The Williston Northampton School

5.00 5 1 (17 reviews)
Tel: (413) 529-3241
19 Payson Avenue
Easthampton, MA 01027
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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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Alumni Reviews
  Review School

  • Review Description

  • Class of 2016
    5 Stars   12/29/2016
    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. . .

  • Class of 2015
    5 Stars   12/3/2016
    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. . .

  • Class of 2011
    5 Stars   8/7/2012
    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. . .

  • Class of 2010
    5 Stars   9/20/2010
    College of the Holy Cross
     Life at Williston is similar to that of many other prestigious prep-schools; beautiful campus, hard-working and reliable teachers, an amazing art program and athletic facilities. but, what really sets Williston apart in my opinion is. . .

  • Class of 2010
    5 Stars   9/20/2010
    Connecticut College
     Williston does an excellent job at recognizing and supporting individuals in the community. Students and faculty who excel in the classroom are rewarded by publicly by having their accomplishments acknowledged as well as students. . .
  • Show more reviews (12 reviews)
Definition of Terms 
2017 School Data
The WillistonBoarding School Avg.
School FocusCollege PrepCollege Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)9-12, PG7-12
Grades Offered (Day)7-12, PG5-12
School TypeCo-edCo-ed
Religious AffiliationNon-denominationalNon-denominational
Year Founded18411910
Campus Size125 acres110 acres

Student Body

Enrollment440 students300 students
% Students of Color
18%
20%
% International Students
20%
20%
% Students Boarding
66%
68%
Average SAT Score1790* National Avg. »View
Average ACT score26*National Avg. » View
Offers Post-Grad YearYesNo

Academics and Faculty

Saturday ClassesYesNo
Frequency of Saturday ClassesBi-WeeklyWeekly
Classroom Dress CodeCasualCasual
Average Class Size13 students12
*National School Avg. » 20
Teacher : Student Ratio1:71:7
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered2317
ESL Courses OfferedYesYes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
75%
70%
Summer Program OfferedNoYes

Finances

Endowment Size$44 million$17 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)		$50,800$53,300
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)		$34,800$28,560
% Students on Financial Aid
46%
37%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant25250$22,700
Merit Scholarships OfferedYesNo

Admission

Application DeadlineJan. 15 / rollingJan. 15
Accepts Standardized ApplicationYesNo
SSAT RequiredYesYes
Average Percentile SSAT61%-
Acceptance Rate
33%
55%
Director of AdmissionsChristopher J. Dietrich

AP / Advanced Courses

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered2317
CoursesAP 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 Offered2114
SportsAlpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Diving, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations3523
ExtracurricularsClub or Organization:
Academic Team, Arete (Senior Tutors), Asian Club, Blood Drive, Campus Activities Board, Community Life, Community Service Club, Cum Laude, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), Gold Key Club, Green Team, Janus (Literary Magazine), Math Club, Model United Nations, Mountaineering, Peer Educators, Robotics Club, Science Olympiad, Spanish Club, Spiritual Life, Student Alumni Association, Student Diversity Committee, T.R.I.B.E. (Trust, Respect, Individuality, Belief, Equality), The Log (Yearbook), Ultimate Frisbee, Willistonian (Student Newspaper)

Arts and Music Programs:
Concert Club, Dance Club, Film Club, Jazz Club, Teller Chorus, Williston Theatre Ensemble, Wind Ensemble

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Horseback Riding, Judo

College Matriculation

Year: 2011 - 201410 Most Popular College Choices  (# Enrolled)
New York University, Trinity College20
Hobart College, University of Massachusetts16
Connecticut College, Union College14
Northeastern University13
Colby College, Bentley University, Ithaca College11
University of Vermont10
Cornell, Skidmore, Babson, USC8
Williams, Middlebury, Wesleyan, Fordham6
Brown, University of Pennsylvania, Tufts, Carnegie Mellon5
Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Hamilton3

School Notes

  • 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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Quick Stats
  • Grades: (Boarding) 9-12, PG
  • Students: 440 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $50,800
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $34,800
  • Acceptance rate: 33%
  • Average class size: 13 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
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