At a Glance

Founded in 1982, Atrium School is a progressive, independent, co-ed day school where PreK – Grade 8 children flourish as skilled learners and develop as whole people.

Location
Watertown, MA

Grades
Pre-Kindergarten (age 4) through Grade 8

School Hours:
PreK – Grade 1: 8:45 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.  
Grades 2–5: 8:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.    
Middle School (Grades 6–8): 8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
After-School Program: 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (additional fee)

Enrollment
117 Students

Classroom Statistics
One classroom per grade for PreK–Grade 5, with two full-time co-teachers in each PreK – Grade 5 classroom. A collaborative team of five full-time subject teachers in Grades 6–8. School-wide specialist teachers in Spanish, Library, Art, Performing Arts, Music, and PE. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7:1 in classrooms, or 6:1 including specialist teachers. PreK has a class size of 7–10 students, Kindergarten – Grade 5 classes have an average class size of 11–14 students, and Grades 6–8 have an average class size of 14–17 students.

Student Population
20% of students identify as students of color; 5% identify as from LGBTQ families.
Students currently come from over 30 communities in the Greater Boston area, including: 

Arlington Malden
Allston Medford
Andover Melrose
Belmont Methuen
Boston Natick
Boxborough Newton
Brighton Roslindale
Brookline Somerville
Cambridge Stoneham
Charlestown Waltham
Chestnut Hill Watertown
Dover Wellesley
Everett West Roxbury
Jamaica Plain Winchester
Lexington Woburn
Lowell

Curriculum
Each classroom has a central theme that provides a context for the year’s learning. Atrium’s balanced program incorporates arts, hands-on projects, and collaborative work in an environment that is creative, nurturing, and driven by values of social justice and equity. Our location provides faculty with countless opportunities to enrich their curriculum with a vast array of local resources. 

Faculty and Staff
35 faculty and staff; 60% of teaching faculty hold advanced degrees.

Tuition and Fees
Tuition for the 2024-2025 school year:

PreK $33,100
Kindergarten $34,810
Grade 1 $35,195
Grade 2 $35,525
Grade 3 $35,970
Grade 4 $36,245
Grade 5 $36,460
Grade 6 $36,850
Grade 7 $37,350
Grade 8 $38,010

After School Program
Available five days a week for an annual cost of approx. $675 (3:15-4:30 p.m.) or $1,060 (3:15-5:50 p.m.) per day of the week. Drop-in attendance is available as needed with advance registration. Additional after-school extracurriculars have recently included cross country, track & field, soccer, theatre, studio art, chorus, book club, gardening, Science Olympiad, Destination Imagination, and Dungeons & Dragons.

Tuition Assistance
Approximately 25% of families receive need-based financial aid.

Accreditation & Membership
Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE)
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

Where do Atrium students go on to school after Atrium?
Atrium works with families beginning in Grade 7 to prepare students and guide parents through the high school selection process. Approximately 70% of our students go on to independent schools, both day and boarding, and 30% go on to public schools. See After Atrium for more details.

Nondiscrimination Policy
Atrium School attempts to bring together a diverse group of individuals and is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment. The School strives to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, pregnancy, pregnancy-related condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military service, veteran status, age, ancestry, genetic information, disability, or any other legally protected status. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to: hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Each member of the community is expected to observe the principles of equal opportunity as they affect all employees and students in the program of academic and extracurricular life at the school. Any form of discrimination or harassment that insults the dignity of others or impedes their freedom to work and to learn is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. 

Atrium School expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military service, veteran status, age, ancestry, genetic information, disability, or any other legally protected status.