View source for Browning School

{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox school
 | name                    = The Browning School
 | native_name             = 
 | logo                    = Browning_Logo_2019.jpg
 | motto                   = Grytte
 | motto_translation       = 
 | city                    = [[New York City]]
 | state                   = [[New York (state)|New York]]
 | province                = 
 | country                 = United States
 | type                    = [[Private school|Private]]
 | established             = 1888
 | founder                 = John A. Browning
 | district                = 
 | oversight               = 
 | chairman                = 
 | dean                    = 
 | rector                  = 
 | head                    = Valda Witt
 | chaplain                = 
 | faculty                 = 110
 | grades                  = K—12
 | gender                  = Male
 | enrollment              = 431
 | sports                  = NYCAL, NYSAIS
 | mascot                  = The Panther
 | accreditation           = [[New York Interschool]], [[New York State Association of Independent Schools]]
 | newspaper               = The Grytte
 | yearbook                = The Grytte
 | affiliations            = 
 | website                 = {{URL |https://browning.edu/}}
 | footnotes               = 
 | picture                 = 
 | logo_size               = 
 | ratio                   = 6:1
 | campus                  = Urban
 | affiliation             = 
 | president               = 
 | r_head_label            = Headmasters
 | r_head                  = John A. Browning <small>(1888–1920)</small><br />Arthur Jones <small>(1920–1948)</small><br />Lyman B. Tobin <small>(1948–1952)</small><br />Charles W. Cook <small>(1952–1988)</small><br />Stephen M. Clement, III <small>(1988–2016)</small><br />John M. Botti <small>( 2016 - Present)</small>
 | head_label              = President, board of trustees
 | students                = 
 | address                 = 52 East 62nd Street, [[New York City]] 10065
 | colors                  = {{Color box|red|border=darkgray}}{{Color box|black|border=darkgray}} Red and black
 | free_label_1            = 
 | free_1                  = 
 | free_label_2            = 
 | free_2                  = 
 | free_label_3            = 
 | free_3                  = 
}}

'''The Browning School''' is a [[College-preparatory school|college preparatory]] school for boys located on the [[Upper East Side]] of [[Manhattan]]. Founded in 1888 by John A. Browning, the school is a member of the [[New York Interschool]].

==History==
The school was founded in 1888 by John A. Browning to instruct the Rockefeller brothers, including [[Percy Avery Rockefeller|Percy]] and [[John D. Rockefeller Jr.|John D. Rockefeller]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gardner |first=Ralph |date=2013-10-03 |title=Still Buzzing About New York's Browning School |work=Wall Street Journal |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303722604579111503132992392.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=J.A. Browning Dies; Retired Educator; Founder, and for Forty Years Headmaster of School Bearing His Name. Notables Among Alumni: John D. Rockefeller Jr. and the Late V. Everit Macy Studied at the School. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1930/04/03/96085193.html?pageNumber=25 |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=timesmachine.nytimes.com}}</ref> Arthur Jones succeeded Browning as headmaster, in 1920, moved the school from West 55th Street to its present location on East 62nd Street, and expanded extracurricular activities. Jones retired in 1948; Lyman B. Tobin, a Browning teacher for more than 30 years, became the school's third headmaster.

In 1952, upon Tobin's retirement, the school named teacher Charles W. Cook (class of 1938), as its fourth headmaster. Under his 36-year leadership, the Browning School expanded rapidly. After a lengthy fundraising drive, the school bought the adjoining carriage house and rebuilt it, and the new building opened in 1960. The school's expansion continued in 1967, with the building of a larger gymnasium on the roof and, in the late 1970s, with the acquisition of an interest in the building next door.

In 1988, Stephen M. Clement, III became Browning's fifth headmaster and served a tenure of 28 years. John M. Botti was appointed head of school in 2016.

Serving over 400 students, the school has more than doubled its size over 50 years. A new library, four new science laboratories, two new art studios, and additional classrooms were built in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gardner|first=Ralph|date=2013-10-03|title=Still Buzzing About New York's Browning|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303722604579111503132992392.html|access-date=2021-08-19|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> In 2022, the school announced renovation plans to expand its upper school, renovating a former parking garage to house its new high school grades at 337 East 64th Street, a few blocks northeast from the main campus building.<ref name=":0" />

In 2021 Browning began publishing ''[https://buzzwords.browning.edu Buzzwords]'', a new digital magazine, designed to tell the school's story in a fresh and compelling way. Browning is a part of the [[New York Interschool|Interschool]]. Per tradition, the school year commences and closes with an assembly in [[Christ Church United Methodist]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://browning.edu/news/2018-9-5-2018-opening-assembly | title=Browning's 130th Year Begins with Opening Assembly}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://browning.edu/news/lower-school-closing-2019 | title=Lower School Concludes Year with "Sing a Song" Assembly}}</ref>

==Admissions==
Browning has a highly selective admissions process. There are approximately 25-34 boys per grade at the school, averaging about 32 per grade with a student-teacher ratio of 6:1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://browning.edu/frequently-asked-questions#:~:text=Browning's%20average%20class%20size%20is,teacher%20ratio%20is%206:1. |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Browning School}}</ref> A financial aid program ensures that the boys remain heterogeneous; as with many of its peer NYC schools. The school is private, functioning under a New York City non-profit statute enacted in the 1940s. The school is governed by a board of trustees and administered by a head of school.

== Academics ==
The school is divided into three schools that serve boys from kindergarten through 12th grade. It has a rigorous academic curriculum, with the majority of graduates going onto enroll in college.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Browning School Test Scores and Academics |url=https://www.niche.com/k12/the-browning-school-new-york-ny/academics/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Niche}}</ref>

=== Lower School ===
The Lower School consists of kindergarten through fourth grades and is located at the 52 E 62nd Street location. Curriculum includes:

* Language Arts (Reading, Writing)
* Social Studies (Geography, Humanities, History)
* Mathematics (Arithmetic, Math in Focus, Singapore Math)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Private Elementary School for Boys |url=https://browning.edu/lower-school |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Browning School}}</ref>
* Science (Physical Science, Biology, Planetary Science)
* Modern languages (French, Spanish)

Specialty classes include:

* Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Media)
* Music (Rhythm, Music Theory, Singing and Instruments)
* Library (Literacy and Research Skills)
* Computer Science and Engineering (Robotics, Coding, Digital Safety)
* Health and Wellness
* Physical Education 
* Chess

=== Middle School ===
The Middle school consists of fifth through 8th grades and is located at the 52 E 62nd Street location along with the Lower School. Middle school curriculum<ref>{{Cite web |title=Middle School for Boys |url=https://browning.edu/middle-school |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Browning School}}</ref> expands upon the foundations from the Lower School:

* English (Literature, Reading, Writing)
* History (Ancient World, Atlantic World, American History)
* Mathematics (Arithmetic, Algebra I) 
* Science (Earth Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry)
* World Languages (French, Spanish, Latin)

Specialty classes include:

* Fine Arts (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Media)
* Computer Science and Engineering (Robotics, Design, Engineering)
* Physical Education
* Health and Wellness
* Modern Masculinities, which is also a part of The Browning School's Speaker Series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Positive Masculinities for the Modern World {{!}} Positive Masculinity |url=https://positivemasculinity.org.au/workshops/positive-masculinities-for-the-modern-world/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=positivemasculinity.org.au}}</ref>

=== Upper School ===
The Upper School consists of high school, 9th-12th grades.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Private High School for Boys |url=https://browning.edu/upper-school |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Browning School}}</ref> It is ranked as one of the top ten high schools for boys in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2025 Best All-Boys High Schools in America |url=https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-all-boys-high-schools/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Niche}}</ref> In 2024, the Upper School will open a newly constructed facility at 337 E 64th Street.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-07-14 |title=Upper East Side Private School Plots Major Expansion After A Century |url=https://patch.com/new-york/upper-east-side-nyc/upper-east-side-private-school-plots-major-expansion-after-century |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Upper East Side, NY Patch}}</ref> The campus expansion houses 13 new classrooms, four stories of offices, a library, cafeteria, gymnasium, and green roof and rear yard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-30 |title=The Browning School's Expansion Tops Out at 337 East 64th Street on Manhattan's Upper East Side |url=https://newyorkyimby.com/2024/07/the-browning-schools-expansion-tops-out-at-337-east-64th-street-on-manhattans-upper-east-side.html |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=New York YIMBY}}</ref>

Upper-level curriculum consists of:

* English (Creative Writing, World Literature, American Literature)
* History (European, United States, World History)
* Mathematics (Geometry, Algebra, Calculus, Data Science)
* Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
* World Languages (Latin, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Greek).

Curriculum also includes specialty classes:

* Fine Arts (Music, Studio art, Drama, Public Speaking), 
* Computer Science and Engineering (Computer Engineering, Data Science)
* Health and Wellness (Health, Modern Masculinities) 
* Peer Leadership (12th grade students advising 9th grade students) 
* Social Impact (Community Involvement)
** Browning Senior Class partners with Grassroots Grocery<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sat., 6/8 - Browning Seniors Produce Party! |url=https://www.grassrootsgrocery.org/browning-seniors |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Grassroots Grocery}}</ref>
** The Browning School partners with Daniel's Music Foundation<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disability Awareness |url=https://www.danielsmusic.org/disability-awareness |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Daniel’s Music Foundation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158085019928938&id=265139293937&set=a.289036118937 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>
* Physical Education (either in-school PE classes or interscholastic team athletics). 
* Seniors also participate in a Senior Project.

The Upper School also offers a signature program called Certificates of Distinction<ref>{{Cite web |title=Certificates of Distinction |url=https://browning.edu/certificates-of-distinction |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Browning School}}</ref> to students who pursue specific independent projects in one of four disciplines: engineering, data science, humanities, and fine arts. In April 2024, A Browning high school student created an AI algorithm that improved EMS accuracy in predicting what assistance 911 callers need.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Janoski |first=Steve |date=2024-04-17 |title=Exclusive {{!}} Manhattan high schooler creates astoundingly accurate AI algorithm that predicts resources needed for 911 calls |url=https://nypost.com/2024/04/17/us-news/manhattan-high-schooler-creates-astoundingly-accurate-ai-algorithm-that-predicts-resources-needed-for-911-calls/ |access-date=2024-11-01}}</ref>

Graduates of the school often consider or enroll at various [[Ivy League]] and higher ed institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2024 |title=The Browning School |url=https://www.homes.com/school/new-york-ny/the-browning-school/ptfmyptst2f8f/ |access-date=November 1, 2024 |website=Homes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Offers of Admission |url=https://browning.edu/offers-of-admission |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Browning School}}</ref>

==Athletics==
Browning teams compete in interscholastic soccer, cross country, basketball, squash, baseball, tennis, table tennis, golf, and track.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports by Grade |url=https://browning.edu/athletics/our-philosophy |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=The Browning School}}</ref> Interscholastic team sports are open to students in Grades Five through Grade Twelve in good academic standing. Interscholastic competition in basketball begins at Grade Five. There are also intramural opportunities at Browning in the fall, winter, and spring.

In anticipation of the fall and spring seasons, coaches provide preseason training to support boys in the honing of their game skills. Fall preseason camp takes place in the [[Berkshires]] at the end of August, and the spring camp is over break in Florida. The athletic department makes use of both facilities at school and those of New York City. The soccer and baseball teams practice at fields on [[Randalls and Wards Islands|Randall's Island]]. The track team makes use of Randall's Island and [[Central Park]]. In addition to the Upper and Lower gyms at school, the basketball teams take advantage of the gymnasium facilities at Equinox, Basketball City, and Chelsea Piers for practices and games. The tennis team practices and plays a number of its matches at the [[USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center|National Tennis Center]], home of the U.S. Open, in Flushing, Queens as well as [[West Side Tennis Club|The West Side Tennis Club]] in Forest Hills. Golf team practices are held at the driving ranges on [[Randalls and Wards Islands|Randall's Island]] and [[Chelsea Piers]]; matches are held at Mosholu.

==Notable alumni==
{{alumni|date=July 2024}}
*[[John D. Rockefeller Jr.]], financier and philanthropist, son of [[John D. Rockefeller|John Davison Rockefeller Sr.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, 1906-1978 |url=https://rockarch.org/resources/about-the-rockefellers/john-d-rockefeller-3rd/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Rockefeller Archive Center}}</ref>
*[[Percy Avery Rockefeller]], businessman, son of [[William Rockefeller Sr.|William Avery Rockefeller Jr.]]
*[[Everett Colby]], banker and politician, member of the [[New Jersey Assembly]] and [[New Jersey Senate]]
*[[Harold Fowler McCormick]], businessman, son of [[Cyrus McCormick|Cyrus Hall McCormick]]<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AMi_DgAAQBAJ&q=Harold+Fowler+browning+school&pg=PT597 |title=Chicago: Its History and its Builders |volume=4 |chapter=Harold Fowler McCormick |first=Josiah Seymour |last=Currey |publisher=Jazzybee Verlag |date=April 27, 2017 |isbn=9783849648978 |access-date=February 8, 2018}}</ref>
*[[Ogden Mills Reid]], President of the ''[[New York Herald Tribune]]''
*[[Christian Herter|Christian A. Herter]], diplomat and politician, [[Governor of Massachusetts|59th Governor of Massachusetts]], [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Christian Archibald Herter (1895–1966) |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/herter-christian-archibald |access-date=November 1, 2024 |website=Department of State Office of the Historian}}</ref>
*[[Frederic René Coudert Jr.|Frederic R. Coudert Jr.]], member of the [[New York State Senate]] and [[United States Congress]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2024 |title=Coudert, Frederic René, Jr. |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C000804 |access-date=November 1, 2024 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}}</ref>
*[[Thomas Quinn Curtiss]], historian, writer, and theatre critic<ref>{{Cite web |title=queerplaces - Thomas Quinn Curtiss |url=http://www.elisarolle.com/queerplaces/pqrst/Thomas%20Quinn%20Curtiss.html |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=www.elisarolle.com}}</ref>
*[[Orme Wilson Jr.]], diplomat, member of the [[Astor family]]
*[[W. Warren Barbour]], businessman, politician, [[United States Senate|United States Senator]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2024 |title=BARBOUR, William Warren |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/B000132 |access-date=November 1, 2024 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}}</ref>
*[[Whitman Knapp]], [[United States district court|United States District Judge]]
*[[R. Sargent Shriver]], diplomat and politician, creator of the [[Peace Corps]], member of the [[Kennedy family]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paid Notice: Deaths SHRIVER, R |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage-9D0CE7DD103AF930A15752C0A9679D8B63.html |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=query.nytimes.com}}</ref>
*[[Claiborne Pell]], [[List of United States senators from Rhode Island|U.S. Senator from Rhode Island]], son of [[Herbert Pell]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Claiborne Pell Obituary (2009) - New York, NY - New York Times |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/claiborne-pell-obituary?id=28867737 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref>
*[[Thomas Hedley Reynolds]], historian, President of [[Bates College]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obituary of Thomas Hedley Reynolds {{!}} Riposta Funeral Home |url=https://ripostafh.com/tribute/details/12328/Thomas-Reynolds/obituary.html |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=ripostafh.com}}</ref>
*[[Osborn Elliott]], editor of ''[[Newsweek]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaufman |first=Michael |date=September 28, 2008 |title=Osborn Elliott, Father of Newsweek's Rebirth, Dies at 83 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/business/media/29elliott.html |access-date=November 1, 2024 |website=NY Times}}</ref>
*Jock Elliott Jr, Chairman of [[Ogilvy (agency)|Ogilvy & Mather]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Santos |first=Fernanda |date=2005-10-31 |title=Advertising Executive John Elliott Jr. Is Dead at 84 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/31/nyregion/advertising-executive-john-elliott-jr-is-dead-at-84.html |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=New York Times}}</ref>
*[[Arthur MacArthur IV]], son of [[Douglas MacArthur]] and [[Jean MacArthur]], grandson of [[Arthur MacArthur Jr.]]
*[[Thomas E. Lovejoy]], ecologist, Senior Fellow at the [[United Nations Foundation]]
*[[Jeff Moss]], composer, son of [[Arnold Moss]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=#12: Jeffrey Moss '63 {{!}} Princeton Alumni Weekly |url=https://paw.princeton.edu/article/12-jeffrey-moss-63 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=paw.princeton.edu}}</ref>
*[[Richard Ballantine]], composer, son of [[Ian Ballantine]] of [[Ballantine Books]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grant |first=Richard |date=2013-06-07 |title=Richard Ballantine obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/07/richard-grant |access-date=2024-11-01 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
*[[Linton Wells II]], [[Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense]] under Presidents [[Bill Clinton]] and [[George W. Bush|George Bush]] 
*[[Thomas Oliphant (journalist)|Thomas Oliphant]], journalist, correspondent and columnist at ''[[The Boston Globe]]''
*[[Andrew Lack (executive)|Andrew Lack]], chairman of [[NBC]] and [[MSNBC]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=News Without End - Bostonia Summer 2011 |url=https://www.bu.edu/bostonia/summer11/bloomberg/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=www.bu.edu}}</ref>
*[[Howard Dean]], [[Governor of Vermont|79th Governor of Vermont]], Chair of the [[Democratic National Committee]]<ref name="browning">{{cite web|url=http://www.browning.edu/photos/2014/10/31/vermont-governor-howard-dean-66-speaks-at-browning|publisher=browning.edu|title=Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean '66 Speaks at Browning — The Browning School|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="observer">{{cite web|url=http://observer.com/2003/07/a-crosstown-walk-down-memory-lane-with-howard-dean/|publisher=observer.com|title=A Crosstown Walk Down Memory Lane With Howard Dean &#124; Observer |date=28 July 2003 |access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref>
*[[Winthrop P. Rockefeller]], [[Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas]], member of the [[Rockefeller family]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 17, 1971 |title=Winthrop P. Rockefeller to Wed Deborah Sage. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/01/17/archives/winthrop-p-rockefeller-to-wed-deborah-sage.html |access-date=November 1, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>
*[[Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr.]], Chairman of [[The New York Times Company]], publisher of ''[[The New York Times]]''<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1999/07/26/scion-of-the-times-walex-s-jones|magazine=The New Yorker|title=Scion of the Times|access-date=23 August 2018}}</ref>
*[[Jamie Dimon]], [[Chairman]] and [[Chief executive officer]] of [[JPMorgan Chase]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Linette |title=How Jamie Dimon Got To Be The Most Admired Banker In The World |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-life-of-jamie-dimon-2012-5 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Business Insider}}</ref>
*[[Sam Morril]], comedian, actor, writer, and producer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Morril biography |url=https://www.last.fm/music/Sam+Morril/+wiki |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Last.fm}}</ref>

==Affiliated organizations==
*[http://www.nysais.org New York State Association of Independent Schools]
*[http://www.interschool.org New York Interschool Association, Inc.]
*[[International Boys' Schools Coalition]] (founding member & current member)<ref>{{Cite web |title=IBSC Founding Members - International Boys' Schools Coalition |url=https://www.theibsc.org/about-ibsc/membership/membership-types-fees/ibsc-founding-members |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=www.theibsc.org}}</ref>
*[https://www.isaagny.org/ Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directory - Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York |url=https://www.isaagny.org/about-us/directory |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=www.isaagny.org}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website |https://browning.edu/}}

{{coord|40|45|53.7|N|73|58|09.2|W|display=title|type:edu_region:US-NY}}
{{Education in Manhattan}}
{{New York Interschool}}
{{Boys' schools in New York City}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Preparatory schools in New York City]]
[[Category:Boys' schools in New York City]]
[[Category:Private K–12 schools in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1888]]
[[Category:1888 establishments in New York City]]