The Governor's Academy
(formerly Governor Dummer Academy)

1 Elm Street, Byfield, MA 01922 - View a map of this school Map
Tel: 978-499-3120
Grades: (Boarding) 9-12 | 398 students
Welcome to the oldest boarding school in America! Established as Dumm'r Charity School in 1763 through a bequest from Massachusetts Bay Lieutenant Governor William Dummer, what is now called The Governor's Academy provided the foundation for the preparatory school tradition in America. Today, more than two centuries after its founding, The Governor's Academy continues this tradition of innovation through inventive, inspired programs that reflect the Academy's pioneering spirit.

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Definition of Terms 
| 2012 School Data
The Governor's
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus College Preparatory College Preparatory
Grades Offered. 9-12 9-12
School Type Co-ed Co-ed
Support for ADD/ADHD Students No No
Religious Affiliation Non-denominational Non-denominational
Year Founded 1763 1906
Campus Size 450 acres 125 acres
Student Body
Enrollment 398 students 300 students
Percent Students of Color 15% 18%
Percent International Students 12% 19%
Percent Students Boarding 66% 67%
Average SAT Score n/a * National Avg. »View
Offers Post-Grad Year No No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes No No
Classroom Dress Code Casual Casual
Average Class Size 12 students 12
*National School Avg. » 20
Teacher : Student Ratio 1:6 1:7
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered 20 14
ESL Courses Offered Yes Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree 78% 65%
Summer Program Offered Yes Yes
Finances
Endowment Size $70 million $14 million
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) $48,550 $44,700
Yearly Tuition (Day Students) $38,415 $25,100
Percent Students on Financial Aid 30% 33%
Average Financial Aid Grant $37,000 $19,000
Merit Scholarships Offered No No
Admission
Application Deadline Jan. 15 / Jan. 30 Jan. 15
Accepts Standardized Application Yes No
SSAT Required Yes Yes
Average Percentile SSAT 75% -
Acceptance Rate 23% 60%
Director of Admissions Michael Kinnealey  

Course Listings:
List of Courses Offered Link to List of Courses

Sports:
Total Interscholastic Sports Offered 16 13
Interscholastic Sports
Baseball Basketball
Cross Country Dance
Field Hockey Football
Golf Ice Hockey
Lacrosse Soccer
Softball Tennis
Track and Field Volleyball
Winter Track Wrestling

Extracurricular:
Total Extracurricular Organizations 28 24
Extracurriculars
Chapel Committee Chorus and Select Chorus
Christian Fellowship Creative Writing Club
Debate Club Drama
Environmental Club EPIC (Model UN)
Gay/Straight Alliance German Club
Governor Dummer Honor Society Harvard Model Congress
Health and Wellness Committee History Club
Jewish Fellowship NEXO (Latino and Hispanic students)
Orchestra P.R.I.D.E. (students of color)
Peer Advisors Poetry Society
Proctors for Mansion House, Student Center & Performing Arts Center Project Outreach
Social Committee The Big Wind Jazz Band
The Governor (student newspaper) The Milestone (yearbook)
The Spire (literary magazine) Tour Guides

College Matriculation:
Year: 2004
10 Most Popular College Choices  (# Enrolled)
Boston University 4
George Washington University 3
Tufts University 3
Union College 3
University of Denver 3
University of Southern California 3
Dartmouth College 2
Johns Hopkins 2
Wellesley College 2
Williams College 2

School Notes:

  • The Academy offers a challenging, thought-provoking and student-centered curriculum that inspires a passion for learning. By focusing on the learning process and the development of essential skills, The Governor's Academy teaches students how to think critically, creatively and independently. We encourage students to acquire knowledge through hands-on activity, multi-disciplinary inquiry, analysis and reflection.

  • Many structures--including the advising system, extra help sessions, and evening study hours supervised by dormitory parents--help students learn to study and manage their time well. Our goal is to teach young people to become actively accountable for their own learning and to grow by learning with others.
  • Classes meet for 60- and 90-minute periods, affording students and teachers more opportunity to explore subject matter in depth, from different perspectives and with a variety of classroom activities. In addition to traditional assessments such as tests and papers, students debate, conduct hands-on laboratory and field experiments, make oral presentations, research in groups, use technology to create presentations, and design their own exhibits.
  • Students and faculty bring to The Governor's Academy a richness of experience, perspective and diversity which adds immeasurably to the education of all. This is the spirit that inspires a community of learners.
  • During the past decade, many new buildings have been erected or renovated, including the Math and Science Center, Library, Student Center, Performing Arts Center, and faculty housing. A new ice hockey arena, synthetic turf field and dormitory will be constructed by the fall of 2007.
  • For more information about the academic program at The Governor's Academy, contact Academic Dean Elaine White at 978-499-3147 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              978-499-3147      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or ewhite@thegovernorsacademy.org.

  • School accreditations: New England Association of Schools and Colleges; Association of Boarding Schools
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • Booker T. Washington Jr. - son of famous abolitionist, statesman and author
    • Yu Kil Chun - first Korean to study in West; essayist and social reformer
    • Theophilus Parsons - helped draft Bill of Rights and developed US judiciary system
    • Edward Preble - Commodore of the USS Constitution
    • Dan Gadzuric - NBA basketball player
    • Jeb Bradley - Congressman - New Hampshire
    • Samuel Phillips - Founder of Phillips Academy, Andover

Nearby Schools:

The Governor's Academy
(formerly Governor Dummer Academy)
Gr. 9-12 | Co-Ed | 0 mi. away
Brooks School
Gr. 9-12 | Co-Ed | 9.9 mi. away
Landmark School
Gr. 2-12 | Co-Ed | 13.7 mi. away
Phillips Academy Andover
Gr. 9-12 | Co-Ed | 14.0 mi. away
Phillips Exeter Academy
Gr. 9-12 | Co-Ed | 16.2 mi. away
Middlesex School
Gr. 9-12 | Co-Ed | 30.0 mi. away

View all schools in: Massachusetts, New England Region

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