The All-Boys Advantage
The "Indestructible School for Boys"
At Avon Old Farms, we understand that boys are relational learners.
Young men at our all boys private high school in CT are free to discover their true identity through the exploration of school life without reservation. Every aspect of our program is engineered to guide and challenge boys to find their niche and passion in life. While our academic curriculum is geared to how boys learn, we also create a foundation for boys to mature emotionally and philosophically.
Our teachers are trained to teach boys how to exercise empathy in every day situations — in and out of the class — at this Connecticut private boys school. Understanding what it may feel like in another person's shoes is essential to building the Brotherhood, and ultimately the community. Boys learn to think beyond themselves here at Avon Old Farms and take the empathy mindset out into the world at large.
We are a proud member of the International Boys' School Coalition.
There's a built-in system of care—we call it "The Brotherhood"—at Avon. Boarding at the school gives a boy more opportunities to feel surrounded and cared for because:
- There's individual attention given: your son won't just be a number, he will have an advisor to talk to, a Big Brother to mentor him, and countless other boys he boards with.
- Faculty and friends celebrate your son's successes with him: we have a legendary family-like community that will get to know your son.
- Our traditions foster real connections: We eat meals family-style ...meaning your son will be face-to-face with his coaches and teachers several times a day.
- We are strategically inclusive: Your son will meet and interact daily with friends from around the globe.
FAQs: Avonians tell us about life at an all-boys school.
- My parents want me to go to an all-boys prep school for high school, but won't I miss out on dating and the the fun of a regular high school?
- I’m not athletic, but I like to join clubs. Would Avon be a good fit for me?
- I really like my teachers, but they’re so busy that they don’t really have time to help me outside of class time. How would Avon be different?
- Will I have time at Avon to do the things I love, like playing an instrument?
- What do I do if I am homesick or lonely?
- Is it hard to make friends?
- What is there to do on the weekends?
- After my classes end each day, how will I spend my time?
- Is the food any good?
My parents want me to go to an all-boys prep school for high school, but won't I miss out on dating and the the fun of a regular high school?
I’m not athletic, but I like to join clubs. Would Avon be a good fit for me?
I really like my teachers, but they’re so busy that they don’t really have time to help me outside of class time. How would Avon be different?
Will I have time at Avon to do the things I love, like playing an instrument?
What do I do if I am homesick or lonely?
Is it hard to make friends?
What is there to do on the weekends?
After my classes end each day, how will I spend my time?
Is the food any good?
Inside the Classroom
Challenge
All challenges comes with risks. However, in a supportive environment, our boys are encouraged to accept challenges to help them learn. Avon has created a dynamic where – even if a student falls – his brothers will help him get back up.
Collaboration
Boys learn through engagement, movement, and collaboration: they study deeper in groups, discuss more around a table, and learn better through sharing. Together, our students excel.
Curiosity
We understand that boys need movement in their day. Our faculty encourage their students to get up, explore the classroom, and our campus. Looking at something from a new perspective can inspire a new understanding.
Our Timeless Ideology
"Each student shall receive aid in solving his own problems by having opened to him, for inspiration and encouragement, a vision of the possibilities...”
Theodate Pope Riddle, Founder
Outside the Classroom
Creativity
From our video production team to our ceramics studio, the creative energy of our students has an outlet to flourish. Our teachers are dedicated to inspiring creativity in our students. At Avon, we know greatness lies just beyond a student's comfort zone.
Concern
Avon is an empathy-building environment that fosters concern for fellow students and the greater community. The brotherhood is real at Avon: our men are taught to stand up for each other and for what is right.
Character
At our private all boy high school in Connecticut, our students have room to develop facets of their character that might be passed by otherwise. Our boys naturally rise to tasks that might typically be taken on by girls, exposing them to new experiences and thoughts.
All-Boys Advantage Blog Posts
- Real Boys, R.E.A.L. (Relational, Experiential, Active, Lifelong) Learning
- Awakening to the Overlooked: Why Boys (and Men) Should Write
- Boys Who Actually Like—Scratch That, LOVE—Their School
- Boys Who Volunteer: Five Social-Emotional Benefits
- The Boy-Filled Classroom: What Teachers Notice and How They Respond
- The Top 5 Reasons Why An All-Boys School Is The Way To Go
- Is An All-Boys School The Right Answer For My Son?
- Boys Who Are More Than Alright: Deconstructing the Traditional Model of Masculinity
- Sustaining A Legendary Brotherhood
Opening Eyes to Areas of Interest
"As an English teacher, I strive to develop my boys' sense of empathy and appreciation for others' experiences. Literature provides the avenue, and I provide the guidance, but it is the all-boys classroom that provides the comfort in which to do that."
Kate Barzun, English Teacher and College Counselor