FAQs

For many families, choosing to attend Derby is an important investment in their child’s future. The ability to experience a wide range of engaging learning opportunities in a safe, supportive environment led by committed faculty members can change a child’s life. Our students develop a love for learning that will continue to grow.

​​​​​​Applicants to Grades 2-5 spend a day at Derby in their current grade level to see what a day at Derby entails! Each visitor has a student host for the day. Applicants to Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 1 comes for an hour to hour and a half visit.

Our current average class size is 15 students.

Families are welcome to apply for admission to any grade. The number of openings per grade varies each year with some grades having more openings than others (Pre-Kindergarten and Grade 5 are currently our larger entry points).

Although Pre-Kindergarten and Grade 5 are our major entry points, we are often able to enroll new students in other grade levels as well. Families are welcome to submit applications for any grade level, even if it isn't a planned entry point. The number of openings in all grade levels will vary from year to year. For questions regarding openings, please contact the Admission Office at 781-749-0746 ext. 146.

The school day for all grade levels begins at 8:00 AM and children can be dropped off as early as 7:40 AM.

• Grades Pre-Kindergarten to 4 are dismissed at 3:00 PM Monday-Thursday and 12:30 PM on Fridays.
• Grades 5-8 are dismissed at 4:00 PM Monday-Thursday and 1:00 PM on Fridays.

Lower School
In Pre-K through Grade 3, every child is expected to be read to, or to read independently, each night. Exceptions to this policy include reinforcement of a concept, long term projects, incomplete class work and parent/child activities. This policy is supported by research and by Derby's belief that children should have time away from school to play, eat family dinners, and enjoy downtime. Students in Grade 4 have about 15-30 minutes of homework each night.

Middle School
Grade 5 and 6 student have 10-15 minutes of homework per subject per night. Grades 7-8 have 15-20 minutes per subject per night. Our homework policy for our Middle School students builds incrementally with each grade with the goal of increasing stamina and building time management and organizational skills.

Exceptions: (1) the nightly per subject amount may be slightly longer for an individual class if a major assessment (e.g., test, essay, or major project) is upcoming and/or due; (2) students in advanced math sections may have additional homework as an extension of their course work.

At an additional expense, families may choose optional private bus transportation. We have a North Bus with central stops typically covering Boston, Milton, Randolph, Braintree, Weymouth, and Quincy, and some surrounding towns . We also have a South Bus with central stops typically covering Cohasset, Scituate, Marshfield and Duxbury, and some surrounding towns. The bus leaves Derby Academy at approximately 4:00 PM Monday - Thursday and at 1:00 PM on Fridays. Please note that the bus fee for families receiving Tuition Assistance is adjusted at the same percentage rate as the tuition assistance award percentage.

Derby students who reside in Hingham are permitted to ride the Hingham Public School (HPS) buses. All bus riders must be registered with the HPS Transportation Department. The Hingham bus is available free of charge to Kindergarten - Grade 6 Derby students. There is a fee and a separate registration process for students in Grades 7 and 8 to ride the Hingham bus. The bus leaves Derby Academy at approximately 3:00 PM Monday - Thursday and at 1:00 PM on Friday.

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Our typical enrollment is between 325-350 students. The number of students per grade can vary from year to year. Class size is typically 12-16 students. We have two sections per grade level in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 4, and three sections in Grades 5-8.

You may apply for Tuition Assistance at Derby Academy via the Clarity website. The Tuition Assistance deadlines are the same as the application deadlines.

Yes! The Sarah Derby Merit Scholarship is offered annually to one or two new students entering Grades 4-8 who live in a town or city that is underrepresented in the Derby community. For more information about the scholarship, click here.

We require that all students applying to Grades 6–8 take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE).

Competitiveness fluctuates from year to year depending on the size and composition of the applicant pool, the needs of the current class, and the number of openings available at each grade level, making it difficult to define specifically for any given year.

You will be able to access the admission decision and all relevant materials in the Admission Portal, as well as be able to indicate your intentions. The enrollment process is all completed online. Enrollment and deposit due dates will be communicated in the portal.

Our graduates regularly attend some of the best independent, parochial, and public high schools in the area and beyond and gain admittance into some of the top colleges in in the country and around the world. Our Secondary School Counseling department works with students and families to ensure your family finds the right fit for your student. Please learn more here!

Our parents and caregivers play a crucial role in our school community. Our active parent and caregiver group, "Derby Family Connect," welcomes all parents and caregivers, and provides numerous opportunities to become involved as volunteers and grade level representatives.

When our students graduate from Derby, they join an active alumni network of caring individuals who are poised for success. Our Alumni Office regularly hosts alumni receptions on campus, in Boston, and throughout the country to engage with our graduates and help sustain the relationships that began at Derby. Several of our alumni have even returned to campus to teach as faculty members at Derby!
 

At Derby, DEIB is woven into our curriculum and our daily community life. We are preparing our students for the future—to exist and thrive in an increasingly interconnected and diverse world. Our goal is for Derby to reflect the vibrant, multicultural global society our students will enter when they leave us and that they will be empathetic, respectful, and culturally competent leaders.