Overview
The first thing I noticed about the Taft School is that despite a large campus, everything feels compact, in a good way. The main classroom building is also where the dining hall is, and one of the boys’ dorms is above this. Students only have 5 minutes between classes, but this is still enough time to have quick chats with friends between classes.
Environment
The architecture of the school is beautiful, with all of the man buildings having a similar look and feel. When I took my tour, students were grabbing lunch and heading off to sports activities, and many of them were wishing friends good luck in upcoming matches and games. The sense I got was of a casual atmosphere, and an open, welcoming community. Everyone seems to know everyone else, and sports teams are a popular activity.
Academic and Arts
Taft also has a strong reputation for the arts, and many students participate in visual arts, music, or theatre. The school also has a strong academic focus, with Saturday classes each week and, according to my tour guide, quite a lot of homework (but manageable, with good time management skills). Kids are busy with lots of things on campus, but the town of Watertown is also walking distance from school, so students can sign out and go there to get lunch, ice cream, or run errands.