A community that values education

Sherborn Schools

From Pine Hill Elementary through the Dover-Sherborn regional schools, families find strong academics and teachers who know their students.

Sherborn students begin at Pine Hill Elementary and join Dover students for middle school and high school. The Dover-Sherborn School District’s mission is “to inspire, challenge, and support all students as they discover their full potential.”

A record of excellence

Year after year, near the top.

Dover-Sherborn is consistently among the highest-performing public school systems in Massachusetts. Different rankings use different methods, but the district and high school regularly place near the top of state lists.

Boston MagazineHas repeatedly named Dover-Sherborn the best public high school in Greater Boston in its annual rankings.
NicheConsistently ranks the high school among the very best in Massachusetts.
U.S. News & World ReportRegularly places the high school among the top public high schools in Massachusetts.
NewsweekHas included DSHS among the best public high schools in the United States.

The numbers are strong, too. Nearly every student graduates, classes are small, and student-to-teacher ratios are typically low. Students across the district, from Pine Hill through the middle and high schools, consistently score well above state averages on the MCAS assessments.

Many parents will tell you the rankings are only part of the reason the schools are so highly regarded. The schools are small enough that teachers get to know their students and their families. The music and arts programs are strong. The sports teams are competitive, with an active Boosters program and a welcoming community around them.

There are also plenty of ways for students to get involved outside the classroom, including student organizations, volunteer projects, school dances, performances, concerts, clubs, and other special events throughout the year.

Rankings differ by publication and change from year to year, so it’s worth reading a few and visiting the schools yourself.

Pine Hill School’s entrance courtyard from above, framed by red and gold fall trees
Pine Hill School, Sherborn’s public elementary school.

Why families choose Dover-Sherborn

A small district with a close-knit feel

Dover-Sherborn is a small regional district shared by Sherborn and Dover.

Sherborn children spend their elementary school years at Pine Hill, located in the center of town, before joining their Dover classmates at the regional middle school in Dover. From that point on, students from both towns move through middle school and high school together.

By the time they graduate, many students have spent years alongside the same classmates, teachers, and coaches. It creates a close-knit school community where students get to know each other well.

From kindergarten to graduation

What each school offers

Students find their own paths through these three schools, with plenty of community support along the way.

Pine Hill School

Elementary Grades K–5 · Sherborn

The front entrance of Pine Hill School, with a painted mural of a tall tree on the doors beneath the school’s name, benches on the patio, and fall leavesThe blue Pine Hill Elementary School sign, with panels for Wm. C. Jameson Fields, the David Doering Nature Trail, and the Michael Lisnow Bird Garden

Pine Hill is Sherborn’s own elementary school, set in the woods next to the Jameson ball fields and the David Doering Nature Trail. The school has two playgrounds, a basketball court, and a soccer field on the campus.

Parents are involved at Pine Hill. There are kindergarten visit days, grade-level open houses, and band and chorus concerts. Every Friday morning, Pine Hill hosts its All School Meeting where parents and caregivers can join students and staff for presentations, performances, announcements, and a celebration of the school community. The parent-run Community School Association (CSA) raises money for enrichment programs, materials, and equipment beyond the school budget.

Dover-Sherborn Middle School

Grades 6–8 · Dover

Dover-Sherborn Middle School, a brick and glass building with a curved roofline and its name on a brick wall beside the front entranceThe Dover-Sherborn Middle School sign behind a stone wall and pink hydrangeas

Middle school is where Sherborn and Dover students come together for the first time, with sixth graders from Pine Hill and Chickering joining one school community. Dover-Sherborn Middle School serves about 500 students in grades six through eight. Along with the core academic subjects, students have opportunities in art, music, engineering, technology, physical education, and world languages. Band and chorus are available throughout all three grades.

There is plenty happening outside the classroom, too. Students can take part in after-school sports, arts and other activities, as well as drama and musical performances. Concerts and the school’s arts festival give students a chance to perform and show their work to families and the community.

The middle school years also serve as a bridge to Dover-Sherborn High School, where students from both towns continue together after eighth grade.

Dover-Sherborn High School

Grades 9–12 · Dover

The front entrance of Dover-Sherborn High School, with glass doors under a dark canopy and a walkway across the lawnThe blue Dover-Sherborn Regional High School sign at 9 Junction Street, on a fieldstone base at the edge of the woods

The high school offers more than 100 courses each year, with a mix of college preparatory, honors, and Advanced Placement classes, balanced with electives and exploratory courses. Students consistently post strong results on state assessments and AP exams, and most DSHS graduates go on to a broad range of colleges and universities.

There is plenty of room for students to explore interests outside the traditional academic subjects. Fine and performing arts offerings include drawing and three-dimensional art, ceramics, graphic design, photography, acting, chorus, concert band, and jazz band. Technology and engineering courses extend into areas such as computer programming, web design, app development, video game design, CAD, engineering, and media production.

Student life extends well beyond the school day. Clubs and activities give students opportunities to pursue business, robotics, theater, sustainability, and other interests, while concerts, plays, art shows, and other performances are regular parts of the school year. Community service is also built into the high school experience, with students completing 40 hours as part of the graduation requirements.

Athletics are another big part of life at Dover-Sherborn. The Raiders compete in the Tri-Valley League, and teams have brought home state championships in a number of sports. The school colors are royal blue and white, with black often used as an accent color. Many home games are played at Nathaniel Frothingham Stadium, on Nora Searle Field and Track, a turf field ringed by a bright blue track at the center of campus. The track and turf were both recently redone. The Dover-Sherborn Boosters support Raiders teams throughout the year.

The result is a high school where academics are taken seriously, but students have many different ways to find their place, whether that is in a science or engineering class, on stage, in the art room, through a club, or on an athletic field.

A community that invests

Schools supported by the town’s residents.

Part of what makes Dover-Sherborn special happens outside the classroom. Parent groups at the schools raise money for programs and activities that the regular budget doesn’t cover. At Pine Hill, the CSA meets regularly and helps organize events such as the annual Pine Hill 5K, Monster Mash, and ice cream social. At the high school, the PTO funds teacher grants for new classroom ideas, enrichment programs, and student activities. A community education fund also supports the arts, athletics, and cultural programs.

That kind of parental involvement is an important part of the school community. Parents volunteer at events, support teams and activities, raise money, and contribute their time in ways that give students opportunities beyond what the school budget alone could provide.

For families, that means high expectations and strong academics, along with teachers and coaches who know their kids by name.

Small classesLow student-to-teacher ratios and teachers who know their students.
Strong resultsScores well above state averages, and nearly every student graduates.
More than academicsVarsity sports, music, art, and a wide range of clubs.
Involved familiesParent groups and a community education fund that support the schools.

Thinking about a move? The district publishes registration information for new students and families. Contact information for the district and each school is just below.

Go straight to the source

Dover-Sherborn Public Schools

157 Farm Street, Dover

doversherborn.org 508-785-0036

Pine Hill Elementary School

10 Pine Hill Lane, Sherborn

ph.doversherborn.org 508-655-0630

Dover-Sherborn Middle School

155 Farm Street, Dover

ms.doversherborn.org 508-785-0635

Dover-Sherborn High School

9 Junction Street, Dover

hs.doversherborn.org 508-785-1730