Winsor girls find fun, challenge — and themselves

What sets The Winsor School in Boston apart? In a traditional message to eighth graders, the senior class president hinted at the essence of the century-old girls’ school. She confidently welcomed girls to “the fun and challenge that lie ahead.” After a moment’s pause, she urged them: “Remember, no one can define you but you.”

Challenge yourself. Enjoy yourself. Be yourself.

Those messages echo through every dimension of girls’ experience at Winsor. The Winsor School has always believed in girls, helping them become strong and capable scholars, leaders and citizens. Importantly for today’s students, the girls believe in themselves.

“There are so many role models here,” explains Tran, a 2006 Winsor graduate from South Boston. “It inspires you to follow in older girls’ footsteps.” Her older sister, a 2002 graduate, went on to Yale. Tran began her own college career at Brown last fall.

Jasmine, a junior from Boston, echoes that sentiment: “I look up to the seniors, and I hope to do as well as them.”

Winsor’s Mentoring Program is one of many ways that girls support each other. It was started in 1996 to create a more formal support system for students of African American, Afro Caribbean, Cape Verdean and Latina descent. School leaders recognized, then as now, that the experience of students of color at Winsor can be challenging in ways that it is not for other students. In the last decade, the Mentoring Program has become a valued resource, first at the high school level, and then for middle schoolers.

The Big Sister Program, a key component of Winsor’s Mentoring Program, kicks off each fall at the Inspiration Evening event, where older girls are matched as mentors to younger girls. To close each school year, a wonderful celebration of achievement takes place.

Daughters and families who consider Winsor share high expectations — for themselves and for the school. Winsor offers them a valued choice: an independent day school for academically promising and motivated girls in grades five through 12 in a vibrant urban setting.

The college choices of Winsor graduates reflect the strength of both the school and its students. In the last five years, the colleges attracting the largest number of Winsor alumnae were Harvard, Brown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Boston College, Dartmouth, Columbia, Princeton and Yale.

While college is in girls’ immediate futures, Winsor truly prepares them for life. Its lessons — and friendships — stay with them for their lifetimes.

Located in the city’s Longwood medical area, Winsor draws its 430 students from more than 50 communities throughout greater Boston. Being in the city lets Winsor make great use of Boston’s resources.

“I think that what happens in the best situations for city schools is that the vibrancy and dynamism becomes part of the life of these institutions,” explains Rachel Friis Stettler, Winsor’s director.

Winsor’s admission team has increasingly reached out to spread the word.

“We’re excited to share why we think Winsor is such a special place,” says Pamela Parks McLaurin, director of admission and financial aid and a Winsor graduate herself. The team has also added more opportunities for families to visit and learn about Winsor.

What draws families? Since the school’s earliest days, parents have known intuitively what national research on gender and education has only recently established — girls learn differently from boys. Moreover, girls benefit in lasting ways as learners and as individuals from an all-girls environment.

At Winsor, “you can be yourself,” many girls will tell you. Listening to students brings that point home.
“Girls are respectful of differences,” says Sojourner, a senior from Dorchester.

“It’s great that you can feel so comfortable in a school,” adds Lauren, a classmate from Lincoln.
Many qualities help create that environment. The school cherishes respect, personal responsibility and generosity of spirit. It celebrates courage and kindness. Together, its mission and its principles of diversity crystallize these core values.

The admission team looks carefully at every girl who applies, and seeks girls who will thrive here. The school seeks students with intellectual curiosity, academic ability, motivation and spirit. Committed to cultural, racial and economic diversity among its students, Winsor seeks young women who have a generous spirit and a respect for difference.

Winsor welcomes applicants with a wide range of financial means. More than 20 percent of girls receive tuition assistance, with annual grants ranging from $1,000 to full tuition.

When the fit is right, girls flourish.

“I realize that there’s no such thing as the best school,” reflects the mother of one entering student. “There’s only the best school for your child.”

For her, as for dozens of parents each year, Winsor made that choice clear.

Winsor welcomes applications for grades five, six, seven, nine and 10. For more information, please call our admission office at 617-735-9503.