All boarding students at Worcester Academy are members of a dorm family. Each of the 15 families is headed by a dorm parent, and joined by another member of the campus faculty. Each family also includes a proctor (the residential student leaders). These dorm families share dinner every Tuesday night and meet regularly to discuss relevant issues and plan activities. The information from these meetings is shared in bi-weekly full dormitory meetings. This system allows the opportunity for student issues and concerns to be shared as a dorm and with residential faculty. Communication, respect for others and their property, and contributing as a integral member of the residential community are at the core of individual growth and development, as well as a successful residential program.



Approximately 70 international students comprise the majority of our 7-day boarders. They come from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds making the WA residential program a true microcosm of an increasingly global society. Countries normally represented each year include: Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Russia, Germany, Spain, Thailand, Viet Nam, Venezuela, and Mexico. Students have also come from Greece, Brazil, Mali, Senegal, and South Africa.

"Our international students are bright, motivated kids. Yet, we don't ever forget that some of them are only 14 years old, and they have traveled halfway around the world to get an education at a school with very high standards," says Marsha Bernstein, Associate Director of Admission. A dedicated residential faculty works tirelessly to integrate our international population into the fabric that is Worcester Academy. An important aspect of this program lies in building bonds and commonalities with 5-day boarders and day students alike, so that 7-day domestic and international students can be welcomed into New England homes to truly participate in and understand American family life. This provides our students the opportunity to improve English-speaking skills, while introducing their cultures to American families. If students remain on campus, weekend activities are planned each Friday through Sunday so that they can get out on the town to take advantage of the many venues that the city of Worcester has to offer.



For many students who live less than an hour's ride from the school, the option of being on campus during the week and going home on the weekends is an attractive one. It offers the social and academic interaction with fellow students and resident faculty during the academic week, allows for full utilization of our evening study program, and allows students to fully realize their daily schedules instead of needing to plan hours of daily travel time. The 5-day boarding week runs from Sunday evening until the end of classes on Friday. A 5-day boarding student can always stay on campus Friday night provided that they have a valid school activity on Saturday (i.e., SATs, an athletic event or arts performance.). It is our hope that 5-day boarders develop strong relationships with their 7-day dorm-mates resulting in frequent visits off campus.