School Life

LA provides the challenges and support that encourages our students to take constructive risks and build self-confidence while contributing to the community in ways you may never have imagined.

Boarding and day. Artists and athletes. Local, national, and international hometowns. In these ways, and so many more, the Lawrence Academy community is a diverse one. Not only do our students come from a wide swath of geographic, ethnic, and community groups, but they also represent a diverse cross-section of talents, learning styles, and special interests.

Students walking to assembly through the Quad.

The LA community is also an open and safe one. By both their peers and by faculty and staff members, students are encouraged to step outside of their comfort zones, take constructive risks, and build their self-confidence within a support system that will applaud them when they succeed and guide and encourage them to try again when they misstep.

At Lawrence Academy, students are encouraged to develop in depth a special talent or skill, discover and use leadership abilities, and take advantage of the school’s cultural and social diversity, and are supported as they do so.

Meet the Team

Libby Margraf

Assistant Head for School Life

Raquel Majeski

Assistant Head for Equity & Community Life

Andrew Healy

Dean of Students, Spanish

Kimberly Poulin

Assistant Dean of Students, Director of Community Engagement

O'Shea Bell

Assistant Dean of Students

Tanya Clark

Administrative Assistant to Student Life

We're here to help!

We welcome and encourage you to reach out with any questions you might have about School Life at Lawrence Academy. Please feel free to contact Tanya Clark at 978-448-1518 or email us at deans@lacademy.edu.

Navigation

Questions about Student Life at LA

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about Lawrence Academy's Student Life initiatives. We're here to help!

Email: deans@lacademy.edu

Student Stories: Meet Shelby

Student Stories: Meet CJ

In all parts of school life, the voices of each and every person on campus are encouraged; as a whole, the community aims to acknowledge each individual’s unique qualities and perspectives, regardless of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, ability, religious affiliation, or political views.

Day Student Life

Lawrence Academy day students leave campus at night and over the weekends, but they are

encouraged to participate fully in the residential LA experience (until it’s time to go to bed, that is!). All weekend activities — shopping shuttles, group trips to local attractions, and on-campus events — for boarders are open to day students as well; during the school week, day students are welcome to stay on campus until curfew, for study hours and extracurricular events.

While they are on campus, LA day students have access to lockers in the student lounge, as well as various spots to study or relax and hang out with friends and classmates. They are welcome in the dining hall for every meal, and are encouraged to show family members and friends around campus in their free time.

Boarding Student Life

Lawrence Academy’s student body is evenly split between boarding and day students, so even

on weekends and after hours, the elm tree-shaded hillside is bustling. Boarders are encouraged to make campus, both their dorm room and the common areas, their home away from home.

While living on campus, LA students are able to venture off campus (with proper permission, of course) with classmates, family members, and friends, and guests are always welcome on campus as well. Weekend activities — shopping shuttles, group trips to local attractions, and on-campus events — abound, and laundry, mail, and religious services are available in addition to a dining hall that is open for all meals.

Day Student FAQ's

Is there bus transportation to and from campus? If so, what are the routes offered?

Below is the bus stop information for the 2019-2020 school year. Please note that this information may change for the 2021-2022 school year, but it will give you an idea of the bus schedules as they currently run.

Lexington, Concord, and Acton Bus Line: Scheduled Stops

Lexington: Harrington School (328 Lowell St.) @ 6:50 a.m.
Concord: Alcott House (399 Lexington Rd.) @ 7:10 a.m. (Evening drop-off is at the Crosby’s Corner Mobil gas station on Route 2.)
Concord: Papa Razzi (768 Elm St.) @ 7:20 a.m.
Acton: 255 Great Rd. (formerly Mahaka) @ 7:25 a.m. (Evening drop-off is at Donelan’s Supermarket at 248 Great Rd., across the street.)

Andover Bus Line: Scheduled Stops

Downtown Andover: across from CVS (68 Main St.) @ 7:00 a.m.
Route 133: at the former Boston Sports Club (307 Lowell St.) @ 7:10 a.m.

Both bus lines arrive on campus at approximately 7:45 a.m., and the academic day starts at 8:00 a.m. Return departure from Lawrence Academy in the fall and spring is 6:30 pm.; during the winter, return departure is at 7:00 p.m. Buses leave from behind the dining hall.

Bus service is not adjusted to accommodate late practices or games. Students who are not able to catch their evening bus due to an away game, late practice, or other school commitment must arrange for transportation that evening.

Can day students return to campus on weekends and participate in weekend activities on campus?

Are day students allowed to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner on campus during the week?

Can day students have cars on campus?

Day students are allowed to drive their cars to school and park them in an assigned spot on campus. To receive permission to do so, day students must register their vehicles with the Student Life Office and must sign the Day Student Car Contract. Students are expected to keep their cars in their assigned parking space for the duration of their time on campus each day. Students are not allowed to drive their cars during the day or to any after-school commitment without the consent of the dean of students.

How late can day students stay on campus during the week?

Boarding Student FAQ's

What can students bring to their dorm rooms?

Each dorm room contains a bed, a desk, a chair, a bureau, and closet space; each room also has at least one window, and the windows are supplied with shades. The shapes and sizes of the rooms vary greatly, so new students are advised to delay bringing extra furniture, large rugs, or window curtains until they have lived in their rooms for a while.

Students must bring their own sheets, pillows, blankets, and bedspreads in extra-long twin size (mattress size: 36 in. x 80 in.; flat sheet size: 66 in. x 102 in. or 167 cm. x 259 cm.; fitted sheet size: 39 in. x 80 in. or 99 cm. x 203 cm.), though an outside linen rental is also available through E&R Laundry. Other suggested items to bring for your dorm room include a desk lamp, a wastebasket, speakers for your music, closet hangers, and a trunk with a lock for additional secure storage, if you so choose.

Is there laundry available on campus?

How do roommate assignments work?

The dean of students works with a committee of faculty to create roommate assignments that take into account both individuality and compatibility for all boarding students. Roommate and dorm information will be made available to students and families only upon arrival on registration day. The school does not release housing information prior to this time in the event of a need for last-minute changes.

How do boarding students sign out during the academic week or for the weekend?

In order for a student to leave campus, the student must first submit a leave request through the online sign-out program. Parents/guardians then receive an email asking them to approve or reject the travel plan.

Sign out through the Dean of Students’ Office is required each time a boarding student plans to leave campus during the academic day. All boarding students who plan to leave campus for a weekend must sign out before 9:30 a.m. on the Thursday before departing campus. Because Sunday evenings are crucial to the boarding life of our school, we ask that families organize their weekends so that students arrive back on campus by 7:15 p.m. for dorm meetings held every Sunday evening, or by 7:30 p.m. on the first evening after a break.

For three weekends during each school year, the boarding community comes together for an on-campus weekend. No sign-outs are permitted during on-campus weekends.

The sign-out system will be reviewed with all boarding students during the first weeks of school.

Where do boarding students stay when the dormitories are closed for Thanksgiving, winter break, and spring break?

Students participating in the Grit 'N Wit weekend activitiy.

General School Life FAQ's

What is the dress code at Lawrence Academy?

During the academic day, Lawrence Academy expects students to adhere to a dress code designed to allow for comfort and individuality while maintaining a standard conducive to an academic setting. All clothing must be neat, clean, modest, and in good repair.

The following list provides a partial itemization of some clothing that is not appropriate during the academic day:

Visible undergarments, include bralettes.
Clothing that promotes alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex, or violence, or that demeans or offends others.
Cut-off shorts or ripped or torn apparel.
Backless tops, bare midriffs, short shorts and skirts, tank tops with spaghetti straps, and tops that display cleavage or are see-through.
Yoga pants or leggings.
Athletic wear, including warm-up gear, sweatpants, game shorts, or uniforms.
Hats or other head coverings inside campus buildings.

Are students allowed to go downtown during and/or after the academic day?

The local downtown area is considered part of the Lawrence Academy campus, and students may walk there. However, students are not permitted to cross Route 40 or Route 119 if there are no crosswalks accessible. Before going downtown, students are asked to sign out using the book outside the office of the administrative assistant to student life, and then sign back in when they return to campus.

Main Header Container

Lawrence
Academy

Breadcrumbs