North Country School
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 220-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.
Top Rankings
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North Country School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 303 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- Student Attention Small average class sizes
- Student Attention Low student:teacher ratio
| Definition of Terms | 2021 School Data | North Country School |
| School Focus | Junior Boarding School |
| Grades (Boarding) | Grades 4-9 |
| School Type | Co-ed |
| ADD/ADHD Support | Yes |
| Supports Learning Differences (LD) | Yes |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1938 |
| Campus Size | 220 acres |
| Enrollment | 78 students |
| % Students of Color | 33% |
| % International Students | 26% |
| % Students Boarding | 66% |
Academics and Faculty
| Saturday Classes | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 8 students |
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 3:1 |
| Number of AP Courses Offered | n/a |
| ESL Courses Offered | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 33% |
| Summer Program Offered | Yes |
| Summer Program Details | Link to Summer Program Details |
Tuition Cost
| Endowment Size | $16 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $64,900 (Tuition includes all weekend activities, skiing, m) |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $20,900 (Tuition includes all weekend activities, skiing, music lessons, computer and laundry fees, etc.) |
| Tuition international students | $70,200 |
| Yearly Tuition (5 Day Boarding) | $49,900 |
| Summer Program Cost | $10,200 (There is a 7-week session that costs $10,200 and a 4-week session that costs $7,500. Financial aid is available.) |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 32% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $32,000 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | No |
Acceptance Rate
| Application Deadline | Dec. 15 / Jan. 15 / rolling |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes |
| Acceptance Rate | 77% |
| Director of Admissions | Bill Newman |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Haze Liff |
Course Listings
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
Sports
| # Interscholastic Sports Offered | 12 Interscholastic Sports |
| Sports | Alpine Skiing, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Drill Team, Equestrian, Freestyle Skiing, Mountain Biking, Nordic Skiing, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Soccer |
Extracurriculars
| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 16 Extracurriculars |
| Extracurriculars | Arts and Music Programs: Art Club, Ceramics Club, Chorus, Fiber Arts, Rock Band, Studio Art, Theater, Theatre Arts, Theatre Tech Recreational Athletic Programs: Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding, Basketball Club, Camping Club, Hiking Club, Music Theatre Club, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding |
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 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
School Notes
- 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.
- LD types supported: ADHD/ADD, mild to moderate learning differences, Executive Functioning support
- 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
Profile last updated: 11/05/2021
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