The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) (2026 Profile)

5.00 (8 reviews)

Tel: (978) 499-3120

1 Elm Street
Byfield, MA 01922

www.thegovernorsacademy.org

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The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Photo #1 - Beautiful Setting: A 456-acre campus with extensive facilities for academics, athletics, and visual and performing arts.

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Photo #2 - Rich History: Combining centuries of tradition with a dedication to educational innovation.

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Photo #3 - With True Courage: A fundraising campaign investing in our community's people, programs, and places.

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Photo #4 - Creative Exploration: The fine and performing arts foster creativity, resilience, critical thinking, and joy.

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Photo #5 - Building Character: The courage to try something is as respected as the ability to win.

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Photo #6 - Inclusive Community: Different personal experiences are the threads that define and connect us.

Bright, bold, and ambitious students have been learning and growing at The Governor`s Academy, the oldest boarding school in New England, for over 250 years.

Located in Byfield, Massachusetts, thirty-three miles north of Boston and five miles south of Newburyport, our expansive campus is bordered by the Parker River and the Great Marsh.

Govs is an open, optimistic learning community filled with life-changing opportunities.

Students in ninth through twelfth grade learn and grow at Govs in our classrooms, studios, theaters, fields, and courts.

Surrounded by friends and teachers, our students discover and develop their passions across academics, arts, and athletics, and achieve excellence.

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 408 students
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $79,600
Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $64,900
Acceptance rate: 23%
Average class size: 11 students
Application Deadline: Jan. 31
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 307 schools) for:

School Overview

| 2025 School Data

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)

Boarding School Avg.

School Focus

College Preparatory

Grades Offered

9-12

School Type

Co-ed

Religious Affiliation

Non-denominational

Year Founded

1763

1909

Campus Size

465 acres

125 acres

School Calendar

View School Calendar

School Motto

Non Sibi Sed Aliis

Student Body

Enrollment

408 students

300 students

% Students of Color

20%

25%

% International Students

15%

20%

% Students Boarding

60%

70%

Average ACT score

27
(Out of 36)

*National Avg. »View

Offers Post-Grad Year

Academic Profile

Saturday Classes

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Average Class Size

11 students

* National Avg. »18

Student-Teacher Ratio

5:1

7:1

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

ESL Courses Offered

Yes

% Faculty with Advanced Degree

78%

70%

Summer Program Offered

Yes

Accreditations

The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

Tuition & Financial Aid

Endowment Size

$89.275 million

$25 million

Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)

$79,600

$59,900

Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)

$64,900

$33,500

% Students on Financial Aid

27%

40%

Avg. Financial Aid Grant

$47,400

$25,000

Admissions

Application Deadline

Jan. 31

Jan. 15

Accepts Standardized Application (SAO and/or Gateway)

Yes

SSAT Required

Yes

Average Percentile SSAT

81%

Acceptance Rate

23%

58%

Director of Admissions

Mike Kinnealey

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered

Sports

Alpine SkiingBaseball

BasketballCross Country

Cross Country RunningDance

Track and FieldVolleyball

Winter TrackWrestling

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Colors

cardinal and white

School Mascot

The Governor

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations

Extracurriculars

Book ClubChamber Orchestra

ChapelChorus

Concert BandConcert Choir

Creative Writing ClubDance Company of NMH

Debate ClubDrama Club

Entrepreneurship ClubEnvironmental Club

Guitar LessonsPeer Advisors

Proctors for Mansion HouseProductions Club

Project OutreachSocial Committee

Student And Faculty AllianceStudent Center & Performing Arts Center

The Governor (student newspaper)The Milestone (yearbook)

The Spire (literary magazine)Tour Guides

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College Matriculation

10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)

New York university (NYU)

Elon University

Tufts University

Colby College

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)

Cornell University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Northwestern

University of Pennsylvania

View Matriculation Data

School Notes

The Academy offers a challenging, thought-provoking, and student-centered curriculum that inspires a passion for learning. By focusing on the learning process and the development of 7 Essential Skills, The Governor's Academy teaches students how to think critically, creatively, and independently. We encourage students to acquire knowledge through hands-on activity, multi-disciplinary inquiry, analysis, and reflection. Many structures, including the advising system, extra-help sessions, and evening study hours--supervised by dormitory parents--help students learn to study and manage their time well. Our goal is to teach young people to become actively accountable for their own learning and to grow by learning with others. Classes meet for 60 and 90-minute periods, affording students and teachers more opportunity to explore subject matter in depth, from different perspectives and with a variety of classroom activities. In addition to traditional assessments such as tests and papers, students debate, conduct hands-on laboratory and field experiments, make oral presentations, research in groups, use technology to create presentations, and design their own portfolios. Students and faculty bring to The Governor's Academy a richness of experience, perspective, and diversity which adds immeasurably to the education of all. This is the spirit that inspires a community--this family--of learners. During the past decade, many new buildings have been erected or renovated, including the Math and Science Center, Library, Student Center, Performing Arts Center, renovated dining hall, new ice hockey arena, synthetic turf field, and dormitory.
Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Booker T. Washington Jr. - Son of famous abolitionist, statesman and author
- Yu Kil Chun - First Korean to study in West; essayist and social reformer
- Theophilus Parsons - Helped draft Bill of Rights and developed US judiciary system
- Edward Preble - Commodore of the USS Constitution
- Dan Gadzuric - NBA basketball player
- Jeb Bradley - Congressman - New Hampshire
- Samuel Phillips - Founder of Phillips Academy, Andover
- Duncan Robinson - NBA basketball player

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) cost?

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)'s tuition is approximately $79,600 for boarding students and $64,900 for day students.

What schools are The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) often compared to?

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) is often viewed alongside schools like Brooks School, Phillips Academy Andover, Choate Rosemary Hall by visitors of our site.

What is the acceptance rate of The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)?

The acceptance rate of The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) is 23%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 58%. The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)'s acceptance rate is ranked as one of the top boarding schools with low acceptance rates.

Who are famous alumni from The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)?

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) famous alumni include: Booker T. Washington Jr., Yu Kil Chun, Theophilus Parsons, Edward Preble, Dan Gadzuric, Jeb Bradley, Samuel Phillips and Duncan Robinson.

What sports does The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) offer?

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) offers 18 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track and Wrestling.

What is The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)'s ranking?

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Low acceptance rates, High # of AP/advanced courses offered, High SSAT scores and Oldest founding date.

When is the application deadline for The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)?

The application deadline for The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) is Jan. 31.

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review

Description

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Alumni #1
Class of 2009
5.0012/5/2016
Clark University

The Governor´s Academy was known as Governor Dummer Academy when I applied, and it was still known that way for part of my time as a student there. As such, my classmates and I. . .

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Alumni #2
Class of 2007
5.008/1/2007
Princeton

One of the main things is that it has a block schedule, which makes it more like a college schedule while you are still in high school. Instead of having. . .

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Alumni #3
Class of 2006
5.008/10/2006
Allegheny College

GDA has many unique experiences to offer its students. However, I would say that the best thing about this small school is the people. In the dorms you not only live with your classmates, but. . .

Show more reviews (5 reviews)

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