The Williston Northampton School vs. Berkshire School
Should you attend The Williston Northampton School or Berkshire School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Definition of Terms | 2024 School Data
The Williston Northampton School
(17)
19 Payson Avenue
Easthampton, MA 01027, United States of America
Easthampton, MA 01027, United States of America
Top Rankings
The Williston Northampton School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Offering Breadth
Student Test Scores
Berkshire School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
School Resources
School Resources
Selectivity
Student Test Scores
Overview
Located on 125 acres in Western Massachusetts, Williston has a history dating back to 1841. Williston`s 420 students come from 30 countries and 25 U.S. states.
All Williston students take part in Williston`s Comprehensive Program for Academic and Social Success, known as COMPASS, which unifies our CORE Life and Leadership Program; our Williston Scholars program; our College Counselling program; and our Center for Academic Success (Academic Suport).
At the core of the Williston experience is our balance of academic excellence and support-students choose from 145 courses, and they utilize our Writing Center, our Math Center as well as more formalized academic support.
Additionally, Williston has a long history of athletic excellence, with over 35 percent of our graduating seniors going on to play at the college level in the last 5 years.
Founded in 1907, Berkshire School is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school for 430 9th-12th graders and post-graduates, offering a forward-thinking curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities on a 400-acre campus in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
Berkshire's signature programs, including Advanced Math/Science Research, Advanced Humanities Research, and Pro Vita Winter Session, are offered along with advanced sections and AP offerings in all disciplines.
These programs are designed to expand the minds, provide real-world experiences, and help distinguish our students in an increasingly competitive college process.
With a range of artistic and athletic offerings and national recognition for our efforts in sustainability, Berkshire provides an extraordinary setting in which students are encouraged to learn in the words of the School motto: Pro Vita Non Pro Schola Discimus, "Learning-not just for school but for life."
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12, PG
9-12, PG
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1841
1907
Campus Size
125 acres
400 acres
Students Body
Enrollment
400
430
% Students of Color
18%
21%
% International Students
24%
18%
% Students Boarding
70%
87%
Average SAT Score
1360
n/a
Average ACT score
29
n/a
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
Yes
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
Yes
Yes
Frequency of Saturday Classes
Bi-Weekly
Bi-Weekly
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Casual
Average Class Size
13
12
Student : Teacher ratio
7:1
4:1
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered
29
17
ESL Courses Offered
Yes
No
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
75%
70%
Summer Program Offered
No
No
Finances
Endowment Size
$60 million
$212 million
Tuition (Boarding Students)
$74,000
$76,100
Tuition (Day Students)
$51,000
$57,400
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$25,250
$56,500
Merit Scholarships Offered
$1
n/a
Admission
Application Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Jan. 15
Accepts Standardized Application
Yes
No
SSAT Required
Yes
No
Average Percentile SSAT
63
65
Acceptance Rate
33%
20%
Director of Admissions
Christopher J. Dietrich
Grace Megaffin
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered
29
17
Sport
Total Sports Offered
23
20
Sports
Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Diving, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling
Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Dance, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Soccer, Squash, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
Extracurricular
Total Extra-curric.Total Extracurriculars
38
53
Extra-curric.Extracurriculars
Asian Alliance Club, Blue Notes (male a capella), Chinese Chess Club, Community Service Club, Filipino Culture Club, Jane Austen Club, Janus literary magazine, Maiyeros - male a cappella, Maiyeros (boys a capella), Make-a-Wish, Math Team, Math Tutoring Society, Milagros (gospel choir), Mitchell Cabinet (Service Club), Model UN, Model United Nations, Muslim Students Association, Native American Club, Peer Educators (healthy decisions), Philanthropy Club, Philanthropy Society, Photography Club, Principles of Coaching, Science Team, Service Club, Spanish Community Center Tutors, Student Council Officers, Student Multicultural Board, Subterraneans, T.R.I.B.E. (Trust, Respect, Individuality, Belief, Equality), The Book Club and Literary Society, The Debate Society, The Log (Yearbook), The Press - campus sports news, Theater, Westtown Competitive Gaming Club, Wildest Cats (spirit group), Willistonian (Student Newspaper)
1907 Society, African Cooking Club, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Club, Astronomy Club, Baking Club, Bears Coding Space, Bears on Bars, Business and Entrepreneurship Club, Cancer Awareness Club, Chess Club, Community Service Club, Dance Ensemble, Dance Program, Debate Club, DECA (Berkshire Chapter), Dog Walking Club, Dungeons and Dragons Club, Electronic Music Club, Embrace Her (Berkshire Chapter), First Aid Club, French Club, Games Club, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), Gender Equity and Philanthropy Club, Gender Equity Club, Generation SOS, Giordano Philosophy Club, Global Economics and Politics Club, Green and Gray Newspaper, Green Key Club, Greensleeves (Boys' A Cappella), Hungry Bear Awareness Club, Investment Club, Jewish Student Union, Letters of Love, Math Team, Medics + Red Cross Society, Model United Nations, Natural High, Operation Smile, Outing Club, Psychology Club, Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program, Robotics Club, Sports Management and Analytics Club, Strength and Athletic Club, Student Activities Committee, Sustainability Club, Theater Productions, Ursa Minor (Girls' A Cappella), WBSL 91.7FM (Berkshire School Radio), Wellness Club, Yoga and Meditation Club