Founded in 1893, Walnut Hill School for the Arts is located in Natick, Massachusetts, within the Boston metropolitan area.
As one of the premier boarding and day schools in the United States, the School provides an immersive and intensive learning environment for talented arts students in Grades 9-12 and in Postgraduate Studies.
With areas of focus in Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Art, and Writing, Film, and Media Arts, combined with a comprehensive academic curriculum, students from around the world are able to hone their crafts and engage in transformative experiences with professional artists and instructors from Boston Ballet, the New England Conservatory of Music, and other major arts institutions.
Walnut Hill alumni include many internationally recognized actors of stage and screen, Pulitzer Prize-winning writers, and musicians and dancers at a number of the world's top performing arts institutions and ensembles.
Quick Facts (2026)
- Grades: 9-12, PG
- Enrollment: 250 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $87,320
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $68,525
- Acceptance rate: 62%
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Walnut Hill School for the Arts ranks among the top 10 schools with 200-400 students (out of 97 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
School Overview
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1893
1907
Campus Size
40 acres
130 acres
First Day of School
Tue. Sep 1, 2026
Last Day of School
Fri. Jun 4, 2027
School Motto
Non Nobis Solum — Not for Ourselves Alone
Student Body
Enrollment
250 students
320 students
% Students of Color
30%
27%
% International Students
30%
20%
% Students Boarding
70%
66%
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No
Academic Profile
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student-Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
63%
73%
Summer Program Details
Accreditations
Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE)
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
n/a
18
Courses
Tuition & Financial Aid
Endowment Size
$19 million
$30 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$87,320
$69,500
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$68,525
$38,700
% Students on Financial Aid
42%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$40,000
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
n/a
No
Admissions
Application Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Jan. 15
Average Percentile SSAT
n/a%
-
Acceptance Rate
62%
64%
Director of Admissions
Anthony Gault
Sports
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
20
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Arts and Music Programs:
AgoniesAIDS Action Committee
Black and Hispanic Awareness (BHA)Environment Club
Foreign and American Student OrganizationGargoyle - yearbook
Gay Straight Alliance (GSA)Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA)
Gold Key ClubInternational Club
Students Against Destructive DecisionsStudents of Color Group
The Blue PencilYearbook
Arts and Music Programs:
Campus PlayersJunior Singing Group (JSG)
MischordsMixed Nuts
College Matriculation
School Notes
- Walnut Hill School for the Arts is an independent boarding and day high school offering an immersive and intensive educational experience designed for student artists in Grades 912, with a postgraduate gap year also available. We offer world-class training in Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Writing, Film & Media Arts (WFMA), complemented by an innovative college-prep academic curriculum. Located on a safe and classic New England campus, we are situated right outside the cultural hub of Boston.
- Every aspect of our program promotes our students' growth as bold artists, curious learners, and mindful citizens. Students from across the country and around the globe come together to form a dynamic community on our scenic campus in Natick, Massachusetts. Guided by master teachers and supported by peers from a variety of artistic backgrounds, Walnut Hill graduates are prepared to succeed in college, conservatory, and beyond.
- Walnut Hill was founded in 1893 by Wellesley College graduates Florence Bigelow and Charlotte Conant, and remained at the forefront of education for young women for more than 80 years. Even as a traditional private boarding school for girls, Walnut Hill's arts programs were strong. The School was home to acclaimed Fenway Studio artist and teacher Marion Pooke, Class of 1901, and Pulitzer Prizewinning author and Poet Laureate Elizabeth Bishop, Class of 1930. In the 1970s, in response to the changing landscape in education, Walnut Hill became a coeducational school for the arts and has been offering excellent artistic training and academic classroom experiences ever since.
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Zan Berube '16 - Broadway Actor (SIX, Back to the Future)
- Jimmy Fowlie '04 - Writer (Saturday Night Live)
- Keila Wakao '24 - Violinist, Avery Fisher Career Grant Recipient
- Nicholas Christopher '08 - Broadway Actor (Chess, Hamilton, Sweeney Todd)
- Andrew Stevens Purdy '16 - Broadway Actor (The Book of Mormon)
- Harley Chamandy '17 - Filmmaker (Winner of the Werner Herzog Film Award)
- Kee-Hyun Kim '01 - Cellist (Parker Quartet)
- HaeSun Paik '83 - Pianist (Co-Chair of Piano at New England Conservatory of Music)
- George Li '13 - Pianist
- Sydney Williams '21 - Dancer (Boston Ballet)
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Walnut Hill School for the Arts cost?
Walnut Hill School for the Arts's tuition is approximately $87,320 for boarding students and $68,525 for day students.
What schools are Walnut Hill School for the Arts often compared to?
Walnut Hill School for the Arts is often viewed alongside schools like Idyllwild Arts Academy by visitors of our site.
What is the acceptance rate of Walnut Hill School for the Arts?
The acceptance rate of Walnut Hill School for the Arts is 62%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 64%.
Who are famous alumni from Walnut Hill School for the Arts?
Walnut Hill School for the Arts famous alumni include: Zan Berube '16, Jimmy Fowlie '04, Keila Wakao '24, Nicholas Christopher '08, Andrew Stevens Purdy '16, Harley Chamandy '17, Kee-Hyun Kim '01, HaeSun Paik '83, George Li '13 and Sydney Williams '21.
What sports does Walnut Hill School for the Arts offer?
Walnut Hill School for the Arts offers 2 interscholastic sports: Ballet and Dance.
Does Walnut Hill School for the Arts offer a summer program?
Yes, Walnut Hill School for the Arts offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What is Walnut Hill School for the Arts's ranking?
Walnut Hill School for the Arts ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Low student-teacher ratio.
When is the application deadline for Walnut Hill School for the Arts?
The application deadline for Walnut Hill School for the Arts 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
The arts focus of Walnut Hill made it so the students were all artistically passionate, creative, and motivated. Also the classes were catered towards this kind of thinking, so it was engaging to take part. . .
As our school is an art school, it was unique that all academic classes end at 2pm and resuming art classes from then. . .
Walnut Hill School for the Arts Alumni #3
Class of 2005
5.0012/4/2016
University of Southern California
Class of 2005
5.0012/4/2016
University of Southern California
Walnut Hill is - as the name suggests - a school for the arts. This not only means that each student is immersed in both academic classes typical of any high school and also rigorous. . .
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Popular comparisons: Walnut Hill School for the Arts vs. Idyllwild Arts Academy
People that viewed Walnut Hill School for the Arts also viewed these schools: Idyllwild Arts Academy, Besant Hill School, Interlochen Arts Academy, Phillips Academy Andover and Deerfield Academy.
The nearest boarding school to Walnut Hill School for the Arts is Dana Hall School (2.9 miles away)
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