Residential Life

Life at Putney is rich and stimulating, with days that seem full almost to bursting with activity and learning. At the end of a long day (or sometimes just part-way through!) you need a place to retreat into, to relax, catch up on work and sleep, to feel safe, comfortable and at home. Welcome to dorm life at Putney!

As one of the first boarding schools in the country to embrace coeducation for high school, we have had a long time to work out the kinks, developing a residential program that nurtures, empowers, and teaches. Students are spread across campus in nine small dorms, ranging from 10 to 30 students. Each dorm is led by two to three faculty Dorm Heads, living in apartments attached to each dorm. Many dorm parents have children and pets, which gives dorms an "extended family" feeling, and regularly have their doors open for students to stop in for homework help, advice, or just a snack and a chat. Two to four student Dorm Heads also help coordinate many of the dorm activities and functions, from nightly dorm cleaning to weekly meetings and special weekend events. Student Dorm Heads also act as informal advisors for other students in the dorm, helping younger students balance their work and social lives at Putney.

Dorms and individual rooms at Putney are simple and small, yet very functional and comfortable. The majority of our rooms are doubles, with some singles and triples, and all open to common hallways and living spaces. Each room is sparsely furnished with bed, desk, chair, dresser, closet space and direct connection to the internet. Students quickly decorate their rooms in their own style, making the simple space their own personalized retreat – their home away from home.

Of course, communal living can have its challenges – from sharing the dorm laundry machines to tolerating a roommate’s music preferences – but working through these challenges together brings immeasurable rewards. Our school is our home and the students and teachers who live here quickly become our family, building relationships that last a lifetime.