studio as “company-in-residence” and teach master classes throughout the year. Visual art students interact with the guest artists exhibiting in the gallery, visit galleries and museums in the area, as well as an annual trip to museums in New York City.

Facilities

The Paul Mellon Arts Center, designed by I. M. Pei, houses a 770-seat auditorium, art studios, a recital hall, a recording studio, classrooms, an experimental theater, art galleries, and much more. In addition to student concerts, recitals and productions, the Arts Center produces an annual Guest Artist series, hosts the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra and has rotating exhibitions in the gallery. Adjacent buildings include ceramic and jewelry-making studios, photography and digital video labs, a dance studio and the Joan Harris Gelb Theater in the Chapel.

Creating Art & Building Community

The Arts Center supports a wide range of artistic opportunities, accessible to all within the School and its neighboring communities thanks to free to affordably modest admission fees. Since 1972, the Arts Center has served as a creative hub, presenting guest artist, faculty and student productions, concerts, exhibits and more. Home to both the Choate Rosemary Hall Symphony Orchestra and the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra, great music can be heard all year long. The Arts Center also serves the surrounding community by providing educational opportunities in the arts for children in grades K-8 throughout the year through its Young Artists Series.