The Origins of Waring

In the summer of 1972, Philip and Josée Waring founded La Petite École at their home in Rockport with only four students. The Warings believed then, as we do now, that children want to learn, and that everyone learns best when they are interested in what they are doing. So the Warings sought to create an environment that would pique students’ interests and spark their innate desire to learn.

Since its inception, Waring students have been immersed daily in language, art, science, music, humanities, and athletics, with the understanding that love for each of these activities is inherent in everyone and just needs to be found and nurtured.

La Petite École officially became the Waring School in 1976, when the Edith Miles Coolidge estate in Beverly was purchased. Although the school’s size has increased, we continue to keep the class sizes small and the discussions open. We thrive in the belief that school is not the end but rather the beginning of a life-long process; a process that must be cultivated in the individual, as well as the community that surrounds them.

Daily, we strive to develop and nourish a strong, diverse community that shares a common vision: a passion for learning and a commitment to an education that will prepare students for the rigors of life beyond Waring and encourage them to make use of their voices in the larger community.

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Waring School Mission: To create and sustain a community of lifelong learners who are working together for the individual and common good.