North Country School (NCS) is a progressive boarding and day school in Upstate New York. Serving grades 4-9, NCS offers a project- and place-based program that develops students' intellect and creativity. The curriculum is built upon the 312-acre campus' natural assets, which include a working farm, extensive organic gardens, a private lake, a rock climbing ledge, an alpine ski hill, and extensive cross-country trails. The NCS experience integrates classroom academics, hands-on learning in the farm and gardens, extensive studio and performing arts, and family-style residential life. NCS students come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and countries, and graduates attend competitive independent schools.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Grades: 4-9
- Enrollment: 88 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $82,500
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $28,500
- Acceptance rate: 65%
- Average class size: 8 students
- Application Deadline: Dec. 15 / Jan. 15 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
School News
- NAIS: The Benefits of an Intentional Technology Policy - 04/01/2024At North Country School, a junior boarding school for grades 49, students surrender their cellphones at the start of the year to support a developmentally aligned learning environment free from ...moredigital distraction. This intentional policy fosters deeper engagement with peers, learning, and the surrounding community while also mitigating risks associated with adolescent technology use, including cyberbullying and social media pressure. By removing phones, the school cultivates a culture of presence, interpersonal growth, and reflective learning essential to middle school development. hide
Top Rankings
North Country School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 281 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
Student Attention
School Overview
Definition of Terms | 2024 School Data
North Country School
School Focus
Grades Offered
4-9
School Type
Co-ed
ADD/ADHD Support
Supports Learning Differences (LD)
Religious Affiliation
Year Founded
1938
Campus Size
312 acres
First Day of School
Mon. Sep 8, 2025
Last Day of School
Sat. May 23, 2026
Student Body
Enrollment
88 students
% Students of Color
25%
% International Students
35%
% Students Boarding
66%
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
Classroom Dress Code
Average Class Size
8 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
3:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
1
ESL Courses Offered
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
30%
Summer Program Offered
Summer Program Details
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$16 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$82,500
(Tuition includes all activities, meals, and services such as laundry. Extra costs include transportation to and from campus, specialized learning skills, and optional ski/snowboard rental)
(Tuition includes all activities, meals, and services such as laundry. Extra costs include transportation to and from campus, specialized learning skills, and optional ski/snowboard rental)
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$28,500
(Tuition includes all weekend activities, skiing, music lessons, technology fees, meals and snacks etc.)
(Tuition includes all weekend activities, skiing, music lessons, technology fees, meals and snacks etc.)
Tuition international students
$86,500
Yearly Tuition
(5 Day Boarding)
(5 Day Boarding)
$62,500
Summer Program Cost
$11,900
(There is a 7-week session that costs $11900 and a 4-week session that costs $8850. Financial aid is available.)
(There is a 7-week session that costs $11900 and a 4-week session that costs $8850. Financial aid is available.)
% Students on Financial Aid
32%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$32,000
(Typical awards range form 15%-35%)
(Typical awards range form 15%-35%)
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
Admissions
Application Deadline
Dec. 15 / Jan. 15 / rolling
Acceptance Rate
65%
Director of Admissions
Catherine Bemis
Application URL
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
27
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Creative Writing
Arts and Music Programs:
Art Club, Ceramics Club, Chorus, Darkroom Photography, Fiber Arts, Film and Video, Improv Theatre, Industrial Arts, Jewelry Making, Metal Sculpture, Rock Band, Studio Art, Theater, Theatre Arts, Theatre Tech, Treehouse Design
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding, Basketball Club, Camping Club, Hiking Club, Music Theatre Club, Outdoor Leadership, Rock Climbing, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding, Ultimate Frisbee
Creative Writing
Arts and Music Programs:
Art Club, Ceramics Club, Chorus, Darkroom Photography, Fiber Arts, Film and Video, Improv Theatre, Industrial Arts, Jewelry Making, Metal Sculpture, Rock Band, Studio Art, Theater, Theatre Arts, Theatre Tech, Treehouse Design
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding, Basketball Club, Camping Club, Hiking Club, Music Theatre Club, Outdoor Leadership, Rock Climbing, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding, Ultimate Frisbee
College Matriculation
Year: 2017 - 2020
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
Westtown School
5
Northwood School
4
The Putney School
4
Dublin School
3
Gould Academy
3
Buxton School
2
Holderness School
2
The Darrow School
2
Cate School
1
The Lawrenceville School
1
School Notes
- School Motto: Art every day
- ACADEMICS: Our traditional core curriculum, enriched by hands-on projects and activities, focuses on the acquisition of solid academic skills. Small classes allow for attention and instruction that challenge and support each child as an individual. Children learn by doing, and they grow by exploring new things, all with the guidance of caring, creative adults. In our academic program, the emphasis on experiential learning is evident in hands-on projects and lessons that focus on our location. In North Country School classes, math students learn about measurement and acquire new computer skills when they record and track the weights of newborn lambs in the barnyard. Science students learn the physical properties of snow pack during a winter term unit on avalanches. In English class, students write persuasive letters to elected officials about current issues they have researched; they create hand-bound, hard-cover journals of their writing and artwork. In arts electives, students paint barn murals, renovate a rowboat in disrepair, or dye wool from our sheep to use in knitting and felting projects. To help students acquire the skills they need in all core academic disciplines, NCS teachers employ a mix of instructional strategies. From collaborative group work to lectures to hands-on labs and projects, students experience innovative teaching strategies on a daily basis. Learning support services are also available to meet students` needs. Finally, while remaining low-tech outside of the classroom, North Country School embraces the use of computer technology as a critical learning tool. Homework and other class projects are posted on Google Classroom, facilitating student-teacher communication. The computer lab is equipped with modern video and photo editing software. While NCS keeps current with technological advances, the school takes pride in a judicious use of technology in order to minimize students' unproductive computer time.
- RESIDENTIAL LIFE - Students at NCS live with a roommate in one of six small houses of 8-10 children. A team of faculty houseparents works carefully to support and supervise each child. Sharing living spaces and the daily routines of morning wake-up, evening study hall, and bedtime creates strong relationships among the children and adults in the house. The house becomes the place for much of each student's learning and growth. "Home nights" every Wednesday - when each house prepares and eats dinner together and enjoys special activities - help students feel a sense of family and a "home away from home."
- ARTS: "Art every day" are words we live by at North Country School. For a school our size, we have an unusually large group of arts teachers (more than one-third of the faculty teaches an arts class) and an impressive array of course listings. All students have the equivalent of at least one art class every day, with younger students rotating through core classes in music, theatre, painting and drawing, ceramics, fiber arts, photography, and woodshop. 7th-9th graders choose from electives that provide opportunities for advanced mastery of core arts, as well as exposure to new offerings. Students of all ages have opportunities to submit their work to juried art shows sponsored by local arts organizations.
- FARM & GARDEN: Our students all contribute to the community with daily chores, helping care for the animals on our farm and planting, weeding and harvesting food from our gardens. As a founding member of the Edible Schoolyard program, we have long valued incorporating education around food, cooking, and sustainability into our programming. Our horseback riding program allows all students to learn to ride and allows experienced riders to progress to more advanced skills such as jumping.
- OUTDOORS & ATHLETICS: Taking full advance of our spectacular mountain setting, the Outdoor Program offerings range from a walk in the woods to ambitious multi-day hiking and backpacking trips. We offer team sports such as soccer, basketball, cross-country skiing and ultimate frisbee, as well as an equestrian program with ten horses, two riding rings and miles of mountain trails. In the winter months we have extensive snow sport offerings, including skiing and snowboarding on our own ski hill and at Whiteface Mountain, Nordic skiing, skating, and ice climbing. The outdoor program encourages students to take risks, acquire new skills, and gain confidence. All gear, except for personal clothing, is provided so that all children have the opportunity to participate in all offerings.
- North Country School accreditations: The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) and NY Association of Independent Schools (NYAIS)
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Eileen Rockefeller Growald - Author and philanthropist
- Richard Rockefeller - Physician and philanthropist
- Robel Teklemariam - Olympian (cross-country skiing)
- David Loud - Musician and conductor
- Matt Salinger - Actor, son of author JD Salinger
- David Sloan Wilson - Evolutionary biologist
- Yasmin Aga Khan - Philanthropist
- Adam Guettel - Composer and lyricist; Tony award winner
- Jessica Tuck - Actress
- Guillaume de Ramel - Philanthropist
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does North Country School cost?
North Country School's tuition is approximately $82,500 for boarding students and $28,500 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of North Country School?
The acceptance rate of North Country School is 65%, which is higher than the boarding school average of 64%.
Who are famous alumni from North Country School?
North Country School famous alumni include: Eileen Rockefeller Growald, Richard Rockefeller, Robel Teklemariam, David Loud, Matt Salinger, David Sloan Wilson, Yasmin Aga Khan, Adam Guettel, Jessica Tuck and Guillaume de Ramel.
What sports does North Country School offer?
North Country School offers 16 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Dance, Equestrian, Freestyle Skiing, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Nordic Skiing, Rock Climbing, Ski Jumping, Skiing, Snowboarding, Soccer and Ultimate Frisbee.
Does North Country School offer a summer program?
Yes, North Country School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What is North Country School's ranking?
North Country School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Small average class sizes and Low student:teacher ratio.
When is the application deadline for North Country School?
The application deadline for North Country School is Dec. 15 / Jan. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Dec. 15 / Jan. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
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The nearest boarding school to North Country School is Northwood School (5.6 miles away)
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