Cheshire Academy

Campus

Academics

Cheshire Academy is a student-centered institution emphasizing both academic and character development. All students are required to take classes across the academic disciplines, including English, history, mathematics, science, foreign language and the visual arts. Students are also fostered to develop trait characteristics such as respect, honesty and tolerance while abiding by the school's Eight Pillars of Bowden.

History

The town of Cheshire, established in 1780, was originally known for its lighting industry, copper mining, and agricultural productivity. Samuel Seabury, the first Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut, established the Episcopal Academy in 1794, which would later endure several incarnations as The Cheshire School (in the early 1900s), The Roxbury School in 1917, and finally, Cheshire Academy in 1937.

Under the first headmaster, Rev. John Bowden, the school became renowned not only for training young men for the clergy, but also for educating students in the fields of English, Latin and Greek, philosophy, mathematics, and the sciences taught by leading colleges in the country at the time. Erected in 1796, Bowden Hall, the oldest schoolhouse still in continuous use in the state of Connecticut and tenth oldest schoolhouse in the United States, became an all-Cheshire community project, with funds to build the school donated by both churches and local proprietors.

In 1806, Dr. Tillotson Bronson was elected as headmaster. During his twenty-year term at the school, Bronson deemed that young women would be admitted to this once all-male institution, a rare allowance for women at the time. For this reason, many young women were sent to attend the school from distant townships in order to take advantage of such a unique educational opportunity.

Another liberal tenant of the school at this time, as drafted in the school's constitution, was that students were allowed the freedom to practice the religion of their family's choice, regardless of the school's Episcopal affiliation. As stated in the ninth article of the constitution of the Episcopal Academy, "No Bye Laws of the Academy shall compel the Students to attend Public worship, but at such place or places as their respective Parents or Guardians shall direct."

In 1917 the school was purchased by the Roxbury Training Center, and the institution was no longer open to both men and women. The Roxbury School operated with the sole purpose of training young men to enter Yale University. An existing military aspect of the school was abolished, and the school focused now on rigorous academic preparation.

Under long-standing headmaster Arthur Sheriff, the school became Cheshire Academy in 1937, maintaining small, academically challenging classes. It was not until 1969 that the school returned to its co-ed beginnings, allowing both young men and women to attend classes together.

Athletics

The Afternoon is as important and inclusive as their academic and residential programs.

Cheshire Academy offers a wide variety of programs each season to appeal to their diverse student body. Each and every student is involved in a competitive team two seasons every year, encouraging students to take pride in contributing to something bigger than themselves. By incorporating the Eight Pillars of Bowden in to the daily language both on and off the fields, it’s Cheshire Academy's mission to teach life lessons through the afternoon activities that they offer to their students.

Cheshire Academy's campus has seen numerous changes, additions, and facility upgrades in its 220+ history. From the historic basketball courts to the brand new Simosa Field, Cheshire Academy is proud of the level of play that they can offer with their athletic facilities. Cheshire Academy also has their own 4 lane swimming pool, two state of the art basketball courts, a baseball and softball field, 10 tennis courts, multiple grass fields, a fencing room, a rope course, and a turf football field with a track around it.

Sports offered at Cheshire Academy are the following:

Fall:

- Varsity Soccer (Boys and Girls) - Junior Varsity Soccer (Boys) - Thirds Soccer (Boys) - Varsity Football - Junior Varsity Football - Varsity Field Hockey - Varsity Volleyball (Girls) - Junior Varsity Volleyball (Girls) - Varsity Cross Country (Boys and Girls) - Elite Hockey Program U16 - Elite Hockey Program U18

Winter:

- Varsity Basketball ( Boys and Girls) - Junior Varsity Basketball (Boys and Girls) - Thirds Basketball (Boys) - Varsity Swimming (Boys and Girls) - Varsity Wrestling - Alpine Varsity Ski Team (Coed) - Varsity Fencing (Coed) - Elite Hockey Program U16 - Elite Hockey Program U18

Spring:

- Varsity Baseball - Junior Varsity Baseball - Varsity Softball - Varsity Tennis (Boys and Girls) - Junior Varsity Tennis (Boys and Girls) - Varsity Lacrosse (Boys and Girls) - Varsity Track and Field (Boys and Girls) - Varsity Golf Team (Boys and Girls) - Ultimate Frisbee (Coed)

Recent awards and achievements

Signature programs

Roxbury Academic Support Program - An optional, fee-based program for students in need of additional academic assistance with a trained member of the faculty.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - Cheshire Academy began to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme during the 2011-2012 academic year.

Scholarships

The Goizueta Foundation Scholars Fund, created by Roberto Goizueta '49, provides an annual scholarship for a student of Hispanic background.

The Town Scholar Program, established in 1937, provides a full, four-year scholarship to a resident of Cheshire entering the ninth grade.

Accreditation and memberships

The school is accredited by the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and The Association of Boarding Schools. Additionally it holds memberships in the National Association of Independent Schools, the Secondary School Admission Test Board. and the IB Diploma Programme

Notable alumni