The Lawrenceville School, founded in 1810, is one of the oldest and most distinguished boarding schools in the United States. Located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey — just 4 miles from Princeton University — Lawrenceville occupies a stunning 700-acre campus designed in the 1880s by Frederick Law Olmsted, the legendary landscape architect who also designed Central Park. The campus is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful of any school in America.
Lawrenceville's educational philosophy is centered on the "House System" — a residential structure modeled on the English public school tradition, in which students live in one of 13 houses. Each house is a self-contained community with its own traditions, athletic teams, and social life, led by a housemaster who lives in the house with their family. This house system creates an extraordinarily intimate community within the larger school, ensuring that every student has a home base and a strong sense of belonging.
Lawrenceville enrolls approximately 830 students from over 40 countries. The school's international diversity is significant — approximately 20% of students come from outside the United States, with particularly strong communities from South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and various European countries. Financial aid is generous: approximately 28% of students receive aid, with grants totaling over $15 million annually.
The academic program is demanding and comprehensive. The school's signature "Harkness Method" of education — named for philanthropist Edward Harkness, who also funded the similar approach at Phillips Exeter Academy — places students around an oval Harkness table rather than in traditional rows. This discussion-based approach develops critical thinking, communication skills, and intellectual confidence in ways that traditional lecture-based teaching cannot. Students at Lawrenceville learn not just what to think, but how to think.
The Bunn Library is one of the finest secondary school libraries in the world. The Center for the Arts houses exceptional facilities for theater, music, and visual arts. Science facilities include research-grade laboratories for chemistry, biology, physics, and environmental science. The athletic complex includes an Olympic-quality swimming pool, indoor tennis courts, squash courts, a hockey rink, and over 40 athletic fields.
Notable alumni include Richard Berry (songwriter of "Louie Louie"), Huey Newton (co-founder of the Black Panther Party), Hugh Downs (broadcaster), and generations of leaders in law, business, medicine, and public service.
Lawrenceville's proximity to Princeton University is a major asset. Students regularly attend lectures, performances, and events at Princeton. The two institutions share a deep historical connection — Lawrenceville has traditionally been one of Princeton's most important feeder schools.
From New York City, Lawrenceville is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes by luxury SUV via the New Jersey Turnpike. Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) is approximately 50 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is approximately 45–60 minutes. Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) is just 15 minutes from campus. Synergy Limousine serves Lawrenceville for all school events and coordinates with families visiting Princeton University, The Hun School, and Blair Academy.