Max found his voice as a playwright at Choate Rosemary Hall. It all began in middle school, when he joined a Choate summer programme that combined two of his interests: theatre and writing. Years later, as a high schooler, he would use his developed craft to merge another two passions: playwriting and sci-fi.
In the summer of ‘24, Max’s talent had taken centre stage –– literally. His play, Crank 004, was professionally produced by The Blank Theatre in Los Angeles, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing young talent. He earned a spot in their prestigious Young Playwrights Festival, but Max is quick to credit Choate’s Arts Concentration programme and his mentor, Kate Doak, for helping him shape the work.
“Arts Con and Ms. Doak were crucial in the development of this play,” says Max. “Hearing it out loud for the first time in the Gelb Theatre gave me key insights into the audience’s reaction.”
Stories like Max’s are a norm at Choate. At a time when traditional classrooms still rely on lectures and rigid moulds, Choate offers something different: a personalised, student-centred experience where individuality is celebrated and curiosity is fuelled. According to the US Department of Education, only 30% of students in traditional classrooms feel motivated compared to the 75% in personalised learning settings. And motivation is where true growth begins.
At Choate Rosemary Hall, there’s room for every kind of goal to be explored.
This independent, co-ed boarding and day school has nurtured the aspirations of more than 18,000 alumni over the last 130 years. On its 458-acre, purpose-built campus, students are encouraged to explore their full potential — whether that means developing a scientific breakthrough, writing a stage-worthy script, or simply being heard.
Because at Choate, learning doesn’t stop at 3 p.m. And for students like Max, neither does the dream.
This independent, co-ed boarding and day school has nurtured the aspirations of more than 18,000 alumni over the last 130 years. On its 458-acre, purpose-built campus, students are encouraged to explore their full potential — whether that means developing a scientific breakthrough, writing a stage-worthy script, or simply being heard.
Because at Choate, learning doesn’t stop at 3 p.m. And for students like Max, neither does the dream.
Choate’s rich with opportunity, but small enough to form lasting connections with your peers and teachers. Source: Choate Rosemary Hall
Giving teens the tools to learn and lead with purpose
Teenagers are “undefinable” by nature, and at Choate Rosemary Hall, that’s the point. Instead of fitting students into predefined boxes, the school encourages them to shape their own path. Academic programmes are intentionally flexible and student-centered, with Signature Programmes that let learners go deeper in fields that excite them — from Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and Advanced Robotics to the Arts Concentration that helped Max thrive. In the Capstone Programme, they can even work with a faculty advisor to create a concentrated course of study in a field that piques their curiosity.
Indeed, ideas don’t only stay in Choate classrooms. Students have the tools and support to turn passion into action — whether through independent studies or by joining one of the many student-led organisations that make campus life vibrant and meaningful. Some champion social causes, like Choate Aids Immigrants and Refugees. Others explore their creativity in bold ways, from the satirical school paper Lorem Ipsum to contemporary choreography in the Dance Company. Environmental advocates find their voice through the Environmental Action Coalition, working toward a more sustainable world.
Choate Rosemary Hall is rated as the best private high school in Connecticut. Source: Choate Rosemary Hall
Where dreams have room to grow
Ideas are never too ambitious at Choate and everyone is empowered to explore what matters most to them — big or small. Just ask Emma. Less than two years ago, she set her sights on a goal that few would dare to chase: climbing the Seven Summits. Ready to get climbing, Emma worked out a plan with teachers and staff to take classes remotely and then return mid-winter to catch up in person. She balanced her coursework with intense training sessions –– her friends and teachers cheered her on every step of the way.
Emma’s only 4’11” in a sport often dominated by taller climbers, but she worked hard to become the youngest woman to summit all seven peaks. She’ll return to Choate this fall as a senior and prefect. “I hope to inspire other girls to dream big,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to say the craziest thing and back yourself up and do it.”
Meanwhile, Ada’s just about to become a senior in high school, and she’s already finding solutions to environmental waste and economic inequality. She founded the Global Hospitality Aid (GHA), an initiative aimed at addressing three pressing issues: hotel industry waste, economic inequality, and limited access to basic necessities in crisis zones. Her journey towards making an environmental impact will begin in her home city — Bangkok, Thailand.
This year, Ada received the Global Youth Action Fund 2025 worth US$2,500 to expand her initiative. She explains how her macroeconomics class aided her ideas: “I was able to pull the concept of a circular economy and apply it to GHA’s model of responsible, sustainable consumption,” she says. “It’s an example of how sustainability and humanitarian aid can work hand in hand.”
Ready to help your child discover what’s possible? Learn more about Choate Rosemary Hall.
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