The Williston Northampton School

5.00 (17 reviews)

Tel: (413) 529-3241

19 Payson Avenue
Easthampton, MA 01027

www.williston.com

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The Williston Northampton School Photo #1 - Williston promises an academic culture that respects your ability to think for yourself and gives you the right balance of structure and freedom to make the most of it. You'll be immersed in a challenging curriculum that cultivates active, lifelong learning. And with an average class size of 13 students, your teachers are truly going to know you.

The Williston Northampton School Photo #2 - Founded in 1841, Williston is a student-centered, coeducational institution with an Upper School of boarding and day students from 25 states and 27 countries. Williston is a school shaped by its location in the Pioneer Valley, a remarkable area of education, culture, history, and nature in Western Massachusetts.

The Williston Northampton School Photo #3 - Williston offers 145 courses in the humanities, sciences, and arts, including 37 Advanced Placement and honors courses. The Williston Scholars Program includes a faculty-directed independent study project. These two-trimester classes are small and dive deeply into subject matter. Students work with Five College professors and utilize other resources and professionals in the Pioneer Valley.

The Williston Northampton School Photo #4 - Students use a hybrid tablet device as part of Williston's Curricular Technology Initiative (CTI). The CTI is designed to bring consistent technology to campus so that students can quickly and easily access the digital tools they need to succeed, and in the process, not just keep up with the latest innovations but use them in their education.

The Williston Northampton School Photo #5 - Williston's college search process is highly personalized. Beginning in the junior year, students work individually with counselors to foster independent thinking so that each student can effectively determine which colleges are uniquely suited to him or her. The Class of 2014 was admitted to over 500 colleges and universities, including Brown, Connecticut College, Cornell, Harvard, Trinity, Union, Wesleyan, and Yale.

The Williston Northampton School Photo #6 - Williston offers an academic arts program with faculty who are practicing musicians, actors, and visual artists.The Reed Campus Center houses six painting and drawing studios, a dance studio, music classrooms, a gallery, and five sound-proofed practice rooms. The Williston Theater seats 288 people and offers a thrust stage, fly system, computerized lighting and sound system, and a scene shop.

The Williston Northampton School Photo #7 - Williston fields 67 interscholastic teams at the varsity, junior varsity, and beginner levels in 35 sports to give students a full range of opportunities to play. Athletics is an integral part of our education and community. Williston has always taken pride in its ability to be both highly competitive and inclusive, and the Wildcats have an impressive record of success.

The Williston Northampton School Photo #8 - Williston's athletic facilities include two basketball courts, four squash courts, wrestling room, fitness center, six-lane pool with diving well, two synthetic turf fields, eight-lane all-weather track, 12-court tennis complex, two softball fields, two baseball fields, seven playing fields, 3.1 mile cross country course, and ice rink.

The Williston Northampton School Photo #9 - Williston has 10 dorms, five for girls and five for boys. Freshmen live in separate ninth grade dorms but all other dorms are mixed grades. The school's Ninth Grade Program provides extra support to students as they make the important transition to high school. C.O.R.E. (Curiosity, Organization, Reflection, and Empathy) is the ninth grade theme and the program's foundation.

The Williston Northampton School Photo #10 - Williston is a community that's diverse, inclusive, and fun. Events such as the Holiday Banquet, Williston Film Festival, and Willy Gras, give you the opportunity to develop leadership and organizational abilities. Joining or starting clubs, serving as class officers or dorm proctors, managing sports teams, leading campus tours, and organizing community service projects are great ways to be involved.

Williston is an exceptionally well-balanced educational community in the Five College-Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire & UMASS-area of Western Massachusetts. Our academic program will provide you every opportunity to challenge yourself, develop new interests and encounter traditional subject matter taught in innovative ways. The school integrates a core college preparatory curriculum with exciting electives and a unique relationship with the Five Colleges while all classes emphasize mastery of language, clarity of thought and academic integrity.

Quick Stats (2022)

Grades: (Boarding) 9-12, PG
Students: 400 students
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $64,000
Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $43,600
Acceptance rate: 33%
Average class size: 13 students
Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review

Description

The Williston Northampton School Alumni #1
Class of 2016
5.0012/29/2016
Elon University

Williston has a great balance of day students and boarding students, which allow students to know and learn more about the area. With a widespread campus in a safe neighborhood and numerous stores and restaurants. . .

The Williston Northampton School Alumni #2
Class of 2015
5.0012/3/2016
University of Maine

Williston was the best community I could've ever established an identity with. My parents teach at the school, so we actually had a house on the campus. I developed close relationships with not only. . .

The Williston Northampton School Alumni #3
Class of 2011
5.008/7/2012
Harvard University

At a first glance, The Williston Northampton School appears similar to most college preparatory schools. It contains a beautiful New England campus, wonderful and caring teachers, and great athletic and artistic facilities. However, as many. . .

Show more reviews (14 reviews)

Top Rankings

The Williston Northampton School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 309 schools) for:

School Overview

Definition of Terms | 2021 School Data

The Williston Northampton School

Boarding School Avg.

School Focus

College Preparatory

Grades Offered (Boarding)

9-12, PG

9-12

Grades Offered (Day)

7-12, PG

9-12

School Type

Co-ed

Religious Affiliation

Non-denominational

Year Founded

1841

1907

Campus Size

125 acres

Student Body

Enrollment

400 students

300 students

% Students of Color

18%

25%

% International Students

24%

20%

% Students Boarding

70%

Average SAT Score

1360

* National Avg. »View

Average ACT score

*National Avg. »View

Offers Post-Grad Year

Yes

Academics and Faculty

Saturday Classes

Yes

Frequency of Saturday Classes

Bi-Weekly

Weekly

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Average Class Size

13 students

* National Avg. »18

Student : Teacher Ratio

7:1

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

ESL Courses Offered

Yes

% Faculty with Advanced Degree

75%

70%

Summer Program Offered

Yes

Tuition Cost

Endowment Size

$44 million

$25 million

Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)

$64,000

$59,900

Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)

$43,600

$33,250

% Students on Financial Aid

46%

40%

Avg. Financial Aid Grant

$25,250

$25,000

Merit Scholarships Offered

Yes

Acceptance Rate

Application Deadline

Jan. 15 / rolling

Jan. 15

Accepts Standardized Application

Yes

SSAT Required

Yes

Average Percentile SSAT

63%

Acceptance Rate

33%

58%

Director of Admissions

Christopher J. Dietrich

AP / Advanced Courses

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

Courses

AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP Comparative Government & Politics, AP Computer Science, AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP Environmental Science, AP European History, AP French Language, AP Latin: Vergil, AP Microeconomics, AP Music Theory, AP Physics, AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language, AP Statistics, AP United States History, AP US Government & Politics, BC & Multivariable Calculus

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations

Extracurriculars

Club or Organization:
Blue and White Society (school spirit), Blue Notes (male a capella), Filipino Culture Club, Jane Austen Club, Maiyeros (boys a capella), Math Tutoring Society, Milagros (gospel choir), Mitchell Cabinet (Service Club), Model UN, Philanthropy Society, Photography Club, 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 (Student Newspaper), Theater, Westtown Competitive Gaming Club, Willistonian (Student Newspaper)

Arts and Music Programs:
Chinese Chess Club, Make-a-Wish, Muslim Students Association, Native American Club, Peer Educators (healthy decisions), Philanthropy Club, Principles of Coaching

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Maiyeros - male a cappella, The Press - campus sports news

College Matriculation

Year: 2014 - 2018

10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)

New York University, Trinity College

Hobart College, University of Massachusetts

Connecticut College, Union College

Northeastern University

Colby College, Bentley University, Ithaca College

University of Vermont

Cornell, Skidmore, Babson, USC

Williams, Middlebury, Wesleyan, Fordham

Brown, University of Pennsylvania, Tufts, Carnegie Mellon

Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Hamilton

Link to Matriculation Data

School Notes

The Williston Northampton School accreditations: NEASC, TABS, NAIS
Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Steve Porter ’97 - PorterHouse Media produces ESPN video mashups
- G.P. Gromacki ’89 - Led Amherst College women's basketball team to the NCAA Division III championship, named Coach of the Year by D3hoops.com.
- William S. Clark - UMass/Amherst President
- Winthrop Crane - 40th Governor of Massachusetts, U.S. Senator
- Brad Hall ’75 - Actor, producer, writer. Saturday Night Live Weekend Update anchor
- Patrick Rissmiller - Professional hockey player, NHL NY Rangers forward
- George Crockett Strong, Class of 1851 - U.S. Civil War General
- Robert Samuelson ’63 - Economic columnist and journalist, editor for Newsweek and the Washington Post, author
- George Stanley Hall - Psychologist, father of American Psychology
- Tony Lavelli ’45 - First overall NBA draft pick, accordionist for the Harlem Globetrotters

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