Schools

It is the mission of Alcott Elementary School to join with parents and members of the community to teach our children to be active, lifelong learners who:

• Aspire to personal and academic best
• Think and work both independently and cooperatively
• Communicate effectively and with confidence
• Respect themselves and others
• Act with honesty and integrity
• Commit themselves to making the world a better place

Thoreau Elementary School was named for Henry David Thoreau, who was a naturalist, a writer, and a teacher. He was born in 1817 and died from tuberculosis at the age of 45 in 1862. He wrote:

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to this music he hears, however measured or far away.

At Thoreau School, we value and appreciate many different drummers.

Willard Elementary School is built upon ancient agricultural fields. The Algonquins, Native Americans who once populated what is now Concord, planted and harvested corn, beans and squash using a system called “the three sisters”. Corn was planted in a circle, surrounded by a circle of beans. As the corn stalks grew tall and strong, the beans would climb the stalks, supported and raised from the ground so they would grow plentifully. Around the beans, they planted various types of squashes and pumpkins. These plants sent out massive leaves that covered the ground, helping to hold moisture in the earth and cool the roots of all three plants. The crops grew in harmony, helping each other to thrive and provide a plentiful harvest.The Willard community also works in harmony. By supporting each other and valuing our differences, we all strive to bring out the best in our community. These ancient fields continue to nurture our children today.

Concord Middle School (CMS) is a 6-8 middle level school comprised of two buildings, the Sanborn building and the Peabody building, less than one mile apart, with a total population of 692 students. The middle school model combines both a Department and House structure in order to maximize both content expertise and support of the student as a whole child. We are fortunate to have a staff of 75 experienced professionals who share a common expectation of excellence. CMS is an inclusive school that provides a safe, orderly environment conducive to learning, with a student/teacher ratio of approximately 104 to 1 and an average class size of 21.

The learning process is taken very seriously at CMS. Much attention is paid to qualitative skills such as critical thinking, process learning and creative problem solving. By objective measures, CMS students also do well, with above average scores in the 8th grade Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System English Language arts, mathematics, and science & technology tests. Students are well prepared for transition into high school and ultimately college.

Committed to excellence in and out of the classroom, the CCHS community believes that it is our mission to inspire the students of Concord, Carlisle and Boston to strive for and meet high levels of academic and personal achievement. We believe that the respectful, supportive, and engaging learning environment at CCHS instills intellectual curiosity, a passion for learning, as well as an understanding of one’s role in the local community and in a diverse global society.