An independent afternoon activity exempts a student from participation in a Brooks School afternoon program offering for one season per year. 

An independent may be granted, by approval from a committee, to a fifth-form (junior) or sixth-form (senior) student in good academic and disciplinary standing to pursue something that is not offered or able to be completed at Brooks and who meets the following criteria:

• The student is an athlete or has been fully involved with a program prior to attending Brooks in a sport not offered at Brooks (horseback riding, fencing, Irish step dancing, ski racing, etc.). 
• The student is a performer who has been fully involved with a music or art program prior to attending Brooks and can continue with their training outside of school. A final project, performance or exhibit is required at the end of the independent. 
• Each independent activity must have some component by which a student “gives back” to the Brooks community. 
• As per Independent School League bylaws, “athletes may not receive credit for participating in a sport for more than one season in an academic year.” 
• If there is no exercise component to the independent activity, the student must work a fitness component into their schedule a minimum of three times a week. 

Boarding students will not be allowed to have a car on campus to facilitate transportation for an independent activity. 

Independent activity participation does not replace the requirement to participate in a full season of an interscholastic sport for fifth formers. Sixth formers must participate in at least one team offering in a non-independent season. 

Students interested in pursuing an independent should make an appointment to meet with the Director of Athletics to pick up an application and go over the requirements.

Applications for the fall will be due on September 1. Both the winter and spring seasons are due in October.

Afternoon Programs