Bishop Fenwick High School

99 Margin Street

Peabody, MA 01960

12 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on November 20, 2022

Fenwick is a school for sporty kids and cliques. The only academics that is good are the liberal arts because the math and science there are absolutely terrible. And it's especially bad considering their competitors like St. John's Prep, Central Catholic, and St. Mary's have much more developed programs. The music and arts are actually quite good, if you are interested. However, the school culture is terrible, and the current administration knows this, and I applaud that they are trying to change it. (with limited success) Closed off groups are the norm, and don't even bother to try and branch out. There is an air of unfriendliness that resides in the school, and it appears in a very clear cultural divide. If you go here, you can expect 5 totally different experiences just based on who you are. Sports are king, and take the upmost priority in the school. "School spirit" is nothing but a facade, and they can slap on any different spirit day theme or football game and it will never change the fundamental cultural problems of the school. The "Fenwick family" is just a bold lie, and the ironic part is that everybody, including the staff and faculty, know it. Laziness is rewarded and even bragged about. Everything just seems to be a big joke, and the students don't know what the concept of seriousness is. If there is one good thing about the school, it's (most) of the faculty and staff. The current administration is incredibly friendly, most of the teachers will befriend you (granted you must be a somewhat serious student), the campus ministry is competent and active (despite the very high number of non-practicing Catholics in the student body), and the dean isn't afraid to enforce the rules (which is a good or bad thing depending on perspective). But far and away the worst aspects of the school are the math and science programs and the culture.If you want to play hockey and football and major in business, go here. If you want to major in Fine Arts, go here. If you want to get a rigorous math and science education to prepare you for a STEM degree, forget it. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else.
Submitted by other on December 11, 2017

As a former student of fenwick, I enjoyed my time there. I made the best friends I could have and they are still all my close friends today as I am sophomore in college. The teachers and coaches I had helped me in learning to the best of my ability, but one thing about my experience makes me cringe every time I think about high school, the current principle. He tormented the students and sought any reason to get his students in trouble. He has currently taken away restroom privileges from the male students and has taken away awards given to students by athletic conferences just because he feels as if they are trouble makers. I loved my time at fenwick, but I feel awful for the kids there now that can't enjoy their high school experience because it is no longer a place of learning and fun, but a dictatorship. He is stereotypical and judgmental in his evaluations of people and situations and only cares about how much money he brings in rather than the happiness, well being, and mental and emotional health of his students. My freshman year of high school, we had a different principle who made the school and environment that students enjoyed being in. When Brother Thomas arrived my sophomore year, 2014, people including myself dreaded the idea of coming to school. Spirit week became a list of restrictions, football and athletic events had the enjoyment taken out of them on certain occasions, and the thrill of being in high school was diminished. Its upsetting to see my younger brother hate his experience so much in his final year of high school because of the principle. I hope the school system realizes that they made a mistake in putting this man into power because it is causing an uproar in and out of the fenwick community.
Submitted by student on August 28, 2017

I would strongly advise anyone who is interested in attending Bishop Fenwick to reconsider. The current principal, Brother Tom, cares nothing about the core of the school but only the exterior. From the outside looking in Bishop Fenwick seems like a beautiful school with warm and friendly teachers. However once you step foot inside it is a totally different story. Most of the faculty at Bishop Fenwick are teaching there only for a paycheck and give little to no effort into helping the students succeed. There are constantly new teachers at Bishop Fenwick, most of which are straight out of college. This can be very frustrating for many of the students. The students are forced into being a "guinea pig" for the new teacher(s) as they accommodate to being a teacher (which can take 2-3 years of teaching). My experience with Bishop Fenwick is one that I will remember, because of how poor it was.
Submitted by teacher on June 22, 2017

This is a very difficult time for Catholic schools in the Boston area, and the principal of Bishop Fenwick has a vision and commitment that is safeguarding the future of this school as others continue to decline. A strong promotion of technology in the classroom has been evidenced over the past few years, and dedicated faculty not only instruct students effectively but also encourage and mentor them inidividually to achieve their own personal best. While the facilities are in need of various updates (which are being tended to gradually as finances allow), the athletic fields are of unmatched superiority in their league. Bishop Fenwick is an all-around excellent school!
Submitted by other on April 26, 2017

Agree with the most recent negative comments. Also they claim to have a "learning skills" teacher to help students that are struggling, but she doesn't know the curriculum. Very few good teachers left
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2016

Fenwick was the perfect place for my (recently graduated) children. Both were challenged academically, but at the levels that were appropriate for each of them as they have different styles. There is a robust one-to-one technology program in place and teachers are available and willing to help whenever needed (even coming in to school early on several occasions) . My children were able to participate in numerous activities from sports, to leadership, to music to art to service opportunities. Each of them wound up doing an extra curricular outside of their comfort zone, simply because it was encouraged and not judged -- and because the majority of students do things after school so its very social. Both came from a public school background where these opportunities might not have been as welcoming. There is an expectation of manners and respect and giving back through service. And I know from speaking with numerous other parents over the years that my children's experiences are the norm not the exception.
Submitted by other on July 13, 2016

I unfortunately got stuck in a very cruel grade, and when you don't like th people you are with five out of seven days a week it is tough to want to go to school. The class of 2019 is especially disruptive during class, exclusive in their groups, not friendly by and means, and over all just bad people. I'm not saying that everyone is like this, but unfortunately it is the majority. Next, the classrooms are in serious need of repair, but the school decides to build a new track and football field because that's way more important. The teachers on the other hand are terrible at their job. They are old and tired of their jobs, thus less students pay attention. The teachers/administration always enforce the Catholic virtues but openly do not follow the virtues themselves, sot they are not setting a very good example. The principal and vice principal are very narrow minded and tend to have "favorites", rules that make no sense, and unreasonable consequences for students' wrongdoings. The over all value of the school does not justify the $13,000 tuition.
Submitted by parent on October 02, 2015

new leadership is horrendous. principal and vice principal treat faculty like smaller children that need to be scolded. students ar eassumed to be bad, and they are always lurking around, trying to find you doing something wrong so they can punish you. teachers get yelled at regularly by them . there is no community anymore. it's all about getting bodies in the seats. of course, students keep the school open, but if the hallways are empty after school because no one wants to be there, that says something. the fenwick family is dead.
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2015

This used to be a great school. However, the new leadership it out of touch and leads by fear. The students nor the teachers have any respect for him. There is virtually no technology. Although they are starting a program with the new freshman class, they are so far behind, it does not begin to make a dent in what in what is lacking with technology. Some teachers are good, but the better teachers left after a year with the new principal. There are much better choices for your dollar, don't do it.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2015

Bishop Fenwick is a great, affordable option for parents seeking out a private, co-ed high school north of Boston. The academics are strong, classes are small and students receive individual attention from their teachers. In addition, the Guidance Department is top-notch, working with students to achieve their goals and helping them get into great colleges. As others have said, there is a real sense of community at Fenwick and students are encouraged to participate in sports, theatre and other activities. In fact, I believe about 87% of the student body is involved in some sport. Students are also encouraged to participate in social justice activities. My only problem with the school is the new principal that was brought in 2013 (Brother Tom). While he has good intentions, he is not well-respected by students nor parents as a leader with vision for the school. In my opinion, the school was better off with its previous principal.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2014

The school offers a strong academic curriculum that has been enhanced by the new principal. Good athletic program for a small school with many opportunities. College advisement and placement is excellent.
Submitted by parent on December 12, 2013

Most of the faculty is very good, the guidance dept. is fantastic. Leadership is awful, kids used to love the school but now just the opposite with the new principal. It is not a friendly environment at all, in fact it is very tense. Girls sports are pretty good, boys sports are okay other than hockey which is absolutely pitiful. Possibly the worst coach to have ever stepped on the ice - hated by both players and parents. Save your money, there are much better options out there.