The Derby Difference
While every school cares about children, Derby Academy’s proven program will nurture the best in your child.
Derby’s unique focus on public speaking and our commitment to small class sizes have one purpose: ensuring every child is seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are.
We know when children are challenged and celebrated by teachers they trust, they go faster and they go further. They speak up and they reach out. They have the confidence to take risks and try new things. They see the best in themselves and others. And with our whole community behind them, they succeed.
When mind and heart are given equal care in a curriculum and in a community, children thrive.
Improve Both Mind and Heart
For over 230 years, Derby Academy has remained dedicated to its founding motto, Improve Both Mind and Heart. As the oldest co-educational independent school in New England, we offer a truly unique educational experience that seamlessly blends academic rigor with essential character development, preparing students from Pre-K through Grade 8 to be knowledgeable, compassionate, and effective leaders.
The Pre-K to 8 Difference
Derby’s Pre-K through Grade 8 structure is intentional and transformative.
-
Scaffolded curriculum: Faculty collaborate across all grade levels to ensure a smooth, continuous path of learning and skill development.
-
Connections: Close, multi-year relationships form between students, teachers, and families, creating a nurturing environment where every child is known, noticed, and respected as an individual.
-
Nurturing Environment: Students experience the joy of being young through 8th grade.
-
Outdoor Play: All students, Pre-K to 8, enjoy multiple recess periods per day.
-
Peer Mentorship: Our cross-grade Pals program allows older and younger students to form connections that last.
Innovative Teaching and Learning
Leadership Development
Leadership at Derby begins as early as Pre-K and grows intentionally through every grade, culminating in the middle school years with distinct programming focused on developing authentic leaders.
Public Speaking Program
Students from Pre-K through Grade 8 develop poise and confidence through regular public speaking and presentation opportunities.
Social-Emotional Learning
Improve Both Mind and Heart is more than a motto; it's our daily practice. We place equal emphasis on academic excellence and the development of strong moral character and personal responsibility.
Derby at a Glance
100%
Public Speaking
All students have numerous opportunities to experience our public speaking program that begins in Pre-K and builds through Grade 8.
340+/-
Students
Our student body is comprised of 340+/- children in grades Pre-K to 8.
33%
Bus Riders
Nearly ⅓ of our students take advantage of our bus program, which includes stops in Boston, Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Randolph, Weymouth, Duxbury, Marshfield, Scituate, Cohasset, and Hingham.
15
Typical Class Size
Small class sizes allow teachers to develop meaningful connections with students. Classes are capped at 10 in Pre-K, 14 in K, and 16 in Grades 1–8.
74
Specials & Electives
Our students are immersed in innovative and creative specials and electives from arts, sewing, woodworking, library, world languages, engineering and design, and programs like Winter Term and GOALS.
DEIB
We believe that a diverse and inclusive community is an essential and fundamental piece of educational excellence.
Arts and Athletics
Our well-balanced athletic program provides our students with the opportunity to challenge themselves, discover their strengths and interests, and experience the thrill of competition and reward of teamwork.
Social Emotional Learning
SEL lessons are implemented school-wide through research-based and Derby-created Social Emotional Learning curricula.