The Loomis Chaffee School
Private, independent, boarding, day
Established1914 (age 112)
Motto translationYield Not to Adversity
Head of schoolJody Reilly Soja
Address4 Batchelder Road
CityWindsor
StateConnecticut
Zipcode06095
CountryUnited States
Coordinates41°50′24″N 72°38′26″W
Ceeb070945
Faculty190
Grades9–12, PG
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment
  • 742 total
  • 520 boarding
  • 222 day (2024–2025)
Ratio5:1 (4:1 boarding student-to-residential faculty)
Endowment$350 million[1][2]
Athletics55 interscholastic teams in 18 sports; 19 intramural offerings
Athletic conferenceNEPSAC
Founders League
MascotPelican
NewspaperThe Loomis Chaffee Log
Budget$55.7 million (2019)[3]
Tuition$61,760 (boarding)[3]
$47,440 (day)[3]
ColorsMaroon and gray
AffiliationsTen Schools Admission Organization[4]
RivalKent School
Accreditation
Websitewww.loomischaffee.org

The Loomis Chaffee School (/ˈluːmɪsˈtʃeɪfi/; LC or Loomis) is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, including postgraduate students, located in Windsor, Connecticut, seven miles north of Hartford. As of the 2024–2025 school year, 70 percent of Loomis Chaffee's 742 students reside on the school's 300-acre (120-hectare) campus and represent 51 foreign countries and 27 U.S. states; the remaining 30 percent are day students.[5]

Founded in 1914, Loomis Chaffee is a member of the Ten Schools Admission Organization.

History

The school was chartered in 1874 as The Loomis Institute by five Loomis siblings, who were determined to turn tragedy into generosity after all of their own children died before the age of 21.[6][7] The original 1640 Loomis Homestead was chosen as the site for the school, which opened in 1914.[8] The forty-year gap between chartering and the opening of the school was due to the estate of the Loomis siblings being reserved for the siblings' retirement.[9]

In 1910, John Mason Loomis's widow left over $1.1 million as an endowment to The Loomis Institute for charitable purposes.[10] This donation allowed the school to remain tuition-free for its first four decades. The Loomis Institute was different from other New England preparatory schools: it had no religious affiliation, offered vocational training alongside college preparatory courses, and admitted both boys and girls.[11]

The Loomis Institute ended coeducation in 1926 when The Chaffee School was incorporated to educate girls on an adjacent campus. In 1970, the boys and girls schools merged to form The Loomis Chaffee School.[11] Since then, the school has expanded its endowment, financial aid budget, faculty, and campus size.[6]

Overview

Academics

Loomis Chaffee serves students from grades 9-12, as well as post-graduate students.[12]

Athletics

Loomis Chaffee competes in sports against schools from all over New England and adjacent states.[13] The school is a member of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) and competes in the Class A large school division. Additionally, Loomis is a member of The Founders League which comprises private schools located mainly in Connecticut.[13]

Heads of school

  • (1914–1949): Nathaniel Horton Batchelder[14]
  • (1949–1952): William Speer[14]
  • (1952–1967): Francis Olmsted Grubbs[14]
  • (1967–1976): Frederick G. Torrey[15]
  • (1976–1996): John Ratté[16]
  • (1996–2008): Russell H. Weigel[17]
  • (2008–2024): Sheila Culbert[18]
  • (2024–Present): Jody Reilly Soja[19]

Notable alumni

Main article: List of Loomis Chaffee School alumni

Notable faculty

Main article: List of Loomis Chaffee School faculty

Writer John Horne Burns taught at Loomis and wrote several books while there.[20]

René Cheruy served for many years as head of the French department, as well as a member of the visual arts department.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Loomis Chaffee Profile (2022) | Windsor, CT"
  2. ^ "Henry Kravis Donates $100 Million to His Prep School"
  3. ^ "Key Facts". Loomis Chaffee. July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  4. ^ "Our Schools". Ten Schools.
  5. ^ "Key Facts". The Loomis Chaffee School. Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  6. ^ "History & Origins of Loomis Chaffee". Loomischaffee.org. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  7. ^ "Our Hartford Letter". The Springfield Daily Republican. 1877-09-21. p. 7. Retrieved 2025-06-23. – via Newspapers.com
  8. ^ Atlantic Reporter: Cases Argued and Determined in the Courts of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont. West Publishing Company. 1923. pp. 33–35.
  9. ^ Hill, Rachel. "A look back at the start of Loomis Chaffee School". courant.com. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  10. ^ Together We Served.com, Essay
  11. ^ Martin, David Jerner & Loomis, Kimberly S. (2013-06-25). Building Teachers: A Constructivist Approach to Introducing Education. Cengage Learning. p. 265. ISBN 978-1-285-53011-6.
  12. ^ "The Future of Loomis Chaffee: The Incoming Class of 2029"
  13. ^ "Athletics Overview - The Loomis Chaffee School". www.loomischaffee.org
  14. ^ Margolick, David (April 15, 1982). "Francis O. Grubbs Is Dead at 74; Headed Loomis-Chaffee School". The New York Times
  15. ^ "Ex‐French Teacher To Retire as Head Of Loomis‐Chaffee". The New York Times. February 25, 1973.
  16. ^ Writer, STAN SIMPSON; Hartford Courant Staff. "LOOMIS CHAFFEE HEADMASTER RETIRING". courant.com
  17. ^ "Loomis Headmaster to Retire After 2007-08 Year". The Phillipian, the Phillips Academy. April 1, 2007.
  18. ^ "Sheila Culbert Extends Her Tenure as Head of School". www.loomischaffee.org. 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  19. ^ "Jody Reilly Soja Named Eighth Head of School - The Loomis Chaffee School". www.loomischaffee.org. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  20. ^ Margolick, David (2013). Dreadful: the short life and gay times of John Horne Burns. New York: Other Press. pp. x.
  21. ^ "Madame Chéruy". www.loomischaffee.org. Retrieved 2023-12-14.