Independent School League (New England)

Independent School League (ISL)
Established	1948
Members	16
Sports fielded	18
Region	New England
Headquarters	, Massachusetts
Website	http://www.islsports.org

The Independent School League (ISL) is composed of sixteen New England preparatory schools that compete athletically and academically. Founded in 1948, the ISL's sixteen members compete in eighteen sports in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC). Notable to the league, they do not allow for schools to have postgraduate students compete in athletic competition, and consequently, many of the member institutions do not offer postgraduate programs. ISL schools are also not allowed to give athletic or academic based scholarships, and are only allowed to give need-based ones. The teams that make up the ISL are some of the highest rated schools in New England both academically and athletically.

History

Charter members of the Private School League were Middlesex School, Belmont Hill, Brooks, Buckingham Browne & Nichols (BB&N), The Governor's Academy, Milton Academy, Noble & Greenough, St. Mark's, and Thayer. Like the Ivy League, the ISL began as a loose affiliation to promote football among academically rigorous, Northeastern schools; however, administrators formalized the league during 1948.

In 1968 Middlesex joined, and in 1972 Groton replaced Tabor – both private boarding schools in the Boston area.

In 1973 St. Sebastian's was added and in 1974 Roxbury Latin was added. The league changed its name to the 'Independent School League' in 1974.

St. Paul's, Lawrence Academy, The Rivers School and St. George's joined during the mid-1970s.

For 2017-2018, with the departure of St. Paul's, a new addition to the Independent School League is Tabor Academy (Massachusetts), joining the league in 2017 after playing as a non-league competitor against several of the schools for many years, and being one of the original founding members.

Members

School	Location	Colors	Team name	Established	Enrollment	Joined ISL	Rivals
Belmont Hill School	Belmont, MA		N/A	1923	420	1948	St. Sebastians, BB&N, Roxbury Latin
Brooks School	North Andover, MA		N/A	1926	370	1948	The Governor's Academy
Buckingham Browne & Nichols School (BB&N)	Cambridge, MA		Knights	1883	1,025	1948	Belmont Hill School, Noble and Greenough
The Governor's Academy	Byfield, MA		Governors	1763	375	1948	Brooks School
Groton School	Groton, MA		Zebras	1884	350	1972	St. Mark's School
Lawrence Academy at Groton	Groton, MA		Spartans	1793	375	1973
Middlesex School	Concord, MA		Zebras	1901	350	1968	St. George's School
Milton Academy	Milton, MA		Mustangs	1798	1,000	1948	Noble and Greenough
Noble and Greenough School	Dedham, MA		Bulldogs	1866	625	1948	Milton Academy Roxbury Latin
The Rivers School	Weston, MA		Red Wings	1915	491	1973	Noble and Greenough
Roxbury Latin School	West Roxbury, MA		Foxes	1645	300	1974	Belmont Hill School Noble and Greenough
St. George's School	Middletown, RI		Dragons	1896	350	1981	Middlesex School
St. Mark's School	Southborough, MA		Lions	1865	325	1948	Groton School
St. Sebastian's School	Needham, MA		Arrows	1941	380	1973	Belmont Hill School
Tabor Academy (Massachusetts)	Marion, MA		Seawolves	1876	515	2017
Thayer Academy	Braintree, MA		Tigers	1877	675	1948

Reputation

ISL schools are noted for high tuition, wealthy students, academic excellence, superior college placement, athletics, and in many cases, storied histories. For example, the ISL features one of the United States' ten wealthiest boarding schools, Groton.

The ISL features two of the United States' ten oldest boarding schools, Governor's and Lawrence, and the oldest school in continuous existence in North America, Roxbury Latin.

The ISL also boasts the only day school to make the 2006 Forbes Most Expensive Private High Schools list: The Buckingham Browne and Nichols School.

Boys' Ice Hockey

The ISL is divided into two divisions for boys' ice hockey - the Keller Division and Eberhart Division

Keller Division	Eberhart Division
Belmont Hill School	Brooks School
Governor's Academy	BB&N
Lawrence Academy	Groton School
Milton Academy	Middlesex School
Noble & Greenough School	The Rivers School
St. Sebastian's	Roxbury Latin
Thayer Academy	St. George's School
Tabor Academy	St. Mark's School

2018-19 Champions: Lawrence Academy (Keller) and The Rivers School (Eberhart)

In 2017, The Rivers School won the ISL Eberhart Division for the third time in four years (2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17) and qualified for the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Stuart/Corkery Open Tournament, becoming the first ISL Eberhart Division team to do so. Rivers defeated Belmont Hill School and Phillips Exeter Academy to reach the final, where they lost to Kimball Union Academy.In 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 season St. Marks School won the New England Prep Small School Championship, and in the 2014-2015 season Brooks School won the New England Prep Large School Championship. Both teams were from the Eberhart division on the ISL.

In 2011-2012 Lawrence Academy won the Independent School League Championship, as well as the NEPSAC championship defeating Nobles in the final round (3-2). In 2010-2011 Milton Academy went to win the Independent School League championship for ice hockey and then continued the success to win it all in the NEPSAC championship. In the 2009-2010 hockey season Nobles won the ISL championship. In the 2008-2009 hockey season Lawrence Academy won the ISL championships.

In 1988—then Governor Dummer Academy—won the Eberhart Division and the NEPSAC Div. II Championship defeating The Gunnery School. That win propelled GDA into the prestigious Keller Division where it has competed since 1988-89.

Of all the schools in the ISL, it is the newest, St. Sebastian's, that has had the most first round NHL draft picks (5). Their 5 picks are more than any high school in the US. Their most recent was in the 2015 NHL draft, when Noah Hannifin was drafted 5th overall to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Girls' Ice Hockey

Many ISL schools participate in girls' ice hockey. The ISL has sent many women to D1 schools and to the Olympics. The 2018 champions were the Tabor Academy Seawolves (12-1).