Cardigan Mountain School - A Launching Pad for Successful Young Men Cardigan Mountain School - A Launching Pad for Successful Young Men
Cardigan’s dedication to both challenging and supporting their students means an impressive 85% of graduates progress to one of their top three schools, including several of the most selective secondary schools in the US. The Class of 2024 will be attending 35 different schools in ten US states and three countries—a global society indeed.
Cardigan Mountain School, a boarding school for boys in grades six to nine nestled on a beautiful 525-acre lakeside campus, offers a close-knit community that prepares boys in mind, body, and spirit for responsible and meaningful lives in a global society. The school’s community—students and adults alike—strives to live by their Core Values of compassion, integrity, respect, and courage.
Cardigan's breathtaking campus view
With the motto: "We know middle school boys,", everything here—from teaching and learning to arts, sports, and fun—is geared toward helping boys reach their potential. Cardigan offers boys just the right amounts of structure and independence, challenge and support, and a focus on both individual growth and a strong, positive sense of community. This time-tested, comprehensive approach to the education of boys is what they call the Cardigan Way.
Nurturing Potential Through Exceptional Academics
Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the State of New Hampshire, Cardigan’s program emphasizes respect and responsibility, values effort, rewards accomplishment, and pushes every boy to see his academic and personal potential.
With small classes and a low 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students are challenged and supported by a curriculum emphasizing active learning and the fundamental study, technological, and life skills necessary to become academically self-sufficient and prepare them for success at secondary school, college, and beyond.
At Cardigan, students are empowered to reach their full potential and hone their skills in every aspect
The core curriculum challenges each student but also adds exposure to other complementary subject areas. All students take year-long classes in English, history, mathematics, and science. In addition, boys not enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) are required to take a world language, and may choose from French, Latin, or Spanish.
The pride of the Cardigan curriculum is two signature programs—Gates and PEAKS:
PEAKS - Teaching boys how to learn
PEAKS focuses on the skills students need to be successful at Cardigan and beyond, including study skills, technology, and wellness
All Cardigan students in all grades take PEAKS classes, which teach boys to become better, more efficient learners and self-advocates. PEAKS Department coaches are also available evenings and weekends for mentoring, guidance, and extra help. Beyond its core curriculum, the school also challenges each boy through additional coursework in leadership, music, theater, and art or woodworking.
Gates Invention and Innovation Program
Every student or team must present their idea, prototype, and market analysis to a panel of expert judges
All sixth and seventh-grade students participate in Gates, a full-year class that teaches creative thinking, risk-taking, and entrepreneurial spirit while developing an appreciation for hard work and accomplishment (eighth-grade students may choose Gates as an elective).
Throughout the winter, the Gates student inventors tinker with and refine their prototypes. As spring nears, they refine their marketing materials and perfect their sales pitches for the Charles C. Gates Invention & Innovation Competition, held annually during Spring Family Weekend.
Cardigan’s hub of Innovative Design, Applied Engineering, and Creative Arts
Vibrant Campus' life
Life is not all work and no play at Cardigan, though. The class day ends shortly after lunch so that students can participate in athletics with more than 40 teams in sixteen sports, including football, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, and rowing, among others.
Students can participate in athletics with more than 40 teams in sixteen sports
24 Cardigan alumni are playing NCAA college lacrosse in 2024. Many alumni are also playing or recently played collegiate, international, or professional hockey. That being said, there's a sport for every kind of athlete, honing skills, fostering teamwork, and building lasting bonds with teammates.
The school community takes a break from athletics to enjoy Cardigan’s rich tradition of Thursday Clubs per week. Popular clubs include fishing, ice hockey for non-hockey players, digital art, photography, Model UN, poker, and chess. Club offerings vary from term to term, and boys can even start a new club!
The boys enjoy Cardigan’s rich tradition of Thursday Clubs
Leadership Development: Building Skills Through Diverse Programs
Developing leadership skills is the cornerstone of all Cardigan programs, from classrooms and athletic fields to dorm life. These opportunities include Senior Leadership, the Student Senate, Peer Tutoring, and Big Brothers, and they encourage and support various student-led initiatives on campus. More than 20 rising ninth graders are elected student leaders each spring.
Cardigan boosts leadership skills and fosters a close-knit brotherhood among male friends
Ninth Graders Excel: A Stepping Stone to Top Secondary Schools
The experienced team in Cardigan’s Secondary School Counseling Office guides ninth graders and their families through the process of finding the right-fit school. A significant number of students have been accepted into prestigious schools across the United States, such as Phillips Exeter Academy, Choate Rosemary Hall, Phillips Academy Andover, The Hotchkiss School, St. Mark’s School, The Loomis Chaffee School, The Lawrenceville School…
Cardigan ninth graders confidently pursue admissions to prestigious high schools in the United States
Overall, Cardigan’s dedication to both challenging and supporting their students means an impressive 85% of graduates progress to one of their top three schools, including several of the most selective secondary schools in the US. The Class of 2024 will be attending 35 different schools in ten US states and three countries—a global society indeed.
Through a challenging curriculum, supportive community, and vibrant campus life, Cardigan Mountain School cultivates confident leaders prepared to thrive in a globalized world. Their "Cardigan Way" fosters both academic excellence and the essential skills boys need to navigate the future. The school also offers need-based financial aid of up to 50% of the tuition to qualified students and families.
Meet the Cardigan Mountain School's representative at Capstone's Fall 2024 StudyGlobal Education Fairs
This September, Capstone Education is bringing you the "Unlocking the World" Education Fair, opening doors to advanced education and world-class learning opportunities. The fair brings together over 50 representatives from prestigious schools in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Poland, Thailand, giving you the chance to meet and interact directly with school representatives to answer all your questions about studying abroad, choosing schools, majors, and receiving in-depth study abroad guidance.
In particular, you will have the opportunity to meet and interact directly with a representative from Cardigan Mountain School, get answers to all your questions about the curriculum, financial support, and the admissions process. Register to attend the fairs now!
For more information, please contact Capstone Vietnam.
Capstone Vietnam is proud to be one of the leading companies of study abroad consulting, career guidance, and visa and investment immigration solutions in Vietnam.
Hanoi Office: No. 2 Le Quy Don Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi - 0936701696 (Ms. Hoài)
Ho Chi Minh City Office: No. 22 Tran Quy Khoa Street, Tan Dinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City - 0918215445 (Ms. Trâm)