The Woodstock Academy

WA is an inclusive community that encourages students to discover their potential in fine arts, athletics, and academics. The school offers many career-related courses, such as engineering, accounting, and biology, along with AP programs. WA is also known for its outstanding Model UN club, which has won national awards multiple times, and its honor societies that focus on community service.
As a Chinese student in WA’s dormitory program, I find the South Campus welcoming, diverse, and friendly. The international student community allows students to experience many cultures, including Chinese, Italian and Vietnamese and other cultures.
WA students also excel in athletics, with strong achievements in soccer, track and field, volleyball, and other sports. In fine arts, the music department hosts multiple concerts each year, showcasing talented student performers, while the art department and Art Honor Society encourage creativity and help students develop their artistic talents.

WA is an inclusive community that encourages students to discover their potential skills in various fields – fine arts (music, painting, etc.), sports, academics... WA also offers a large number of career-related courses such as engineering, accounting, and biology, and they also have AP courses. However, for some academically demanding courses, there is still room for improvement in teachers' instructional skills. WA boasts the best Model UN club, which has won multiple national awards with Ms. Dziedzic. The school also runs honor societies, whose students aim to help the community become better. As Chinese students in the WA dormitory program, the South Campus (dormitory) is also an inclusive, friendly, and diverse community. The international student exchange program provides dormitory students with opportunities to experience and explore different cultures, such as China, Italy, Japan, France, and Vietnam, allowing you to learn about many different cultures. WA students also dominate in sports; the school has multiple championship-winning WA prep football, track and field (with Mr. Welch), volleyball, and other engaging sports teams. WA students also pursue excellence in the fine arts. The school's music department hosts more than two concerts annually (Winter Concert and Spring Concert), bringing together all musically talented students to perform masterpieces for the audience. Furthermore, the school's art department also runs an Art Honor Society, encouraging students to use their drawing skills to build a strong aesthetic community. Art competitions over the past nearly 20 years have also encouraged WA students to discover their talents in art.

Woodstock Academy is located in Woodstock, a historic small town in northeastern Connecticut, with over two hundred years of history. The town is safe, peaceful, and experiences distinct four seasons. The school is about an hour's drive from Boston, and within a two-hour drive of Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, and Dartmouth College.

School Features:

1) College credit courses in partnership with the University of Connecticut;

2) The school boasts a large 170-acre campus with advanced facilities, including an on-campus golf course, indoor ice rink, multi-purpose stadium, art center, and more;

3) The school offers over 200 different types of courses, divided into four levels: foundational core, AP courses, honors courses, and college credit courses, suitable for various types of students;

4) The school also provides over 60 rich extracurricular clubs and 64 sports teams for students to choose from, meeting their diverse needs and development;

5) Visual arts and performing arts courses are particularly outstanding; academic achievements include winning the Connecticut Governor's Scholar Award three times in four years; the ratio of senior teachers at the school is 80%; the school is a test center for TOEFL, SAT, and AP exams, allowing students to take all exams without leaving campus;

6) The school organizes activities every weekend, typically local trips or trips to nearby major cities. Dormitories close during winter and spring breaks; students who do not go home or travel can pay an additional fee to stay with a host family.

Our child is quite satisfied. There's a STEAM center, which should be very beneficial for those interested in science subjects. Our child participated in an activity in collaboration with an aerospace company within the state, researching engines. They feel that the overall pressure isn't too high, and there are many opportunities. It's quite close to Boston, so they can attend Harvard's summer camp during the summer.

I am an eleventh-grade student at the school, having studied at Woodstock for three years. Although it might sound like an advertisement, I genuinely think the school is quite good. Academically, we are definitely not the strongest school, but we are not very bad either. I am also quite satisfied with the dormitories; overall, they are clean and in very good condition. The cafeteria is indeed not very friendly to a 'Chinese stomach,' but it's much better than the homestays of friends I know at other schools. The public safety around our school is excellent; you can leave your doors unlocked at night without any issues. At the same time, the dormitory system is relatively strict, making it a disciplined boarding school. The price, however, is not very friendly, comparable to the cost of many universities in the United States. Personally, during my time here, I have never experienced any so-called discrimination. I also know that some Chinese students and dorm supervisors have had conflicts due to communication failures, but I personally haven't experienced that. Most of the dorm supervisors I've encountered have been extremely friendly, helping me with everything from online shopping to opening bank accounts and gym memberships. Overall, if you're not aiming for an Ivy League school or particularly yearning for unconstrained freedom, you can consider coming to our school. The school also supports visits, and interview communication can be done via WeChat, which is very convenient.

My son is currently in 11th grade at Woodstock. We chose it because of the partnership between Woodstock and the University of Connecticut (UConn), which includes guaranteed admission to a preparatory program. This provides a good safety net; at least he can get into UConn, which is a top 60 university nationwide. We consider ourselves self-aware parents; we felt that studying at a bilingual school in China, despite the high tuition, might not get him into a top 100 US university. Given that Woodstock has a partnership with UConn, a top 60 school, it made more sense to send him to Woodstock. He can earn UConn AP credits during high school, which will save a considerable amount on college tuition. It's been 2 years now, and we are generally satisfied. He clearly feels less pressure than he did at the bilingual school in Shanghai, and he's happier. The established school's strict boarding management also gives me peace of mind.

Inflating positive reviews is way too obvious. It's usually several perfect scores a day. Do you think others are blind?

My child graduated from here this year. The school has about 1000 students, including around 80 international students, with Chinese students making up half of them. It's a very quiet place with excellent hardware facilities. The teachers and local residents are very friendly. Living at school is safe, and the dormitory teachers are also substitute teachers who care for the students very well. Academically, it's actually quite good, offering multiple AP courses. Students with talents in fine arts or sports will have a significant advantage, as the arts program is very strong. One benefit of having many students is the rich variety of activities. The school often hosts exchange students from different countries, allowing interaction with diverse people and cultures. The school also frequently takes students to UC and Yale for academic and sports competitions. It has its own theater and often hosts music and art events, some even open to local residents. Parents can rest assured about their child's safety in the dorms, as experienced teachers manage the accommodation. There are also many weekend activities, with teachers leading trips to movies, supermarkets, amusement parks, competitions, farm picking, and community volunteer services. The downside is that, due to the large student body, course selection sometimes isn't entirely flexible because some classes fill up quickly. However, everywhere you go, there are some unique and memorable teachers whose credits will stick with you; it's much better to inquire in advance if you're interested. The large number of Chinese students means the child won't feel out of place, but it's also important to note that some children do waste time, though there are also many excellent students around. American education helps children learn to express themselves, find their goals, and achieve them, which is excellent. Wishing my child all the best as they are about to attend their dream university, even though it can't start as scheduled.

A 200-year-old boarding school with a very high safety rating and strict management, located only an hour's drive from Boston.

AP courses are a strong point. Additionally, there is a credit cooperation agreement with the University of California (UC) system, which allows many university credits to be waived. Once UC recognizes these credits, they are transferable between universities, meaning virtually all schools will accept them.

My son was very happy to go there. He said his classmates were quite curious about China, and since there were few Chinese students locally, he made many local friends. My son said he really liked the school's basketball team and felt that the entire school had great cohesion in sports. Perhaps this is a characteristic of American schools, as sports make the school more cohesive and easier to integrate into.

My daughter has been here since her first year of high school. She's currently applying to universities and has already earned two semesters' worth of college credits. This old mother feels like a lot of university tuition money has been saved. I've visited my daughter a few times and feel it's very safe. Teacher Amy welcomed us, and I often contact her.

We drove an hour from Boston to get here. We chose this location, and after visiting several schools nearby, we still felt this dormitory was the safest. This is because it's a school-owned and managed property, and the international students here also get along quite well.

A strictly managed 200-year-old school with clean dorms, a beautiful campus, and rich activities. At the time, I also visited the neighboring Pomfret School, but I felt Pomfret School's atmosphere was a bit tense, while Woodstock's atmosphere was more relaxed and pleasant, and international students integrated better.

The school is good, and campus management is strict. It's safe.

A 200-year-old school with a very beautiful campus. AP courses are a strong advantage. There are relatively few Chinese students, predominantly white students. Management is strict, making it quite safe.

It's a strong academic school, and the location is quite good. My child's uncle works in Boston, and it's only an hour's drive from the school to Boston. There are so many famous universities in Boston, so we can also visit them to get some inspiration, haha. It's also convenient to attend Harvard's summer camp, and I hope to get interview opportunities at some prestigious Boston universities.

It's good to see that strong academics and good basketball skills in high school can aid in applying to prestigious universities. My cousin's child had average grades, but played basketball very well at their school from 10th grade, and thanks to Woodstock Academy basketball, later got into Columbia University. So, my child also entered Woodstock and is playing basketball. For Chinese children, being athletic is a great balance, and it offers a very clear advantage in getting into top universities.

There are many AP course options, and I'm quite satisfied with the academics and faculty; it's the best in this regard among the offers we received. I often visit my child and feel that the overall environment is quite safe. The environment is really great, and the air quality is good. I've noticed many local children are quite curious about Chinese culture; when we visited, everyone ate hotpot together, and it was very harmonious and friendly.

I've been at this school since 9th grade. Most teachers and students here are friendly and there's no discrimination. However, some individual teachers/students do tend to favor European students (especially Spaniards), possibly due to the large Hispanic population in the US combined with Europeans generally being more outgoing than Asians, which might lead to such situations. But overall, most people are quite curious about Chinese culture. The school offers many AP courses, but its overall academic performance is average, and there are fewer opportunities for students to participate in academic competitions. Nevertheless, if one is determined to study, they can still learn a lot and gain many opportunities. Chinese students make up about 7% here; some are just coasting along, while others are serious about their studies. The tuition isn't cheap, but frankly, most American schools rely on international students for revenue, so it's not significantly more exorbitant than others. This school is very strong in sports and arts, and students who excel in these areas can thrive here. Overall, it's a decent school. Academically it's acceptable, with sports and arts as strong points. There are enough AP courses, and teachers are relatively diligent in their teaching. Downsides include fewer competitions, expensive tuition, and a somewhat remote location.

Accommodation is mandatory, and the staff in charge bully Chinese students. Only Chinese students pay the full tuition fees; all other international students, including those from Africa, pay at most half. Chinese students are required to pay the full amount, and there is also discrimination against Chinese people.

Teaching Facilities:
Woodstock College's internal teaching facilities are divided into six main parts: the Academic Center includes classrooms for some subjects and an academic lecture hall, the academic affairs office, counseling center, health and cooperation center, computer labs, and some subject classrooms;
The Arts Center includes the alumni activity center, memorial auditorium, library, media center, as well as specialized subject classrooms/labs and some office labs; the Bicentennial Building includes language and art classrooms; the ACES Special Education Center; the multi-functional sports stadium includes various courts for sports like soccer and baseball, as well as a 400-meter track. There is also an on-campus golf course and an indoor ice rink.