The Rivers School is an independent, coeducational preparatory school in Weston, Massachusetts.

History

Rivers School was founded in 1915 as an educational institution for boys in Brookline, Massachusetts. Robert W. Rivers founded the school and was its first headmaster. The Country Day School for Boys of Boston merged with Rivers in 1940, and the school moved to its present location in Weston in 1960. It became co-educational in 1989.

The Rivers School Conservatory

The Rivers School Conservatory was founded in 1975 by Ethel Bernard, one of the pioneers of the music school movement. She approached Rivers School with the idea of using the then-unoccupied former headmaster's house on the campus (now called Blackwell House after George H. Blackwell).

It was first called the Music School at Rivers, then Rivers School Conservatory. In 1978, the Annual Seminar on Contemporary Music for the Young was established, with guests including John Cage (1983). All pieces performed are composed in the 25-years prior to each seminar. Recent examples include Matinee: The Fantom of the Fair by Libby Larsen.

The Conservatory currently has more than 750 students, including a student orchestra program, jazz and chamber ensembles, music theory and composition, a marimba program, choruses, master classes, workshops, and private lessons for instruments, piano, and voice.

Clubs and co-curriculars

• The robotics team Architects competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge, under the team number 4176.

Notable alumni

• Jack Lemmon ’39, actor
• John T. Noonan, Jr. '44, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit senior judge
• David Steinberg '46, Distinguished Professor of Asian Studies at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service
• Frederick Wiseman '47, documentary filmmaker
• David Lamb '51, reporter for major newspapers including The Milwaukee Journal and The Los Angeles Times
• Glen W. Bowersock ’53, ancient history scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
• Richard G. Darman ’60, former director of the Office of Management and Budget (1989–1993)
• David Sutherland '63, award-winning independent documentary filmmaker
• Joseph I. Banner ’71, former CEO of the Cleveland Browns and longtime front office executive in the Philadelphia Eagles organization
• Philip Goldberg '74, The US Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research
• Josh Kraft '85, CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston and President of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation
• Jon Anik '97, commentator and television host for the Ultimate Fighting Championship
• Stephen Belichick, Outside Linebackers Coach for the New England Patriots
• Jillian Dempsey ’09, professional ice hockey player
• Charlie Rugg '09, Professional Soccer Player for the Los Angeles Galaxy
• Elliot Richardson, lawyer and member of Nixon and Ford cabinets
• Jermaine Samuels ’17, professional basketball player