About The Taft School
In 1890, Mr. Taft founded our school with a broad but singular mission: to educate the whole student. At its core, our mission means that education at Taft is personal, moral, and ethical, as well as academic. It means that we value high scholarship and intellectual endeavor along with a belief that character, above all else, determines success in life. While the world and the school have changed dramatically over the past 125 years, Mr. Taft’s fundamental values endure: work hard, without regard for public acclaim; develop all your talents—academic, artistic, and athletic; and most importantly, give of yourself to others. Our culture is inseparable from both our mission and our motto: non ut sibi ministretur sed ut ministret—not to be served, but to serve. Our community is fundamentally shaped by this dedication to helping young people become lifelong learners, thoughtful world citizens, and caring people.
The Taft School, established in 1890, is a private co-educational institution located in Watertown, Connecticut. Serving approximately 600 students in grades 9 through 12, the school emphasizes educating the whole student, fostering academic excellence alongside moral and ethical development. Its motto, Not to be served but to serve, reflects this commitment.
Core Values
Teaching Philosophy
We believe in academic rigor, and deliver it with heart. Exceptional faculty Taft teachers are passionate about their subjects, committed to teaching, love what they do, and work hard to bring the best out in their students. The chance to try new things You can be a linebacker who sings in the chorus, or a physicist who stars in the play. Being NON UT SIBI Tafties work in all different ways to make campus, the surrounding area, and the world a better place.
What Makes The Taft School Special
- Community service
- Traditional
- Leadership
- Arts
- Sports
Academics
Curriculum
The Taft School offers Traditional, AP, and Other curriculums, with specializations in Arts, Sports, and Leadership.
Academic Environment
Languages of Instruction
Programs & Extracurriculars
Arts Programs
4 programsSports
6 programsClubs & Activities
6 programsCampus & Facilities
The Taft School sits on a 226 acre-acre campus with Library and STEM lab.
Photo Gallery
Tuition & Financial Aid
Admissions
Requirements
- Application form
- Reference letters
- Interview
- Standardized test
- Other
Community & Culture
The Taft School cultivates a community centered on its founding motto, "non ut sibi ministretur sed ut ministret"—not to be served, but to serve. Students are intellectually curious and socially aware, actively involved in campus life across academics, arts, and athletics. The school emphasizes that "smart is cool and kind is even cooler," fostering an environment where students can pursue diverse interests—from being a linebacker who sings in the chorus to a physicist who stars in a play. With nearly three-quarters of students living on campus, a 5-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, and an 11-person average class size, the community feels intimate and supportive.
Diversity & Inclusion
Taft describes itself as "an intentionally diverse institution whose members work to acknowledge, respect, and empathize with people of all different identifiers, such as race, socioeconomic status, gender identity and expression, education, age, ability, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, language, nationality, and religion." The school enrolls students from 56 countries, with approximately 22-25% international students. Taft is a founding member of G32, a group of schools developing the Character Skills Snapshot to complement standardized testing. The school commits 35% of its $11 million financial aid budget to support students, and maintains dedicated multicultural recruitment staff.
Parent Involvement
Parent involvement details are not prominently featured on the website. The site emphasizes student leadership roles such as school monitors, dorm heads, and peer mentors, as well as a Student Philanthropy Group that awards grants to community organizations, but specific parent committees, volunteer opportunities, or communication channels are not described.
Contact The Taft School
Address
110 Woodbury Rd, Watertown, Connecticut, United States
Phone
860-945-7777
info@taftschool.org
Website
Visit School Website
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about The Taft School
The Taft School serves students in grades 9-12.
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