Boarding School Review - Established 2003

The Williston Northampton School

5.00 (17 reviews)
19 Payson Avenue Easthampton MA 01027
Tel: (413) 529-3241
www.williston.com

Quick Facts (2026)

  • Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12, PG
  • Grades: (Day Students) 7-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 400 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $82,700
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $56,800
  • Acceptance rate: 33%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update
The Williston Northampton School Photo #1 - 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 #2 - 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 #3 - 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 #4 - 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 #5 - 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 #6 - 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 #7 - 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 #8 - 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 #9 - 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.
The Williston Northampton School Photo #10 - Founded in 1841, Williston is a student-centered, coeducational institution with an Upper School of boarding and day students from 25 states and 30 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.
5.00 (17 reviews)
Tel: (413) 529-3241
19 Payson Avenue
Easthampton, MA 01027
www.williston.com
REQUEST INFO
SAVE SCHOOL
previous
The Williston Northampton School Photo #1 - 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.
next
The Williston Northampton School Photo #1 - 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 #2 - 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 #3 - 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 #4 - 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 #5 - 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 #6 - 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 #7 - 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 #8 - 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 #9 - 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.
The Williston Northampton School Photo #10 - Founded in 1841, Williston is a student-centered, coeducational institution with an Upper School of boarding and day students from 25 states and 30 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.
Located on 125 acres in Western Massachusetts, Williston has a history dating back to 1841. Williston`s 420 students come from 30 countries and 25 U.S. states.
All Williston students take part in Williston`s Comprehensive Program for Academic and Social Success, known as COMPASS, which unifies our CORE Life and Leadership Program; our Williston Scholars program; our College Counselling program; and our Center for Academic Success (Academic Suport).
At the core of the Williston experience is our balance of academic excellence and support-students choose from 145 courses, and they utilize our Writing Center, our Math Center as well as more formalized academic support.
Additionally, Williston has a long history of athletic excellence, with over 35 percent of our graduating seniors going on to play at the college level in the last 5 years.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12, PG
  • Grades: (Day Students) 7-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 400 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $82,700
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $56,800
  • Acceptance rate: 33%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

The Williston Northampton School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 307 schools) for:

Category
Attribute
Offering Breadth
High # of AP/advanced courses offered
Student Test Scores
High average SAT scores

School Overview

Definition of Terms | 2025 School Data
The Williston Northampton School
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12, PG
9-12
Grades Offered (Day)
7-12, PG
Pre-K-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Yes
Supports Learning Differences (LD)
Yes
Yes
Religious Affiliation
Non-denominational
Non-denominational
Year Founded
1841
1909
Campus Size
125 acres
125 acres
School Calendar
View School Calendar

Student Body

Enrollment
400 students
300 students
% Students of Color
18%
25%
% International Students
24%
20%
% Students Boarding
70%
70%
Average SAT Score
1360
(Out of 1600)
* National Avg. »View
Average ACT score
29
(Out of 36)
*National Avg. »View
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No

Academic Profile

Saturday Classes
Yes
No
Frequency of Saturday Classes
Bi-Weekly
Weekly
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Casual
Average Class Size
12 students
12
* National Avg. »18
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
29
17
ESL Courses Offered
Yes
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
75%
70%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
29
17
Courses
AP BiologyAP Calculus AB
AP ChemistryAP Comparative Government & Politics
AP Computer ScienceAP English Language
AP English LiteratureAP Environmental Science
AP European HistoryAP French Language
AP Latin: VergilAP Microeconomics
AP Music TheoryAP Physics
AP Physics C: Electricity & MagnetismAP Physics C: Mechanics
AP PsychologyAP Spanish Language
AP StatisticsAP United States History
AP US Government & PoliticsBC & Multivariable Calculus

Tuition & Financial Aid

Endowment Size
$60 million
$25 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
$82,700
$59,900
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
$56,800
$33,500
% Students on Financial Aid
46%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$25,250
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
Yes
No

Admissions

Application Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Jan. 15
Accepts Standardized Application (SAO and/or Gateway)
Yes
No
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Average Percentile SSAT
63%
-
Acceptance Rate
33%
58%
Director of Admissions
Christopher J. Dietrich
Application URL
Online Application

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered
21
16
Sports
Alpine SkiingBaseball
BasketballCrew
Cross CountryDiving
Field HockeyFootball
GolfIce Hockey
LacrosseSoccer
SoftballSquash
SwimmingTennis
Track and FieldUltimate Frisbee
VolleyballWater Polo
Wrestling
Colors
Blue, Green
School Mascot
Wildcats

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations
33
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Blue and White Society (school spirit)Blue Notes (male a capella)
Filipino Culture ClubJane Austen Club
Maiyeros (boys a capella)Math Tutoring Society
Milagros (gospel choir)Mitchell Cabinet (Service Club)
Model UNPhilanthropy Society
Photography ClubScience Team
Service ClubSpanish Community Center Tutors
Student Council OfficersStudent Multicultural Board
SubterraneansT.R.I.B.E. (Trust, Respect, Individuality, Belief, Equality)
The Book Club and Literary SocietyThe Debate Society
The Log (Student Newspaper)Theater
Westtown Competitive Gaming ClubWillistonian (Student Newspaper)


Arts and Music Programs:
Chinese Chess ClubMake-a-Wish
Muslim Students AssociationNative American Club
Peer Educators (healthy decisions)Philanthropy Club
Principles of Coaching


Recreational Athletic Programs:
Maiyeros - male a cappellaThe Press - campus sports news

College Matriculation

10 Most Popular College Choices  (# Enrolled)
New York University, Trinity College
20
Hobart College, University of Massachusetts
16
Connecticut College, Union College
14
Northeastern University
13
Colby College, Bentley University, Ithaca College
11
University of Vermont
10
Cornell, Skidmore, Babson, USC
8
Williams, Middlebury, Wesleyan, Fordham
6
Brown, University of Pennsylvania, Tufts, Carnegie Mellon
5
Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Hamilton
3
View Matriculation Data

School Notes

  • 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
Source: Verified school update
REQUEST FREE INFORMATION

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Williston Northampton School cost?
The Williston Northampton School's tuition is approximately $82,700 for boarding students and $56,800 for day students.
What schools are The Williston Northampton School often compared to?
The Williston Northampton School is often viewed alongside schools like Northfield Mount Hermon, Berkshire School, Deerfield Academy by visitors of our site.
What is the acceptance rate of The Williston Northampton School?
The acceptance rate of The Williston Northampton School is 33%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 58%.
Who are famous alumni from The Williston Northampton School?
The Williston Northampton School famous alumni include: Steve Porter ’97, G.P. Gromacki ’89, William S. Clark, Winthrop Crane, Brad Hall ’75, Patrick Rissmiller, George Crockett Strong, Class of 1851, Robert Samuelson ’63, George Stanley Hall and Tony Lavelli ’45.
What sports does The Williston Northampton School offer?
The Williston Northampton School offers 21 interscholastic sports: Alpine 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 and Wrestling.
What is The Williston Northampton School's ranking?
The Williston Northampton School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High # of AP/advanced courses offered and High average SAT scores.
When is the application deadline for The Williston Northampton School?
The application deadline for The Williston Northampton School 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

Class of 2016
5.00
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
5.00
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
5.00
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)
Submit Review for The Williston Northampton School
Earn $20 by submitting your alumni review!

Recent Articles

What Happens During School Breaks for Boarding Students Who Stay on Campus
What Happens During School Breaks for Boarding Students Who Stay on Campus
Learn what happens during school breaks for boarding students who remain on campus, including housing, meals, activities, supervision, and support services.
A Day in the Life of a Dorm Parent: Inside Residential Faculty Life
A Day in the Life of a Dorm Parent: Inside Residential Faculty Life
A day in the life of a dorm parent: how residential faculty support, mentor, supervise, and guide students while building community and shaping the boarding school experience.
How Boarding Schools Assign Dorms, Advisors & Schedules
How Boarding Schools Assign Dorms, Advisors & Schedules
Learn how boarding schools assign dorm rooms, faculty advisors, and class schedules, and what families should expect before move-in day.

Featured Schools

Quick Facts (2026)

  • Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12, PG
  • Grades: (Day Students) 7-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 400 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $82,700
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $56,800
  • Acceptance rate: 33%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Most Popular Articles

Least Expensive Tuition Boarding Schools
Least Expensive Tuition Boarding Schools
 Best Age to Send a Child to Boarding School
Best Age to Send a Child to Boarding School
 How Private Schools Evolved in the United States
How Private Schools Evolved in the United States
 School Mottoes
School Mottoes
 Boarding School and College Outcomes
Boarding School and College Outcomes

More Articles

Choosing a School
Financing
School Life
Admissions
Jobs in Boarding Schools

Quick Links

Find:
Search:
Use:
View: