Wayland Academy

101 North University
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Wayland Academy is proud of its Midwestern roots and heritage, proud of our pleasant and safe campus, proud of our talented and dedicated faculty, and proud of our diverse and exciting student body.
The Academy's stand-out features are our Writing Initiative; excellent, personalized college-counseling; very diverse student body; and Opportunties for students to do the activities they enjoy, as well as new ones to try.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Grades: (Boarding) 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 184 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $66,250
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $23,950
  • Acceptance rate: 21%
  • Average class size: 10 students
  • Application Deadline: Feb. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Wayland Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 285 schools) for:

Category
Attribute
Student Test Scores
Student Test Scores

School Overview

Definition of Terms | 2023 School Data
Wayland Academy
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12, PG
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Religious Affiliation
Non-denominational
Year Founded
1855
1906
Campus Size
55 acres
126 acres

Student Body

Enrollment
184 students
319 students
% Students of Color
40%
25%
% International Students
25%
20%
% Students Boarding
82%
68%
Average SAT Score
1310
(Out of 1600)
* National Avg. »View
Average ACT score
32
(Out of 36)
*National Avg. »View
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No

Academics and Faculty

Saturday Classes
No
No
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Average Class Size
10 students
12
* National Avg. »18
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
26
18
ESL Courses Offered
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
80%
71%
Summer Program Offered
Yes

Tuition Cost

Endowment Size
$28.1 million
$27 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
$66,250
$64,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
$23,950
$35,900
Tuition international students
$66,250
$57,300
% Students on Financial Aid
50%
40%
Merit Scholarships Offered
No

Acceptance Rate

Application Deadline
Feb. 15 / rolling
Jan. 15
Average Percentile SSAT
75%
-
Acceptance Rate
21%
60%
Director of Admissions
Joshua Labove, Ph.D.

AP / Advanced Courses

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
26
18
Courses
AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Sciences, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition, AP European History, AP German, AP Latin, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Physics "c", AP Spanish, AP Statistics, AP US Government, AP US History

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations
19
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Animal Lovers, Bowling & Billiards, Ecology Club, Forensics Club, Junior Classical League, Model UN, PEACE - Diversity Celebration, Ping Pong Club, Robotics Team, Student Government, Thespian Society

Arts and Music Programs:
Dramatics, Handbell, Literary Magazine, Pep Band, Solo & Ensemble

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Backpacking Club, Club Hockey, Rock Wall

College Matriculation

Year: 2009 - 2011
10 Most Popular College Choices  (# Enrolled)
University of Wisconsin - Madison
12
University of Minnesota
6
St. Olaf College
5
Northwestern University
4
Boston University
3
Lake Forest College
3
Ripon College
2
Univ. of Wisconsin-Platteville
2
Wellesley College
2
Grinnell College
1

School Notes

  • Writing Initiative; as cross-curricular as possible.
  • Model U.N.
  • Forensics (Conference Champions!)
  • Sixty-five acre campus located in a nice and safe community that offers an extraordinary amount of resources that enhances a student's experience. 
  • A student body from "down the street, across the country, and around the world."
  • 100% college/university students are accepted into a college of their choice.
  • A STEAM program that offers multiple lab spaces. 
  • An observatory located in the science department. 
  • Wayland Academy accreditations: Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS) and the North Central Association (NCA)
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • George E. Taylor - 1879. First African-American to run for the office of President of the United States.
    • Zona Gale - 1891. First woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1921), for "Miss Lola Bett."
    • Addie Joss - 1898. Pitcher; Cleveland Naps (AL); Baseball Hall of Fame.
    • Ned Merriam - 1905. Competed at the 1908 London Olympics (400 Meters); coached track & field at: Iowa State, Texas A&M, DePauw, Yale, and U. of Chicago. Football & Track athlete at Chicago (coached by Amos Alonzo Stagg).
    • Raymond Patterson - 1940. President/G.M., Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks (NBA), and Wayland Academy.
    • Susan Peterson - 1963. First female TV correspondent assigned to the White House; Communications Consultant.
    • Rick Fliehr - 1968. Professional wrestler (as Rick "Nature Boy" Flair).
    • Mikki Hebl, PhD - 1987. Professor, Rice University; Motivational Speaker.
    • Uzma Samadani, MD, PhD - 1988. Neurosurgeon, researcher, Manhattan Veterans' Hospital
    • Kira Salak - 1989. Traveler, author, contributing editor to National Geographic
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Wayland Academy cost?
Wayland Academy's tuition is approximately $66,250 for boarding students and $23,950 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of Wayland Academy?
The acceptance rate of Wayland Academy is 21%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 60%. Wayland Academy's acceptance rate is ranked as one of the top boarding schools with low acceptance rates.
Who are famous alumni from Wayland Academy?
Wayland Academy famous alumni include: George E. Taylor, Zona Gale, Addie Joss, Ned Merriam, Raymond Patterson, Susan Peterson, Rick Fliehr, Mikki Hebl, PhD, Uzma Samadani, MD, PhD and Kira Salak.
What sports does Wayland Academy offer?
Wayland Academy offers 19 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Climbing, Crew, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Volleyball and Wrestling.
What is Wayland Academy's ranking?
Wayland Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Low acceptance rates, High # of AP/advanced courses offered, High SSAT scores and High ACT scores.
When is the application deadline for Wayland Academy?
The application deadline for Wayland Academy is Feb. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Feb. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review
Description

Class of 2018
5.00
Hiram College
I liked Wayland Academy because there are many students from different backgrounds. At school I was able to create friendships with my classmates from South Korea, Japan, China, and 28 more countries. They introduced me. . .

Class of 2010
5.00
Creighton University
Wayland is a college-prep boarding school in the Midwest. That is not seen very often. Wisconsin only has 2 other boarding schools, and one being a Christian School, the other being a military school. That. . .

Class of 2009
5.00
Stanford University
The school encompasses many of the qualities associated with the midwest. If you go to a restaurant nearby or order delivery on a semiweekly basis, the business will know you by name. The. . .
Show more reviews (1 review)
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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Grades: (Boarding) 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 184 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $66,250
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $23,950
  • Acceptance rate: 21%
  • Average class size: 10 students
  • Application Deadline: Feb. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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