The White Mountain School

Be Curious. Be Brave. Be Kind. Be White Mountain. We are a school of inquiry and engagement. Grounded in our Episcopal heritage, we prepare and inspire students to lead lives of curiosity, courage, and compassion.
• History & Philosophy

Set among the beautiful mountains of northern New Hampshire, The White Mountain School is a college preparatory boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12. Since our founding in 1886, we have remained true to the original focus of New England boarding schools: the development of mind, body, and spirit.

• We develop the mind through our college preparatory curriculum and through a campus-wide ethos of inquiry and engagement in learning.
• We develop the body through sports and other physical activities, making full use of our spectacular natural setting.
• We develop the spirit through reflection, exploration of meaning and purpose, and service in the broader world.

In the context of a traditional liberal arts curriculum, we engage students in authentic inquiry asking and pursuing questions that matter to them. This inquiry process not only leads to enduring learning, it helps students develop the skills and habits essential for academic success. Our students learn how to frame a question, how to find and evaluate research resources, how to synthesize information, and how to formulate an argument. They develop habits of curiosity, collaboration, and persistence. In short, they become great learners.  

• Academics

 The White Mountain School has a traditional college preparatory curriculum. However, it is the intellectual engagement and development of the student that is our ultimate focus. Every class is an opportunity to practice the skills, virtues, and habits of mind necessary for success in the 21st century. Within each discipline, we offer a range of courses from introductory-level to Advanced Placement, Honors, or student-designed independent studies. Whether a class is labeled as history, science, world languages or visual arts, it serves to further The White Mountain School`s focus on curiosity, critical thinking, and communication.  

• Curiosity - We work to nurture our students` curiosity. We ask them to identify and examine phenomena that spark big questions. Our curriculum serves to guide and inspire students in discovering their passions.
• Critical Thinking - Because we encourage students to pose their own questions, we also teach them to identify and ask the right questions. We seek to instill an inquisitive spirit, one that challenges assumptions and dares always to ask the most important questions of all: "Why?" and "How do I know?"
• Communication - The ability to communicate well, to speak and write with clarity and grace, is and will remain a skill essential for success in schools, colleges, the workplace and the civic arena. Responsible and effective communication is practiced and honed in every discipline and subject area, whether through participation in discussions, essay writing or the creation and delivery of presentations.

 

• Afternoon Activities, Student Leadership Programs, and Work Jobs

 With the idea that "everyone plays", all students are required to participate in afternoon activities in each of the three seasons. Our extracurricular options are diverse and range from Community Service, Farm and Forest and theater to Lacrosse, Rock Climbing, and Cycling.  Student leadership positions include Proctors, Citizenship Committee members, Crew Supervisors, Steering Committee members, and Student Government Leaders. These roles are integral to the community and are elected yearly by peers and faculty members.  As a means to promote ownership and foster community, each student, faculty, and staff member at White Mountain contributes to the school by working as part of a kitchen crew and/or work job team.   

• Distinctive Programs
• LASR: Leadership, Arts, Service, and Research

 All students complete an independent project through our LASR program. These general categories demonstrate the range of projects that students choose to undertake. Through LASR students develop the skills needed for success in college and beyond. LASR projects are designed to add value to the world in some form; WMS students work to make a positive contribution to society. This program is our way of saying that passion matters, and that we know each and every student has a spark that we want to help kindle, a fire we want to help focus.    

• Field Courses

 Students at The White Mountain School enjoy the unique and exciting opportunity to participate in a week-long Field Course each semester. Each of these immersive experiences allows an in-depth, academic exploration of a specific topic and occurs in a geographic setting ideal for authentic study. These memorable excursions provide an incomparable means for students to explore and develop their passions beyond the walls of the classroom.  

• Sustainability Studies
  Founded in 2001, our Sustainability Studies Department is the first such department at the secondary school level in the United States. The Sustainability coursework helps students become informed, thoughtful and active stewards of the changing ecosystem. Students learn that ecology, economy, social equality, and personal well being are integral parts of sustainability. White Mountain integrates sustainable practices into daily life through community service, recycling and work job programs, our Sustainability Club, international development work, and our School`s organic farm and compost program.  
• The White Mountain School accreditations: NEASC,TABS,ISANNE,SSATB,NAIS,SBSA