The Putney School

418 Houghton Brook Road
Putney, VT 05346
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The Putney School Photo #1
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The Putney School Photo #1
The Putney School Photo #2 - The Putney School is located on a working dairy farm. We value the dignity and relevance of physical work, which shows through our Work Program. Students carry out daily chores, collaborate in teams, learn skills, and sometimes lead crews various areas: Barn, Kitchen, Land-Use, Dining & Maintenance.
The Putney School Photo #3 - We are not a "prep" school. While many of our students head off to the top colleges in the country, their experiences at Putney are about engaging material, expanding interests, and gaining tools, not "preparing" to be somewhere else.
The Putney School Photo #4 - Art is a part of every student's daily life. We take the arts seriously while supporting a spirit of discovery. We offer 20 art forms, including blacksmithing, ceramics, chorus, creative writing, dance, drama, fiber arts, jazz, jewelry, orchestra, Latin dance, photography, sculpture, stained glass & woodworking.
The Putney School Photo #5 - The community at Putney is warm, open, mutually respectful and rousing. We come together as a whole school three times per week. Every Thursday is All School Sing (pictured here), a tradition dating back to Putney's founding in the 30's, which spans a fun and eclectic assortment of styles from early American folk music to sea chanteys to Korean traditional
The Putney School Photo #6 - Putney is a co-educational boarding and day school for Grades 9-12 founded in 1935 by Carmelita Hinton. We are a progressive school, in that we value the idea that education is something to be actively pursued rather than passively received. Our commitment to Ms. Hinton's fundamental beliefs have have put Putney at the leading edge of education in America.
The Putney School Photo #7
The Putney School Photo #8
The Putney School Photo #9
The Putney School is an independent day and boarding high school on a working dairy farm in Putney, Vt.
Founded in 1935, we are at the forefront of the progressive school movement, believing students learn best by doing.
Through experiential and project-based learning, a unique work program, robust arts offerings and plentiful clubs, sports and extracurricular activities, students are encouraged to think for themselves, invent, design, experiment, compose, write, build and chase down new ideas.
With a mission to create active, critical thinkers and members of a democratic society, Putney`s goal is not to merely convey information but to engage students in the learning process so they become makers of their own education.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Grades: (Boarding) 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 232 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $74,500
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $45,500
  • Acceptance rate: 60%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

The Putney School ranks among the top 10 schools with 200-400 students (out of 99 schools) for:

Category
Attribute
Student Attention

School Overview

Definition of Terms | 2023 School Data
The Putney School
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12, PG
8-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Supports Learning Differences (LD)
Yes
Dual Language Immersion Program
Yes
Secondary Immersion Language
Spanish
n/a
Religious Affiliation
Non-denominational
Year Founded
1935
1907
Campus Size
500 acres
130 acres

Student Body

Enrollment
232 students
310 students
% Students of Color
13%
25%
% International Students
17%
20%
% Students Boarding
81%
67%
Average SAT Score
1240
* National Avg. »View
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No

Academics and Faculty

Saturday Classes
Yes
No
Frequency of Saturday Classes
Weekly
Weekly
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Average Class Size
12 students
12
* National Avg. »18
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
ESL Courses Offered
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
70%
71%
Summer Program Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details

Tuition Cost

Endowment Size
$28.1 million
$25 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
$74,500
$64,000
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
$45,500
$35,000
Summer Program Cost
$8,750
(Cost is for applications received before January 15)
% Students on Financial Aid
40%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$23,000
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No

Acceptance Rate

Application Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Jan. 15
Acceptance Rate
60%
60%
Director of Admissions
John Barrengos, Ed. D.

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations
8
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Literary, Yearbook

Arts and Music Programs:
Chamber, International Theater Company, Pocket Players

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding, Horseback Riding, Kundalini Yoga

College Matriculation

Year: 2007 - 2011
10 Most Popular College Choices  (# Enrolled)
Smith College
11
Bard College
6
Barnard College
6
University of Vermont
6
Marlboro College
5
Sarah Lawrence College
5
Carnegie Mellon University
4
Dartmouth College
4
Mount Holyoke College
4
Rhode Island School of Design
4

School Notes

  • We are a progressive school, in that we value the idea that education is something to be actively pursued rather than passively received. When students learn by doing rather than being told, they develop confidence, deeper understanding, and resolve. Our continued commitment to Ms. Hinton's fundamental beliefs, and our deliberate choices for our community and curriculum have put Putney at the leading edge of education in America.
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • Ted Osius - U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam
    • Wally Shawn - Writer, actor, director
    • Jonathan Schell - Author, The Fate of the Earth
    • Errol Morris - Documentary filmmaker
    • Kerry Kennedy Cuomo - Director Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Hum. Rights
    • Tea Leoni - Actress
    • Tim Weiner - Pulitzer Prize winning journalist
    • Tim Daly - Film, television, and theater actor
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Putney School cost?
The Putney School's tuition is approximately $74,500 for boarding students and $45,500 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of The Putney School?
The acceptance rate of The Putney School is 60%, which is equal to the boarding school average of 60%.
Who are famous alumni from The Putney School?
The Putney School famous alumni include: Ted Osius, Wally Shawn, Jonathan Schell, Errol Morris, Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, Tea Leoni, Tim Weiner and Tim Daly.
What sports does The Putney School offer?
The Putney School offers 19 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Ballet, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Dance, Equestrian, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Nordic Skiing, Rock Climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball.
Does The Putney School offer a summer program?
Yes, The Putney School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What is The Putney School's ranking?
The Putney School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Low student:teacher ratio.
When is the application deadline for The Putney School?
The application deadline for The Putney School is Jan. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review
Description

Class of 2016
5.00
Earlham College
Putney is a vibrant community where teachers and students are actual friends. It’s conducive to personal growth and a place where I and other students found our passions. Everyone is excited and working on something. . .

Class of 2011
5.00
Colgate University
The unique thing about Putney is that there is a fully working dairy farm on campus. There is a big work program than instills work ethic and responsibility in the students and this includes working. . .

Class of 1987
5.00
American University of Rome
Unique is a term that is often used to describe Putney. As it is located on a gorgeous working dairy farm with sustainable gardens, all students learn agricultural skills on top of advanced academics, sports. . .
Show more reviews (11 reviews)
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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Grades: (Boarding) 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 232 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $74,500
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $45,500
  • Acceptance rate: 60%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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