Greetings!

For over ten years, I have had the great privilege of leading The Beech Hill School, as the Founding Head of School.  In that time, I have witnessed our enrollment grow from 8 to 48 students, the addition of a 5th Grade, and over 100 alumni graduate from The Beech Hill School to find success in a variety of secondary schools, in college, and in life.  I can think of no greater professional honor than the opportunity to lead this innovative, independent middle school.

Founded on a simple idea, The Beech Hill School exists to serve students at a critical time in their development – the middle school years.  It is rare in the independent school world that an institution focuses only on grades 5 through 8, but at BHS, our students understand that they are our sole focus.  Moreover, we have created a community in which our students don’t simply survive the challenging years of early adolescence, they thrive.

Often, I am asked why our students thrive.  Our community is a diverse one, and the answer to that question is as unique as our individual students.  However, over the years, I have come to recognize a few things that all Beech Hill students have in common.  First, they are “get to” kids, rather than “have to” kids.  That is, they are excited to engage in all that we have to offer, embracing the perspective that they “get to” do things like participate in our robotics program, act in our drama programs and engage in hands on learning activities like raising trout, building massive boats that float, and creating their own board games based on books that they have read.  Second, our students truly value the community that we have created. While they are emotionally and physically changing all the time, they can rest assured that our inclusive community will accept, support, and celebrate them throughout their time at BHS and throughout their lives.  Finally, BHS students value the agency they are afforded.  At a time when many adolescents perceive that they have little control over their lives, students at The Beech Hill School are provided the opportunity to make real and significant decisions.

Whether you have found The Beech Hill School’s website because you are considering application, because you want to learn more about our programs, or are interested in joining our faculty and staff; there is only so much that can be conveyed through pictures and words.  Of course, I encourage you to look around on the web, visit our social media, especially Facebook and Instagram, but most of all, I encourage you to contact us and to visit the school.  We welcome your interest and are excited to share with you the history, present, and future of The Beech Hill School.  Perhaps then you will understand for yourself why students thrive at The Beech Hill School.

I am looking forward to meeting you in person.

Warmly,

Rick Johnson
Head of School