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 | 2025 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 277 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Offering Breadth
Offering Breadth
Student Test Scores
Berkshire School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 277 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 over 150 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 five 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
434
430
% Students of Color
38%
21%
% International Students
25%
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
12
12
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
4:1
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered
52
17
ESL Courses Offered
Yes
No
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
75%
70%
Summer Program Offered
No
No
Finances
Endowment Size
$60 million
$225 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
52
17
Sport
Total Sports Offered
25
20
Sports
Alpine SkiingBaseball
BasketballClimbing
Cross CountryCross Country Running
DanceDiving
Field HockeyFootball
GolfIce Hockey
LacrosseSkiing
SoccerSoftball
SquashSwimming
Swimming and DivingTennis
TrackTrack and Field
Ultimate FrisbeeVolleyball
Water Polo
Alpine SkiingBaseball
BasketballCrew
Cross CountryDance
Field HockeyFootball
GolfIce Hockey
LacrosseMountain Biking
MountaineeringRock Climbing
SkiingSoccer
SquashTennis
Track and FieldVolleyball
Extracurricular
Total Extra-curric.Total Extracurriculars
15
53
Extra-curric.Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Asian Alliance ClubBlack Student Union
Janus literary magazineMath Team
Math Tutoring SocietyModel UN
Photography ClubScience Team
T.R.I.B.E. (Trust, Respect, Individuality, Belief, Equality)The Debate Society
The Log (Yearbook)Theater
Wildest Cats (spirit group)Williston Serves (community service club)
Willistonian (Student Newspaper)
Club or Organization:
Recreational Athletic Programs:
1907 SocietyAfrican Cooking Club
Artificial Intelligence (AI) ClubAstronomy Club
Baking ClubBears Coding Space
Bears on BarsBusiness and Entrepreneurship Club
Cancer Awareness ClubChess Club
Community Service ClubDance Ensemble
Debate ClubDECA (Berkshire Chapter)
Dog Walking ClubDungeons and Dragons Club
Electronic Music ClubEmbrace Her (Berkshire Chapter)
First Aid ClubFrench Club
Games ClubGay Straight Alliance (GSA)
Gender Equity and Philanthropy ClubGender Equity Club
Generation SOSGiordano Philosophy Club
Global Economics and Politics ClubGreen and Gray Newspaper
Green Key ClubGreensleeves (Boys' A Cappella)
Hungry Bear Awareness ClubInvestment Club
Jewish Student UnionLetters of Love
Math TeamMedics + Red Cross Society
Model United NationsNatural High
Operation SmileOuting Club
Psychology ClubRobotics Club
Sports Management and Analytics ClubStrength and Athletic Club
Student Activities CommitteeSustainability Club
Ursa Minor (Girls' A Cappella)WBSL 91.7FM (Berkshire School Radio)
Wellness ClubYoga and Meditation Club
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Dance ProgramRitt Kellogg Mountain Program
Theater Productions