The Williston Northampton School
Overview

Williston is an independent coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9-12 and a postgraduate year. Set in Western Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley—an area defined by its natural beauty, prestigious colleges, and rich intellectual history—Williston offers an exceptional education that integrates academics, athletics, arts, and community life with uncommon opportunities to promote high achievement and college preparation. Our picturesque campus is located minutes from Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts. This proximity provides Williston students with extraordinary opportunities for academic collaboration. Williston's mission is to inspire students to live with purpose, passion, and integrity, and as such, we focus on education the whole student via an innovative curriculum and a caring fellowship of teachers, advisors, coaches, and classmates. Known for its welcoming and friendly spirit, Williston is small enough that every student is known and comfortable, and large enough to afford students a wide array of opportunities. A classic comment you will hear from every graduate is that at Williston, kids can truly be themselves and try new things. It's a hallmark of our school that many students discover a new passion here. Williston’s has a innovative, 360-degree approach that deeply engages students and prepares them for college and life. Through five signature programs, which are interwoven into our traditional independent school curriculum, we create a rich academic and social environment that gives students the tools they need to excel and thrive. At once challenging and supportive, these programs are designed to meet each student where they are and to engage the whole student along an intentional, individualized path to realize his or her full potential at Williston, in college, and beyond.


Academics
Summary: Challenging and immersive academics are at the heart of a Williston education. Our academic environment offers a balance of structure and freedom, designed to help students develop excellent study skills, writing, and critical thinking, along with an ambitious intellectual curiosity. Our class sizes are small (average size of 12) and our course selection is large (155 courses with 49 designated as Honors as APs). Williston augments our traditional boarding school curriculum with many signature academic programs including our Writers Workshop, our Journalism course, Video Game Design, and Filmmaking, just to name a few. In addition, our Williston Scholars program is a college-model course that introduces students to the rigors of directed independent study. A trimester-long course, the program allows students to deeply engage with a topic he or she is passionate about in any discipline. Under the close mentorship and instruction of a Williston faculty member, students and classmates are guided through the steps of scholarly project development, research, implementation, and, ultimately, presentation—skills they will need to succeed at the college level. Throughout the program, students connect with content experts both inside the school and out, drawing on the intellectual wealth available to us here in the Pioneer Valley's colleges and universities. Williston’s Laboratory for Academic Success is a constellation of support that provides students at every level with the resources, instruction, and academic support they need to succeed. Students can take advantage of individual meetings with classroom teachers in our Math and Writing Centers and work with fellow students in our unique Arete peer-to-peer program. Qualified students may also meet one-on–one with members of our Learning Support team and/or Five-College graduate student tutors during our evening study hours. Within the Laboratory for Academic Success, Williston students can avail themselves of the academic support that best suits their needs and that will challenge them to be their best. Our 95 faculty members bring their love of learning to the classroom, together with broad life experiences. 67% of them hold graduate degrees. These talented teachers create a dynamic classroom environment, emphasizing discussion and collaboration and promoting an open exchange of ideas.
Department Director Greg Tuleja
Student/Teacher Ratio: 6:1
Average Class Size: 12
Summer Programs: Offered
Full Time Teachers: 96
Number of AP Courses Offered: 52
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 75%
Number of IB Courses Offered: 0
English
- Creative Writing
- Honors
- Literature
- Playwriting
- Poetry
History
- Asian History
- Classical History
- European History
- Honors
- United States History
- World History
Foreign Languages
- Chinese-Mandarin
- French
- Latin
- Spanish
Religion / Philosophy
- Ethics
- Philosophy
- World Religions
Humanities / Social Sciences
- Economics
- Psychology
Sciences
- Anatomy
- Animal Behavior
- Astronomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Genetics
- Physics
- Physiology
- Organic Chemistry
- Psychology
Math
- Algebra
- Calculus
- Functions
- Geometry
- Probability
- Statistics
- Trigonometry
Computer Studies
- Computer Programming
- Computer Science
Music
- Choral Music
- Composition
- Electronic Music
- Individual Instructions
- Music History
- Orchestra
- Recording
- Voice
Performing / Visual Arts
- Acting
- Architecture
- Art History
- Ballet
- Ceramics
- Choreography
- Dance
- Design
- Directing
- Drama
- Drawing
- Lighting Design
- Painting
- Photography
- Pottery
- Sculpture
- Stagecraft
- Studio Art
- Television Production
- Textiles
- Theater Arts
- Theater Design
- 3-D Art
- Modern Dance
Special Programs
- Study Abroad
- Community Service
- Independent Study
Distinctive or New Programs
Writing Center; Readers & Writers Master Class; Writers' Workshop Series; Photographers'lecture Series; Five College Academic Enrichment
Campus Life
Dorm Life
Number of Dorms: 8
Average Students Per Dorm: 25
Number of Girls Dorms: 3
Number of Boys Dorms: 5
Dorm Amenities
- Game Room
- Laundry Facilities
- Lounge
- Vending Machines
- Wireless Internet
Other Dorm Amenities
New Dorm for 40. 9th and 10th grade boys opening Fall 2018!
Student Life
Williston students take on leadership opportunities in over thirty active clubs on campus, participate in community service opportunities with their advisory, and enjoy outstanding weekend activities in the Five College region.
Facilities
- All-Weather Track
- Baseball Field
- Basketball Court
- Fitness Center
- Indoor Basketball Court
- Indoor Pool
- Technology Center
- Volleyball Court
Other Facilities
2 Synthetic turf fields; Reed Campus Center - features snack bar + ping pong + pool tables; Stu Bop - a huge student activities space where we host dances + guest entertainers + student run coffee houses + many other student activities
Clubs & Organizations
- Amnesty International
- Astronomy Club
- Chess Club
- Community Service
- Computer Club
- Debate Club
- Diversity Club
- Dorm Proctors
- Environmental Club
- FCA
- Foreign Language Clubs
- Habitat for Humanity
- Honor Council
- Horseback Riding
- International Club
- Investment Club
- Literary Magazine
- Math Club
- Newspaper
- Outing Club
- Peer Counseling
- Peer Tutoring
- Photography Club
- Quiz Bowl
- Student Activities
- Student Government
- Student Publications
- Theater Club
- Weightlifting Club
- Yearbook
- Yoga Club
Arts & Athletics
Summary: ATHLETICS Athletics are an integral part of our program with 61 teams in 32 sports competing in state-of-the-art facilities, including 2 turf fields, an ice rink, a six-lane pool, 12 tennis courts, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Our statistics speak for themselves. 20 Williston teams have competed in NEPSAC championships in the last five years. Over 40 students have signed Letters of Intent to play sports at DI and DII schools in the last two years. There are more than 300 All-Americans in our school's history. ARTS In addition to vibrant classes in visual and performing arts, Williston offers a unique Arts Intensive Program that allows artists to dedicate two hours daily to dance, music, or visual arts. Our creative facilities include a professional theater, costume shop, 5 art studios, digital music studio, photo studio, and an art gallery where professional and students artists display their work. Other distinctive programs include: a Photographers Lecture Series, Working Artist Awards, a visiting artist series (The Grum Project), as well as an opportunity to pursue independent arts projects in the Williston Scholars program. Recent graduates of Williston have gone on to programs including Berklee College of Music, Rhode Island School of Design, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and Parsons School of Design.
Arts Department Director: Natania Hume
Athletics Department Director: Mark Conroy
Notable Achievements: Erik Ostberg '14 drafted by Tampa Bay Rays, Gabby Thomas '15 in USATF Olympic Trials in 200m, Boys Basketball wins Class A Title in 2015 and 16
Arts
- Acting
- Architecture
- Art History
- Ballet
- Ceramics
- Choreography
- Dance
- Design
- Directing
- Drama
- Drawing
- Lighting Design
- Painting
- Photography
- Pottery
- Sculpture
- Stagecraft
- Studio Art
- Television Production
- Textiles
- Theater Arts
- Theater Design
- 3-D Art
- Modern Dance
Interscholastic Sports
- Alpine Ski Racing
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country Running
- Diving
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Wrestling
Recreational Sports
- Aerobics
- Dance
- Equestrian
- Martial Arts
- Mountain Biking
- Rock Climbing
- Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Weight Lifting
Graduates
Summary: Our four-year approach to the college process emphasizes reflection, self-awareness and independence. Though class assemblies, group advisory meetings, and individual meetings with advisors and teachers, ninth and tenth graders focus on building their academic foundation, including discussions about course selection and standardized tests. By the junior year, students participate in a class on the college process and begin to meet one-on-one with their college counselor on a monthly basis to discuss goals, values, and interests. Classroom sessions, essay workshops, panel discussions, mini college fairs, practice interviews, and more prepare students to take the lead in their college search process and to matriculate to their best-fit college.
College Information
Precentage of graduates who attend college: 100%
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores | Reading | Math | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
25th percentile | |||
75th percentile |
College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:
Notable Alumni
Ann Dowd
Class of 1974
Emmy-award winning Actress
Brad Hall
Class of 1975
Actor Producer Writer. Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Anchor
Koyalee Chanda
Class of 1992
Emmy-nominated Director directed episodes of Blue's Clues and Sesame Street
Winthrop Crane
Class of
40th Governor of Massachusetts U.S. Senator Owner of the Crane Paper Company
Lawson Ramage
Class of 1926
Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy Decorated with the Medal of Honor
Patrick Rissmiller
Class of 1997
Professional Hockey Player NHL New York Rangers Forward
Chic Eglee
Class of 1970
Screenwriter & Producer for Television
Edward Clark Potter
Class of
Sculptor of New York Public Library lions
Victor H. Fazio
Class of 1961
California Congressman
Quotes From Alumni
Merit
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 2%
Average Merit Scholarship: 10,000
Current Endowment Amount: $42,000,000
Vital Information
Student Body Type: Coed
Total Boarding: 290
Total Day: 130
Total Enrollment: 420
Boys: 204
Girls: 216
Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12
Day Grades Offered: 9-12
School Type: High School, Post-grad
Dress Code: Casual
Applications Accepted: SAO, Gateway to Prep
Application Deadline: January 15th
Tuition & Financial Aid
7-Day Boarding: $66,500
5-Day Boarding: N/A
Day Tuition Fee: $45,600
Need-Based Aid: Offered
Payment Plans: Offered
Students Receiving Aid: 47%
Average Awarded: $31,400
School Finances
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 2%
Average Merit Scholarship: $10,000
Current Endowment Amount: $42,000,000
Contact
Director of Admissions: Christopher Dietrich
Admissions Phone: 413 529 3241
Fax: 413 527 9494
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.williston.com
Nearby Schools
- Wilbraham & Monson Academy - 16mi / 25 km
- Suffield Academy - 19mi / 31 km
- Deerfield Academy - 20mi / 31 km
- Eaglebrook School - 20mi / 31 km
- Bement School - 20mi / 32 km




