Mission, HIstory & Values
Since 1900, Bancroft School has been an active, inquiry-driven learning community. As Worcester’s only independent PreK–12 school on one campus, we are united by a shared mindset that connects every student experience, from our youngest learners to our graduating seniors.
Inquiry. Community. Connection.
These three ideas shape the Bancroft experience. Students are expected to wonder, investigate, create, and contribute. From PreK through Grade 12, they develop the confidence to explore new ideas, the skills to pursue them, and the character to make a meaningful impact.
Essential to the Bancroft experience is a commitment to Excellence, Inquiry, Equity, Community, and Ethical Leadership, values that have guided Bancroft for more than a century and continue to shape our mission today.
Bancroft School Vision Statement
Bancroft School works to be the first choice for students and families seeking to own their journey to mastery and independence in the greater Worcester region. We continue to strengthen our diverse and supportive community and invest in people to provide a robust education for all students in PreK through grade 12. Guided by outstanding teachers, curious learners engage with one another and celebrate our strengths and lived experiences.
Our Mission
Through active, inquiry-based learning and challenging experiences, Bancroft School empowers students with the skills, knowledge and confidence to make a difference in their community and the world.
One School Mindset | Living Our Core Values
Hang around the Middle School long enough, and you’ll hear it.
“E-I-E…”
“C-E!”
What began as a way to help students connect with Bancroft’s core values has become part of the culture. Created by Middle School students and faculty, what started as the Middle School Mindset translates Excellence, Inquiry, Equity, Community, and Ethical Leadership into a shared language of expectations.
Through phrases like “Bring Your Best Game,” “Be Curious,” and “Value Every Voice,” students take ownership of the values that shape our community. But more than a framework, the now One School Mindset reflects what it means to learn, lead, and contribute at Bancroft.
Walk through campus today and you’ll discover these values are visible in classrooms across all divisions, keeping our responsibilities front and center.
School History
1900-1902
The founding families named the School in honor of George Bancroft (1800–1891), a Worcester native and accomplished scholar, Secretary of the Navy, Ambassador to Prussia and England, and renowned historian.
The original Bancroft School charter formed a corporation… “for the purpose of providing a complete school training for boys and girls of all ages, Kindergarten, Primary, Intermediate, and Academic Departments.”
The School opened in a large house at 93 Elm Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. By 1902, Bancroft had outgrown that facility, and a new school was constructed at 111 Elm Street.
1902-1922
From the school’s founding until 1913, Bancroft was coeducational at all grade levels. Beginning in 1913 the School continued to admit both boys and girls through Grade 8, but only girls in the Upper School.
In 1919 the School added Gray Gables, a boarding component, and continued to attract resident students until 1943. At that time, the Trustees decided to discontinue the residency program and focus on a mission as an independent day school.
1922-1958
In 1922, in order to accommodate an enrollment of over 250 students, Bancroft moved from Elm Street to larger quarters on Sever Street. During this time the School continued to expand its enrollment and also began to attract students who lived in surrounding towns. By 1955, the building on Sever Street no longer met the needs of the students and the administration announced the plans to build a state-of-the-art facility on 27 acres of land on Shore Drive.
1958-Present
The final move to the present site at 110 Shore Drive took place in September 1958. Since the move to Shore Drive, the School has continued to grow to its present enrollment of some 400 students. In 1967, the School admitted boys to Grade 9 for the first time in decades. By 1974, three boys joined the girls as graduates, and the School has remained co-ed since that time.
To ensure that the School is always ready to meet current and emerging program challenges, Bancroft has followed a continuous process of physical and technical modernization.
21st Century
Today, we have state-of-the-art classrooms and technology centers, campus-wide wi-fi, and a library of print and e-resources. In 2010 and 2011, the School took a major step toward our goal of environmental sustainability by installing a total of 896 high-efficiency solar panels, making Bancroft School the single largest solar electric system in the City of Worcester. Bancroft School will continue to provide the infrastructure and resources to ensure every student an experience of excellence.