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On This Ground: Hardship and Hope at the Toughest Prep School in America – How One Community and School Refused to Give Up on Newark's Students
For fans of
Invisible Child
and
A Most Beautiful Thing
,
On This Ground
is the remarkable story of hope, determination, and resilience at a celebrated school in Newark, the students who make it, and a community that refused to let their children’s education become a casualty of a growing racial divide.
In 1967, as the city of Newark, New Jersey, was engulfed by civil unrest after the beating of a Black cab driver by white police officers, the monks of Newark Abbey stood on the roof of the monastery and watched their city burn. In the years that followed, as crushing poverty and racial tensions in the city worsened, some of the monks voted to leave—and St. Benedict’s Prep, the school they had run for over a century, was forced to close its doors.
On This Ground is the story of the monks who voted to stay put, who would soon reopen St. Benedict’s and devote their lives to educating the students who had become their neighbors. But it’s also the inspiring story of its students—many of whom have experienced tremendous tragedy and trauma—who show up every day and form the beating heart of the school, which is now widely considered one of the most successful inner-city educational movements in the country.
In a warm, reverent voice, veteran New York Times reporter and New Jersey native Anthony DePalma takes us through St. Benedict’s hallways, classrooms, and the streets of the complicated city of Newark to illuminate the astonishing ability to alter your own destiny, and how ultimately triumphant life can be, despite the trials, when leaders keep their promises and kids who are usually rejected are given the love they deserve.
In 1967, as the city of Newark, New Jersey, was engulfed by civil unrest after the beating of a Black cab driver by white police officers, the monks of Newark Abbey stood on the roof of the monastery and watched their city burn. In the years that followed, as crushing poverty and racial tensions in the city worsened, some of the monks voted to leave—and St. Benedict’s Prep, the school they had run for over a century, was forced to close its doors.
On This Ground is the story of the monks who voted to stay put, who would soon reopen St. Benedict’s and devote their lives to educating the students who had become their neighbors. But it’s also the inspiring story of its students—many of whom have experienced tremendous tragedy and trauma—who show up every day and form the beating heart of the school, which is now widely considered one of the most successful inner-city educational movements in the country.
In a warm, reverent voice, veteran New York Times reporter and New Jersey native Anthony DePalma takes us through St. Benedict’s hallways, classrooms, and the streets of the complicated city of Newark to illuminate the astonishing ability to alter your own destiny, and how ultimately triumphant life can be, despite the trials, when leaders keep their promises and kids who are usually rejected are given the love they deserve.
- GenresHistory
272 pages, Hardcover
Published February 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 29, 2026
St. Benedict’s Prep & the adjoining Benediction Abby in Newark have served the community for over 150 years. The book highlights the efforts of the school community the last 50 years as they have eschewed traditional education methods to serve the students from Newark, NJ with the four pillars of community, student leadership, counseling, and experiential learning. SBP succeeds where most schools haven’t.
The book is inspiring, thought provoking, and well written.
The book is inspiring, thought provoking, and well written.
March 26, 2026
Lessons for all …
February 11, 2026
Book Review: On This Ground: Hardship and Hope at the Toughest Prep School in America
On This Ground: Hardship and Hope at the Toughest Prep School in America is a compelling and deeply human examination of inequality, resilience, and the limits of opportunity within elite education. In this nonfiction work, Susan Eaton takes readers inside St. Paul’s School, one of the most prestigious and demanding boarding schools in the United States, to explore what happens when students from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds are brought together under the banner of merit and access.
Eaton focuses on low-income and minority students admitted through diversity and financial aid initiatives, documenting not just their academic challenges but the social and emotional costs of navigating a world shaped by wealth, tradition, and unspoken privilege. While these students have earned a coveted seat at the table, Eaton reveals that inclusion does not automatically translate into belonging. Cultural isolation, racial bias, and uneven support systems frequently undermine the promise of equal opportunity.
The strength of the book lies in Eaton’s compassionate yet unflinching storytelling. She allows students’ voices and experiences to drive the narrative, avoiding judgment while clearly exposing systemic flaws. Moments of hope—academic success, personal growth, and quiet triumph—are interwoven with scenes of frustration, loneliness, and exhaustion. This balance prevents the book from becoming either cynical or sentimental.
Beyond the walls of St. Paul’s, On This Ground raises urgent questions about the American ideal of meritocracy. Eaton challenges readers to consider whether elite institutions are truly prepared to support students from marginalized backgrounds—or whether access without structural change simply reinforces existing inequities.
Thought-provoking and emotionally resonant, this book is especially valuable for educators, policymakers, and readers interested in social justice, education reform, and equity. On This Ground makes clear that hope exists, but it must be matched with accountability, intentional support, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
On This Ground: Hardship and Hope at the Toughest Prep School in America is a compelling and deeply human examination of inequality, resilience, and the limits of opportunity within elite education. In this nonfiction work, Susan Eaton takes readers inside St. Paul’s School, one of the most prestigious and demanding boarding schools in the United States, to explore what happens when students from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds are brought together under the banner of merit and access.
Eaton focuses on low-income and minority students admitted through diversity and financial aid initiatives, documenting not just their academic challenges but the social and emotional costs of navigating a world shaped by wealth, tradition, and unspoken privilege. While these students have earned a coveted seat at the table, Eaton reveals that inclusion does not automatically translate into belonging. Cultural isolation, racial bias, and uneven support systems frequently undermine the promise of equal opportunity.
The strength of the book lies in Eaton’s compassionate yet unflinching storytelling. She allows students’ voices and experiences to drive the narrative, avoiding judgment while clearly exposing systemic flaws. Moments of hope—academic success, personal growth, and quiet triumph—are interwoven with scenes of frustration, loneliness, and exhaustion. This balance prevents the book from becoming either cynical or sentimental.
Beyond the walls of St. Paul’s, On This Ground raises urgent questions about the American ideal of meritocracy. Eaton challenges readers to consider whether elite institutions are truly prepared to support students from marginalized backgrounds—or whether access without structural change simply reinforces existing inequities.
Thought-provoking and emotionally resonant, this book is especially valuable for educators, policymakers, and readers interested in social justice, education reform, and equity. On This Ground makes clear that hope exists, but it must be matched with accountability, intentional support, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I really wanted to like this book, but the pace was very slow and meandering, and kept cycling around to touch lightly on the same topics multiple times. For example, the author kept dangling frequent mentions about the Adirondack Trail hike throughout the book, before finally describing it in detail at the end. There was almost no mention of actual academics in the book; it was nearly page 100 before the author described what a class was like. The book gave the overall impression that the school is about character-building first, athletics second, and academics a very distant third. Which I guess tracks with the lackluster academic performance of some of the most-profiled kids, but it’s not clear how these kids will go on to succeed in life when academically they aren’t even prepared to transfer to other high schools. And for all the emphasis on character-building, the profiled kids aren’t necessarily great success examples either. Given the press this school has received, it must be more effective than this book portrays. But after reading the whole book, it just seems like a school with a very haphazard approach to education that mainly manages to keep kids from turning into drug dealers despite their challenging backgrounds. Which is success, but a sadly low bar.
February 5, 2026
I just finished Anthony DePalma’s On This Ground, and it was a true page-turner. The book triggered emotions I had long kept buried. As a graduate of an all-boys Catholic inner-city high school more than 50 years ago, I felt a deep connection to the story. While my own challenges may not have been as severe as those faced by the students in this book, I too, was pushed to my best by a religious order dedicated to education.
I was profoundly impressed by how the faculty of St. Benedict’s has spent over 100 years motivating students with compassion and forgiveness, always offering a second chance to learn from mistakes. The Benedictine monks and lay faculty lead a mission that empowers students to lead the school themselves, giving them a vital sense of ownership. Through these stories, it's clear that this ownership, glued together by a mission of community—instills a sense of belonging that many students lacked at home.
I am not an educator, but I believe these stories offer vital lessons for all academic institutions today. I strongly recommend this book not just for its educational insights, but as a guide for anyone looking to lead a good and meaningful life.
I was profoundly impressed by how the faculty of St. Benedict’s has spent over 100 years motivating students with compassion and forgiveness, always offering a second chance to learn from mistakes. The Benedictine monks and lay faculty lead a mission that empowers students to lead the school themselves, giving them a vital sense of ownership. Through these stories, it's clear that this ownership, glued together by a mission of community—instills a sense of belonging that many students lacked at home.
I am not an educator, but I believe these stories offer vital lessons for all academic institutions today. I strongly recommend this book not just for its educational insights, but as a guide for anyone looking to lead a good and meaningful life.
March 4, 2026
This is a special book about an obviously special place.
On This Ground is the second book I've read by this author - his prose is terrific - who gave me a window into St. Benedict's Prep School, in Newark NJ and importantly , why a places like this lift us all up, whether we know it or not.
The book focuses on the milestone anniversary year of the school's having been reopened 50 years prior. Without realizing it, I learned crucial lessons about listening, about friendship, about persistent and consistent community building, about personal character, and about sticking to a goal despite what seem like overwhelming odds.
It's notable that the school is located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Newark; I have no doubt MLK would be proud of those who take part in the ongoing work of building that community, and in those who write about it too.
On This Ground is the second book I've read by this author - his prose is terrific - who gave me a window into St. Benedict's Prep School, in Newark NJ and importantly , why a places like this lift us all up, whether we know it or not.
The book focuses on the milestone anniversary year of the school's having been reopened 50 years prior. Without realizing it, I learned crucial lessons about listening, about friendship, about persistent and consistent community building, about personal character, and about sticking to a goal despite what seem like overwhelming odds.
It's notable that the school is located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Newark; I have no doubt MLK would be proud of those who take part in the ongoing work of building that community, and in those who write about it too.
March 14, 2026
Gets it all right - from big themes about HS education, down to what the school is doing at the individual student level.
"Toughest" is probably interpreted as relating to the teenaged students; i.e. their expected participation in classes and activities - that are not the normal student experience - makes this a 'tough' environment. Somewhat.
I'd add that 'toughest' also applies to faculty and staff who put in time beyond class / teaching to ensure student problems are well identified and being addressed by appropriate staff.
Academics are neither paramount or under-valued. Academics are simply part of a larger, holistic approach that faces up to the societal issues these kids bring 'onto this ground.'
It's a different model. It works.
"Toughest" is probably interpreted as relating to the teenaged students; i.e. their expected participation in classes and activities - that are not the normal student experience - makes this a 'tough' environment. Somewhat.
I'd add that 'toughest' also applies to faculty and staff who put in time beyond class / teaching to ensure student problems are well identified and being addressed by appropriate staff.
Academics are neither paramount or under-valued. Academics are simply part of a larger, holistic approach that faces up to the societal issues these kids bring 'onto this ground.'
It's a different model. It works.
May 27, 2026
I’ll just say a couple of things. Why was my school experience this? Why is St Benedict’s not the model for all of America’s schools? The kids are the focus. The faculty is there to educate and guide and care. After 27 years as a middle-school teacher in Catholic school, reading this book made me ponder what we did right & what we could learn to improve on. I’m a hundred percent glad I picked this book at the library, and just as certain that any/everybody in a position to educate the hope of our future could benefit from getting to know more about St. Benedict’s Prep.
July 3, 2026
On This Ground provides a beautiful example of individual and collective resilience. When I picked up this book, having gone to Catholic school my whole life, I expected this "toughest prep school" to be a story of iron fist style leadership. I could not have been more wrong. Reading about a system of education working with kids so holistically by supporting their academic, moral, and mental well-being was so refreshing. This book provides a beautiful depiction of how tradition and innovation can both be equally prioritized and how much kids (and adults too) can benefit when they are.
April 15, 2026
On This Ground is an “Among Schoolchildren” for the current day. It’s a lean, propulsive book about the toughest prep school in America, a toughness of many interpretations.
May 8, 2026
Hey look! My high school!
The Trail is legitimately insane and I wanna do it again.
The Trail is legitimately insane and I wanna do it again.
June 22, 2026
Excellent
February 21, 2026
Recommend this one to those who know of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ. My brothers attended in the earlier years with my younger brother in the last graduating class of 1972, before the school was reopened two years later thanks to Father Ed and the monks who remained in Newark! The book is described as a remarkable story of hope, determination, and resilience! Really inspiring story!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews