North Country School (2026 Profile)

4382 Cascade Road
Lake Placid, NY 12946

Tel: (518) 523-9329

northcountryschool.org

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North Country School Photo #1 - North Country School's 220-acre campus is located in the Adirondack Mountains near Lake Placid, New York, a popular resort town and the site of two Winter Olympic Games. Many of our buildings use solar energy and biomass heating to help reduce the school's carbon footprint and to teach and model responsible and sustainable living practices.

North Country School Photo #2 - North Country School offers students an opportunity to be outside every day. On-campus activities include soccer, skiing, horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking and basketball, among others.

North Country School Photo #3 - North Country School students come from diverse backgrounds, cultures and countries - and they are known well by the dedicated, multi-talented adults who teach, live with and care for them.

North Country School Photo #4 - Through a variety or teaching methods, hands-on projects, and innovative uses of technology, North Country School students acquire critical academic skills in the humanities, math, sciences and the arts. NCS has high expectations for students, and the school also recognizes that all children learn differently. Each child is challenged according to their ability.

North Country School Photo #5 - While remaining intentionally low-tech outside of the classroom, NCS still offers students the chance to take STEM courses, including robotics, coding and 3-D design.

North Country School Photo #6 - Extracurricular activities at North Country School take full advantage of our mountain setting, offering students wide-ranging opportunities to try new activities, acquire new skills, and gain confidence. Hiking, backpacking and camping outings are common throughout the year. Our on-campus ski hill allows students daily opportunities for skiing and snowboarding, while students also enjoy weekly trips to Olympic ski resort Whiteface.

North Country School Photo #7 - North Country School's annual spring theatre production involves the entire school and highlights student actors and sophisticated theatre technology. Students may choose to be actors, set designers, musicians, or members of the stage crew. NCS provides students with many avenues for creative expression that promote a life-long love of the arts.

North Country School Photo #8 - North Country School's horseback riding program includes 10 horses, two riding rings, and miles of mountain trails. NCS operates a working farm and extensive vegetable gardens that teach students lessons about responsibility and community.

North Country School Photo #9 - North Country School students live with a roommate in small houses of 8-10 children. The house becomes the place for much of a student's learning and growth. Wednesdays are "home nights" when each house prepares and eats dinner together and enjoys house games and activities.

North Country School Photo #10 - We invite you to visit our campus and see first-hand what the NCS experience is like!

North Country School (NCS) is a progressive boarding and day school in Upstate New York. Serving grades 4-9, NCS offers a project- and place-based program that develops students' intellect and creativity. The curriculum is built upon the 220-acre campus' natural assets, which include a working farm, extensive organic gardens, a private lake, a rock climbing ledge, an alpine ski hill, and extensive cross-country trails. The NCS experience integrates classroom academics, hands-on learning in the farm and gardens, extensive studio and performing arts, and family-style residential life. NCS students come from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and countries, and graduates attend competitive independent schools.

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: 4-9
Enrollment: 88 students
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $79,500
Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $27,000
Acceptance rate: 65%
Average class size: 9 students
Application Deadline: Dec. 15 / Jan. 15 / rolling
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

North Country School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 307 schools) for:

School Overview

| 2025 School Data

North Country School

School Focus

Junior Boarding School

Grades Offered

4-9

School Type

Co-ed

ADD/ADHD Support

Yes

Supports Learning Differences (LD)

Yes

Religious Affiliation

Non-denominational

Year Founded

1938

Campus Size

220 acres

School Calendar

View School Calendar

School Motto

Art every day

Student Body

Enrollment

88 students

% Students of Color

33%

% International Students

26%

% Students Boarding

66%

Academic Profile

Saturday Classes

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Average Class Size

9 students

Student-Teacher Ratio

3:1

ESL Courses Offered

Yes

% Faculty with Advanced Degree

17%

Summer Program Offered

Yes

Summer Program Details

View Summer Program Details

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

n/a

Courses

Tuition & Financial Aid

Endowment Size

$16 million

Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)

$79,500
(Tuition includes all activities, meals, and services such as laundry. Extra costs include transportation to and from campus, specialized learning skills, and optional ski/snowboard rental)

Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)

$27,000
(Tuition includes all weekend activities, skiing, music lessons, technology fees, meals and snacks etc.)

Tuition international students

$84,500

Yearly Tuition
(5 Day Boarding)

$59,500

Summer Program Cost

$11,900
(There is a 7-week session that costs $11900 and a 4-week session that costs $8850. Financial aid is available.)

% Students on Financial Aid

35%

Avg. Financial Aid Grant

$32,000

Merit Scholarships Offered

n/a

Admissions

Application Deadline

Dec. 15 / Jan. 15 / rolling

Accepts Standardized Application (SAO and/or Gateway)

Yes

Acceptance Rate

65%

Director of Admissions

Bill Newman

Associate Director of Admissions

Catherine Bemis

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered

Sports

Alpine SkiingBasketball

ClimbingCross Country

Drill TeamEquestrian

Freestyle SkiingMountain Biking

MountaineeringNordic Skiing

Rock ClimbingSnowboarding

SoccerTrack and Field

Ultimate Frisbee

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations

Extracurriculars

Arts and Music Programs:

Art ClubCeramics Club

ChorusFiber Arts

Rock BandStudio Art

TheaterTheatre Arts

Theatre Tech

Recreational Athletic Programs:

Alpine Skiing & SnowboardingBasketball Club

Camping ClubHiking Club

Music Theatre ClubRock Climbing

Snowboarding

College Matriculation

10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)

Westtown School

Northwood School

The Putney School

Dublin School

Gould Academy

Buxton School

Holderness School

The Darrow School

Cate School

The Lawrenceville School

View Matriculation Data

School Notes

ACADEMICS: Our traditional core curriculum, enriched by hands-on projects and activities, focuses on the acquisition of solid academic skills. Small classes allow for attention and instruction that challenge and support each child as an individual. Children learn by doing, and they grow by exploring new things, all with the guidance of caring, creative adults. In our academic program, the emphasis on experiential learning is evident in hands-on projects and lessons that focus on our location. In North Country School classes, math students learn about measurement and acquire new computer skills when they record and track the weights of newborn lambs in the barnyard. Science students learn the physical properties of snow pack during a winter term unit on avalanches. In English class, students write persuasive letters to elected officials about current issues they have researched; they create hand-bound, hard-cover journals of their writing and artwork. In arts electives, students paint barn murals, renovate a rowboat in disrepair, or dye wool from our sheep to use in knitting and felting projects. To help students acquire the skills they need in all core academic disciplines, NCS teachers employ a mix of instructional strategies. From collaborative group work to lectures to hands-on labs and projects, students experience innovative teaching strategies on a daily basis. Learning support services are also available to meet students` needs. Finally, while remaining low-tech outside of the classroom, North Country School embraces the use of computer technology as a critical learning tool. Homework and other class projects are posted on Google Classroom, facilitating student-teacher communication. The computer lab is equipped with modern video and photo editing software. While NCS keeps current with technological advances, the school takes pride in a judicious use of technology in order to minimize students' unproductive computer time.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE - Students at NCS live with a roommate in one of six small houses of 8-10 children. A team of faculty houseparents works carefully to support and supervise each child. Sharing living spaces and the daily routines of morning wake-up, evening study hall, and bedtime creates strong relationships among the children and adults in the house. The house becomes the place for much of each student's learning and growth. "Home nights" every Wednesday - when each house prepares and eats dinner together and enjoys special activities - help students feel a sense of family and a "home away from home."
ARTS: "Art every day" are words we live by at North Country School. For a school our size, we have an unusually large group of arts teachers (more than one-third of the faculty teaches an arts class) and an impressive array of course listings. All students have the equivalent of at least one art class every day, with younger students rotating through core classes in music, theatre, painting and drawing, ceramics, fiber arts, photography, and woodshop. 7th-9th graders choose from electives that provide opportunities for advanced mastery of core arts, as well as exposure to new offerings. Students of all ages have opportunities to submit their work to juried art shows sponsored by local arts organizations.
FARM & GARDEN: Our students all contribute to the community with daily chores, helping care for the animals on our farm and planting, weeding and harvesting food from our gardens. As a founding member of the Edible Schoolyard program, we have long valued incorporating education around food, cooking, and sustainability into our programming. Our horseback riding program allows all students to learn to ride and allows experienced riders to progress to more advanced skills such as jumping.
OUTDOORS & ATHLETICS: Taking full advance of our spectacular mountain setting, the Outdoor Program offerings range from a walk in the woods to ambitious multi-day hiking and backpacking trips. We offer team sports such as soccer, basketball, cross-country skiing and ultimate frisbee, as well as an equestrian program with ten horses, two riding rings and miles of mountain trails. In the winter months we have extensive snow sport offerings, including skiing and snowboarding on our own ski hill and at Whiteface Mountain, Nordic skiing, skating, and ice climbing. The outdoor program encourages students to take risks, acquire new skills, and gain confidence. All gear, except for personal clothing, is provided so that all children have the opportunity to participate in all offerings.
Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Eileen Rockefeller Growald - Author and philanthropist
- Richard Rockefeller - Physician and philanthropist
- Robel Teklemariam - Olympian (cross-country skiing)
- David Loud - Musician and conductor
- Matt Salinger - Actor, son of author JD Salinger
- David Sloan Wilson - Evolutionary biologist
- Yasmin Aga Khan - Philanthropist
- Adam Guettel - Composer and lyricist; Tony award winner
- Jessica Tuck - Actress
- Guillaume de Ramel - Philanthropist

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does North Country School cost?

North Country School's tuition is approximately $79,500 for boarding students and $27,000 for day students.

What is the acceptance rate of North Country School?

The acceptance rate of North Country School is 65%, which is higher than the boarding school average of 58%.

Who are famous alumni from North Country School?

North Country School famous alumni include: Eileen Rockefeller Growald, Richard Rockefeller, Robel Teklemariam, David Loud, Matt Salinger, David Sloan Wilson, Yasmin Aga Khan, Adam Guettel, Jessica Tuck and Guillaume de Ramel.

What sports does North Country School offer?

North Country School offers 15 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Drill Team, Equestrian, Freestyle Skiing, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Nordic Skiing, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Track and Field and Ultimate Frisbee.

Does North Country School offer a summer program?

Yes, North Country School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.

What is North Country School's ranking?

North Country School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Small average class sizes and Low student-teacher ratio.

When is the application deadline for North Country School?

The application deadline for North Country School is Dec. 15 / Jan. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Dec. 15 / Jan. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

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