Northwood School
Founded in 1905, Northwood School is located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains in Lake Placid, New York; a beautiful mountain town which has twice hosted the Winter Olympics (1932 and 1980).
Northwood enjoys close proximity and working relationships with organizations like the Lake Placid Center for the Arts, the Adirondack Writing Center, The Pendragon Theater, and The Wild Center, and others which offer unique artistic, creative, outdoor, and cultural opportunities in the area.
Northwood School is a 2 hour drive from Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Albany, New York; and Burlington, Vermont.
Northwood's 85-acre campus is nestled beneath Cobble Mountain, just across Mirror Lake from the shops and restaurants of Lake Placid's Main Street.
The Adirondack Mountains surround Northwood's campus and provide, a beautiful setting to live, work, and play for our students and faculty.
Alumni Reviews Review School
- Review Description
- Northwood The academics are very challenging. The professors really care about the success of each student. They will offer assistance to ensure the rigorous material is thoroughly understood. The classes are very small, perfect for serious. . .
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Northwood School is listed among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 307 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- Offering Breadth Most sports offered
| Definition of Terms | 2020 School Data | Northwood School | Boarding School Avg. |
| School Focus | College Prep | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered | 9-12, PG | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| ADD/ADHD Support | Yes | Yes |
| Supports Learning Differences (LD) | Yes | Yes |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1905 | 1907 |
| Campus Size | 85 acres | 125 acres |
Student Body
| Enrollment | 185 students | 302 students |
| % Students of Color | 17% | 25% |
| % International Students | 30% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 85% | 70% |
| Average SAT Score | 1120 | * National Avg. »View |
| SAT range (25th-75th percentile) | 1030 - 1230 | - |
| Average ACT score | 24 | *National Avg. » View |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | Yes | No |
Academics and Faculty
| Saturday Classes | No | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual (Khaki pants, collared shirts) | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 10 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 5:1 | 7:1 |
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 10 | 18 |
| ESL Courses Offered | Yes | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 50% | 70% |
| Summer Program Offered | No | Yes |
Finances
| Endowment Size | $10 million | $23 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $63,860 | $59,050 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $45,000 | $33,082 |
| Tuition international students | $65,560 | $53,848 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 55% | 40% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $40,105 (FA Granted Based on Need-Based Process) | $25,000 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | No | No |
Admission
| Application Deadline | Jan. 31 / rolling | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Average Percentile SSAT | 50% | - |
| Acceptance Rate | 43% | 57% |
| Director of Admissions | Brad D'Arco Carrie Wardlaw | |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Jeff Miller | |
Course Listings
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
AP / Advanced Courses
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 10 | 18 |
| Courses | Biology, Calculus A/B, Calculus B/C, English Language, English Literature, Environmental Science, Macroeconomics, Psychology, US History, World History | |
Sports
| # Interscholastic Sports Offered | 24 | 16 |
| Sports | Alpine Skiing, Basketball, Climbing, Crew, Cross Country, Dance, Equestrian, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Golf, Ice Hockey, Indoor Soccer, Kayaking, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Nordic Skiing, Riding, Rock Climbing, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball | |
Extracurriculars
| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 8 | 23 |
| Extracurriculars | Club or Organization: Community Service Club, Newspaper, Northwood Outing Club, Outdoor Leadership, Reading Club, Student Government, Sustainability Club Arts and Music Programs: Yearbook | |
College Matriculation
| Year: 2014 - 2018 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled) | |
| St. Lawrence University | 12 | |
| Concordia University (Montreal) | 8 | |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) | 7 | |
| SUNY Plattsburgh | 7 | |
| University at Buffalo | 7 | |
| Clarkson University | 5 | |
| University of Maine | 5 | |
| Miami University (OH) | 4 | |
| SUNY Oswego | 4 | |
| Trinity College | 4 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
School Notes
-
The advantage of a Northwood School education is that we provide students with first hand experiences that allow them to find and explore their passions, create a skills and knowledge base that will be applicable in college and beyond, and distinguishes Northwood School students in the college admission process.
- We offer a traditional college prep curriculum, with AP offerings in all academic disciplines, in addition to a robust co-curricular program.
- Northwood School`s offerings and facilities focused on Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurial studies provide first hand experiences rarely offered to students at the high school level.
- Project-based curriculum that emphasizes engagement in the community, growth in creative thinking, and believes in learning by doing through a wide range of tools and materials.
- LD types supported: Mild Learning Differences
- Northwood School accreditations: N.Y.S.A.I.S.
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Eleanor Powell '80 - Executive Director, Investor Relations at The Estee Lauder Companies Inc
- Theodore Davidge Lockwood ‘42 - Former President of Trinity College, 1968-1981
- Mike Richter '85 - 1988, 1998, 2002 Olympics, Ice Hockey
- Dr. Amanda Donohue ‘94 - Cardiologist with Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center
- Darcy Prime ‘73 Owner - Darcy Prime Consulting, Former Assistant Director of Admissions, Stanford University
- Thomas Vonn '94 - 2002 Olympics, Alpine Skiing
- Nancy Kirhoffer ‘82 - Post Production Supervisor, Hollywood Film Industry
- Andrew Weibrecht '03 - 2010, 2014 Olympics, Alpine Skiing
- Craig Randall '61 - Mayor Lake Placid, NY
- Brad Olch '69 - Former Mayor, Park City, Utah
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