The Lawrenceville School

2500 Main Street, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
Official website

Boarding / Day
Co-ed
Grades 9–12

Summer School

Available

Financial Aid

Need-based

Admissions

Gateway

About the School

Founded in 1810, The Lawrenceville School is a co-ed boarding and day school in New Jersey. About 823 students from 39 states and 32 countries are enrolled, and the school is defined by two pillars — House and Harkness.

Pride

Founded in 1810, The Lawrenceville School is a co-ed boarding and day school located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. It was originally established as the Maidenhead Academy to prepare students for nearby Princeton University, and it became fully coeducational in 1987. About 823 students from 39 states and 32 countries are enrolled, with roughly 70% boarding and 30% day students. The school colors are red and black; its athletic teams are known as “Big Red”; and its unofficial mascot is a bulldog named Larrie. The school is defined by two pillars, House and Harkness. The House system was introduced in 1883, inspired by British schools, and its historic “Circle” houses, designed in part by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, are recognized as a National Historic Landmark District. Lawrenceville’s reported average SAT score is 1490, which is well above the national average and among the highest in the U.S. Its most famous tradition is “Hill Weekend,” the annual rivalry game against The Hill School, which dates back to 1887 and is considered one of the country’s oldest high school football rivalries.

Courses

Trimester system / 300+ courses / Harkness tables, 7:1 ratio

Lawrenceville operates on a trimester system and offers more than 300 courses. The average class size is 12–13 students, and the student-to-teacher ratio is about 7:1. Most classes are taught in small, discussion-based groups seated around an oval Harkness table, with an emphasis on student-driven learning. Fourth and Fifth-form students can also design independent study courses to pursue a special interest.

Campus & Facilities

Campus Facilities

Bunn Library

Opened in 1996, the Bunn Library is an advanced research and learning center with space for nearly 100,000 volumes. In addition to group study rooms, individual study carrels, and a music listening room, it includes an electronic classroom equipped with computers and a video projection system, supporting a wide range of learning styles.

Gruss Center for Art and Design (GCAD)

The Gruss Center for Art and Design is a hub for creative work across the arts, from traditional painting with a simple paintbrush and palette to digital fabrication using 3D printers and laser cutters. Students also take on interdisciplinary projects here, such as building rockets, making it a place where imagination across every discipline can take shape.

Tsai Commons and Field House

Opened in 2024, the Tsai Commons and Field House renovated and expanded the school’s historic field house, adding a new dining hall, an eight-lane swimming pool, an ice hockey rink, basketball courts, and fitness rooms. It brings together dining, recreation, and athletics in a single interconnected space, creating a new hub of campus life.

Affiliations

Lawrenceville is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), the Eight Schools Association, and the Ten Schools Admission Organization. The school regularly competes in athletic events against other prestigious schools that are members of these associations.

Signature Programs

Harkness Travel Program

The Lawrenceville School values the House and Harkness approach to learning, and through the Harkness Travel Program, students are able to take part in experiential trips both abroad and within the U.S. Programs cover a wide range of themes, including service learning, scientific research, cultural exchange, the arts, historical inquiry, and the natural world, and include language-immersion trips to countries such as France and Spain for students studying those languages. Highly motivated students can also pursue independent scientific research through the Hutchins Scholars in Science Research program, working closely with faculty mentors. The Hutchins Institute for Social Justice and hands-on, interdisciplinary learning at the Big Red Farm are also distinctive parts of the Lawrenceville experience.

The Area

Safety

Lawrence Township, New Jersey, is home to about 32,000 residents and is located between Princeton and Trenton. The violent crime rate is well below the national average, but the property crime (such as theft) rate is slightly above average. Overall, it is considered a quiet, safe suburban community to live in. The school’s 700-acre campus has dedicated security, and boarding students live in dorms supervised by resident faculty, creating a safe environment.

Weather

Lawrenceville has a milder climate than many New England boarding schools, with four distinct seasons. Summers (June–August) are hot and humid, with daytime highs sometimes reaching 29–30°C (84–86°F). Winters (December–February) are cold, with daytime highs around 4°C (39°F) and nighttime lows that can drop to nearly -5°C (23°F). This area experiences a less severe winter compared to other boarding schools on the East Coast. Spring and fall are milder and more comfortable, and fall is especially known for its beautiful foliage.

Accessibility

The closest airport is Trenton-Mercer Airport, a 15-minute drive away, but it only offers domestic flights. For international travel, most students use Newark Liberty International Airport (1-hour drive) or New York’s JFK International Airport (1.5-hour drive). Both ANA and JAL operate nonstop flights between Narita/Haneda and JFK, and ANA also flies nonstop to Newark. Some students also use Philadelphia International Airport, which is about a 45-minute drive from campus. The school does not provide a free airport shuttle, but the nearby Princeton Junction train station offers rail access to New York City and Philadelphia.

Food

Lawrenceville’s small, historic downtown, known as Main Street, is within walking and driving distance of campus and features beloved local cafes, pizzerias, and bakeries. Naoki Sushi Dining, located in the same area, offers authentic sushi and Japanese cuisine, perfect for a special occasion. A short 10-minute drive to nearby Princeton opens up a wider, more international dining scene typical of a college town.

Culture

The town of Lawrenceville itself is home to only about 4,000 residents, and its small historic downtown has been revitalized through a partnership between the school and the community known as Lawrenceville Main Street. The school similarly places great value on diversity, with international students representing 32 countries. Nearby Princeton University, an Ivy League institution, adds a rich academic and cultural atmosphere, from museums to music events.

Tips for Japanese Students

First-hand advice from Japanese students on finding food and everyday essentials.

Grocery

Princeton, which is less than a 20-minute drive from campus, has a dedicated Japanese grocery store, Maruichi Japanese Food & Deli, stocked with seasonings, snacks, and bento items. There is also an H Mart about 15–20 minutes away in Princeton Junction or Plainsboro, which carries a wide selection of Asian groceries.

Getting There

Access from Japan

There are no direct flights from Japan to airports near Lawrenceville. Both ANA and JAL operate nonstop flights from Narita/Haneda to New York’s JFK International Airport (about 13–14 hours), and most students use this route. ANA also operates a nonstop flight from Haneda to Newark. From the airport to campus, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive from JFK or about an hour from Newark. The school does not provide a free airport shuttle, but most students use a car service or a taxi to get there.

What to bring

Laptop
Passport
Admission letter
Plug adapter

Winter clothing

Winters in Lawrenceville are somewhat milder than at other boarding schools on the East Coast, but warm clothing — a coat, boots, and gloves — is still essential.
Japanese food & essentials

Japanese seasonings, snacks, and skincare products can be hard to find locally and are often expensive, so it’s a good idea to bring your favorites from home.
Small appliances

An electric kettle or humidifier (check your dorm’s electronics rules in advance) can be handy for quick meals and for getting through the dry winter months comfortably.
Comfortable shoes

You’ll be walking across the 700-acre campus daily, so comfortable, broken-in shoes are a must.
Semi-formal outfit

Everyday clothing can be casual, but some school events call for semi-formal attire, so it’s worth packing one or two outfits for those occasions.