The Williston Northampton School

5.00 5 1 (17 reviews)
Tel: (413)529-3241
19 Payson Avenue
Easthampton, MA 01027
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The Williston Northampton School Photo #1 - 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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The Williston Northampton School Photo #1 - 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 #2 - 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 #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.

Alumni Reviews
  Review School

  • Review Description

  • Class of 2016
    5 Stars  
    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  
    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  
    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)
Definition of Terms 
2018 School Data
The WillistonBoarding School Avg.
School FocusCollege PrepCollege Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)9-12, PG9-12
Grades Offered (Day)7-12, PG7-12
School TypeCo-edCo-ed
Religious AffiliationNon-denominationalNon-denominational
Year Founded18411910
Campus Size125 acres105 acres

Student Body

Enrollment440 students313 students
% Students of Color
18%
22%
% International Students
20%
20%
% Students Boarding
66%
67%
Average SAT Score1280* 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$20 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)		$50,800$54,950
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)		$34,800$30,250
% Students on Financial Aid
46%
37%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant$25,250$25,000
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 Offered2115
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 Organizations3524
ExtracurricularsClub or Organization:
Adlibbers-Acting Group, BAHSA(Black and Hispanic Student Alliance), 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: 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

  • 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
Show me:
  • School Location Miles Grades Students
  • Northfield Mount Hermon
    Northfield Mount Hermon Photo - NMH is a coed boarding school serving 650 students in grades 9-12. We also offer a postgraduate year. Our wooded campus borders the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts, and in this beautiful setting, we challenge young people to think hard, work hard, discover new talents, and hone the ones they already possess.
    (13)
    Grades: 9-12, PG | 655 students 29.6 milesOne Lamplighter Way
    Mount Hermon, MA 01354
    (413)498-3227    29.69-12, PG655
  • Berkshire School
    Berkshire School Photo - Founded in 1907, Berkshire is a co-ed boarding and day school for grades 9-12 & PG. Advanced Math/ScienceResearch, Advanced Humanities Research, Sabin Entrepreneurial Prize, a range of arts offerings, and championship athletics on a stunning 400-acre campus in the Berkshires.
    (12)
    Grades: 9-12, PG | 408 students 39.4 miles245 North Undermountain Road
    Sheffield, MA 01257
    (413)229-1003    39.49-12, PG408
  • Deerfield Academy
    Deerfield Academy Photo
    (9)
    Grades: 9-12, PG | 648 students 19.1 miles7 Boyden Lane
    Deerfield, MA 01342
    (413)774-1400    19.19-12, PG648
  • Cushing Academy
    Cushing Academy Photo - New all weather, lighted multi-purpose field
    (2)
    Grades: 9-12, PG | 400 students 46.2 miles39 School Street, P.O. Box 8000
    Ashburnham, MA 01430
    (978)827-7300    46.29-12, PG400
  • Phillips Academy Andover
    Phillips Academy Andover Photo - The quintessential New England campus is 21 miles to Boston by car or train, and a 10 minute walk to downtown Andover.
    (11)
    Grades: 9-12, PG | 1142 students 82.7 miles180 Main Street
    Andover, MA 01810
    (978)749-4050    82.79-12, PG1142
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Quick Stats (2018-19)
  • 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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