About
124 years of teaching the whole child
Founded 1902 by Sarah Marlowe + a small group of progressive educators. Today: 480 students, 64-acre campus, $84M endowment. Same fundamental philosophy.
The school today
480
Students K-12
84
Faculty + staff
$84M
Endowment
1902
Founded
Mission + philosophy
What we believe
The whole child
Academics + arts + athletics + character. Equally weighted, deliberately. Students graduate as full humans, not optimized college applicants.
Curiosity as a lifelong skill
We teach how to learn, how to question, how to revise thinking. Content matters; the cognitive habits matter more. Useful at 18, useful at 80.
Character + community
We care how students treat each other. Honor code, advisory program, community service requirements. Character isn’t a poster on the wall.
Faculty knowing students
Small classes + low ratios + multi-year advisor relationships. Every student is known by faculty, not just taught.
Diversity + access
Need-blind for K-2. Significant aid through Grade 12. Active DEI work since 2014. We’re a school for many kinds of families, not just wealthy ones.
Joy
School should be intellectually serious + joyful. Both at the same time. Most students leave Marlowe still loving learning. That’s the goal.
History
From 1902 to today
1902 — founded
Sarah Marlowe + 6 educators start the school in a Lincoln, MA farmhouse. 18 students. Progressive education principles + co-ed (rare for the era).
1924 — main campus
Move to current 64-acre Lincoln campus. Original schoolhouse + dining commons date from this era; both still in use.
1965 — full K-12
Expand from K-8 to K-12. First Upper School graduating class 1969. Modern academic + athletic facilities built.
1997 — endowment
Strategic capital campaign establishes endowment at $14M. Foundation for need-blind aid + faculty competitive salaries. Endowment now $84M.
2014 — DEI commitment
Formal DEI strategy adopted by board. Hire DEI coordinator, diversify faculty + students, restructure financial aid. Demographics shift meaningfully over next 10 years.
2026 — today
480 students, 84 faculty + staff, 38% students of color, 38% receiving aid. 124 years in. Same fundamental philosophy.
Leadership + governance
Who runs the school
Head of School — Dr. Eleanor Chen
Joined Marlowe 2018. PhD Education, Harvard. Previous: Head of Greenfield School (CT). Reports to the Board of Trustees.
Board of Trustees
21 members — alumni, parents, community leaders, educators. Annual board meeting + 4 working sessions. Strategic governance, not operational involvement.
Division heads
Lower School Director (K-4): Ms. Linden. Middle School Director (5-8): Mr. Patel. Upper School Director (9-12): Dr. Park. Each leads their division with 60+ years combined experience.
Faculty advisory committee
Faculty-elected advisory body. Surfaces faculty perspectives to administration + board. Quarterly meetings; specific topical task forces.
Parent association
Volunteer parent organization. Coordinates parent involvement, fundraising support, community building. Class representatives at every grade.
Student government
Upper School student council, Middle School student council. Real student voice on issues from dress code to curriculum. Faculty advisor + admin engagement.
About questions
What people ask
- Yes — NEAS&C (New England Association of Schools & Colleges). Most recent reaccreditation 2022. Member of AISNE (Association of Independent Schools New England) + NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools).