The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)
- Welcome to the oldest of the New England Boarding Schools.
- Established as Dumm'r Charity School in 1763 through a bequest from Massachusetts Bay Lieutenant Governor William Dummer, what is now called The Governor's Academy provided the foundation for the preparatory school tradition in America.
- Today, more than 250 years after its founding, The Governor's Academy continues this tradition of innovation through inventive, inspired programs that reflect the Academy's pioneering spirit.
Alumni Reviews Review School
- Review Description
- Clark University The Governor´s Academy was known as Governor Dummer Academy when I applied, and it was still known that way for part of my time as a student there. As such, my classmates and I. . .
- Princeton One of the main things is that it has a block schedule, which makes it more like a college schedule while you are still in high school. Instead of having. . .
- Allegheny College GDA has many unique experiences to offer its students. However, I would say that the best thing about this small school is the people. In the dorms you not only live with your classmates, but. . .
- Trinity College There is a real sense of community at Govenor Dummer. The school is relatively small compared to many other schools and this allows the students to be familiar with everyone. Even as a senior, I. . .
- Boston College Governor Dummer Academy (GDA) benefits immensely from its talented and dedicated faculty. Nearly the entire faculty lives on-campus and all are constantly available to all students- both day and boarding. The faculty at. . .
- Show more reviews (3 reviews)
Top 20 Placements
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Listed among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 321 schools) for:
- Category Attribute
- Selectivity Low acceptance rates
- Student Test Scores High SSAT scores
- School History Oldest founding date
| Definition of Terms 2017 School Data | The Governor's | Boarding School Avg. |
| School Focus | College Prep | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered | 9-12 | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1763 | 1910 |
| Campus Size | 465 acres | 110 acres |
Student Body
| Enrollment | 406 students | 300 students |
| % Students of Color | 19% | 20% |
| % International Students | 12% | 20% |
| % Students Boarding | 65% | 68% |
| Average SAT Score | n/a | * National Avg. »View |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | No | No |
Academics and Faculty
| Saturday Classes | No | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 12 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Teacher : Student Ratio | 1:5 | 1:7 |
| # of AP / Advanced Courses Offered | 28 | 17 |
| ESL Courses Offered | No | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 78% | 70% |
| Summer Program Offered | Yes | Yes |
Finances
| Endowment Size | $75 million | $17 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $59,500 | $53,000 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $47,400 | $28,400 |
| % Students on Financial Aid | 30% | 37% |
| Avg. Financial Aid Grant | $43,600 | $22,730 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | No | No |
Admission
| Application Deadline | Jan. 31 | Jan. 15 |
| Accepts Standardized Application | Yes | No |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Average Percentile SSAT | 81% | - |
| Acceptance Rate | 23% | 55% |
| Director of Admissions | Michael Kinnealey | |
Course Listings
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses |
Sports
| # Interscholastic Sports Offered | 17 | 14 |
| Sports | Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Dance, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track, Wrestling | |
Extracurriculars
| Total Extracurricular Organizations | 32 | 23 |
| Extracurriculars | Chapel, Chorus, Christian Fellowship Club, Creative Writing Club, Environment Club, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), German Club, Governor Dummer Honor Society, Harvard Model Congress, Health and Wellness Committee, History Club, Jewish Fellowship, NEXO (Latino and Hispanic students), Orchestra, P.R.I.D.E. (students of color), Peer Advisors, Poetry Society, Proctors for Mansion House, Project Outreach, Social Committee, Student Center & Performing Arts Center, The Big Wind Jazz Band, The Governor (student newspaper), The Milestone (yearbook), The Spire (literary magazine), Tour Guides Club or Organization: Book Club, Debate Club, Entrepreneurship Club, Productions Club, Student And Faculty Alliance Arts and Music Programs: Drama Club | |
College Matriculation
| Year: 2016 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled) | |
| New York university (NYU) | 5 | |
| Elon University | 4 | |
| Tufts University | 4 | |
| Colby College | 3 | |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) | 3 | |
| Cornell University | 2 | |
| Cornell University | 2 | |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | 2 | |
| Northwestern | 2 | |
| University of Pennsylvania | 2 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
School Notes
- The Academy offers a challenging, thought-provoking and student-centered curriculum that inspires a passion for learning. By focusing on the learning process and the development of 7 Essential Skills (http://www.thegovernorsacademy.org/page.cfm?p=2803), The Governor's Academy teaches students how to think critically, creatively, and independently. We encourage students to acquire knowledge through hands-on activity, multi-disciplinary inquiry, analysis and reflection. Many structures, including the advising system, extra help sessions, and evening study hours--supervised by dormitory parents--help students learn to study and manage their time well. Our goal is to teach young people to become actively accountable for their own learning and to grow by learning with others. Classes meet for 60- and 90-minute periods, affording students and teachers more opportunity to explore subject matter in depth, from different perspectives and with a variety of classroom activities. In addition to traditional assessments such as tests and papers, students debate, conduct hands-on laboratory and field experiments, make oral presentations, research in groups, use technology to create presentations, and design their own portfolios. Students and faculty bring to The Governor's Academy a richness of experience, perspective and diversity which adds immeasurably to the education of all. This is the spirit that inspires a community- this family- of learners. During the past decade, many new buildings have been erected or renovated, including the Math and Science Center, Library, Student Center, Performing Arts Center, renovated dining hall, new ice hockey arena, synthetic turf field and dormitory. For more information about admission, please contact Mike Kinnealey, Director of Admission, at mkinnealey@govsacademy.org.
- School accreditations: New England Association of Schools and Colleges; Association of Boarding Schools
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Booker T. Washington Jr. - son of famous abolitionist, statesman and author
- Yu Kil Chun - first Korean to study in West; essayist and social reformer
- Theophilus Parsons - helped draft Bill of Rights and developed US judiciary system
- Edward Preble - Commodore of the USS Constitution
- Dan Gadzuric - NBA basketball player
- Jeb Bradley - Congressman - New Hampshire
- Samuel Phillips - Founder of Phillips Academy, Andover
- Submit Review for The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)
Related Schools
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- People that viewed The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) also viewed these schools: Phillips Academy Andover, Brooks School, Middlesex School, Choate Rosemary Hall and Phillips Exeter Academy.
- School Location Miles Grades Students
- Grades: 9-12, PG | 1150 students 14 miles180 Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
978-749-4050149-12, PG1150 - Grades: 9-12 | 380 students 10 miles1160 Great Pond Road
North Andover, MA 01845
978-725-6272109-12380 - Grades: 9-12 | 401 students 30 miles1400 Lowell Road
Concord, MA 01742
978-371-6524309-12401 - Grades: 9-12, PG | 859 students 132.6 miles333 Christian Street
Wallingford, CT 06492
203-697-2239132.69-12, PG859 - Grades: 9-12, PG | 1084 students 16.2 miles20 Main Street
Exeter, NH 03833
603-777-343716.29-12, PG1084
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