Williston Northampton School

Academic- had improved.
Sports programs- too heavy for major such as football- reduce 1% off football budget and share with other sports will go a long way
Food - must improve area focus in test and quality

Williston offers an ideal balance between academic rigor and genuine human care. The small class sizes, diverse curriculum, and rich extracurricular opportunities provide both challenge and personalized support. We were also drawn to Williston’s warm and inclusive community, its strong athletic tradition, and its emphasis on character development. This environment allows our child to grow academically while also developing independence, responsibility, and a global perspective in the past 3 years.This year, my younger son will also follow in his brother’s footsteps and join the warm community.

My daughter got wonderful friendship with teachers and classmates, improving her athletic spirits in Williston community!

Of all the schools we visited Williston ticked all the boxes for us. Great campus.Located in a small town,not in the middle of nowhere.Great balance between academic rigor,sports and extra curricular activities.Focus on the whole child with a great blend of guidance and autonomy giving the kids all the tools they need to smoothly transition from school to college. Our daughter is gaining invaluable skills in time management and leadership abilities as well as overall self confidence,sense of community and so much more.It was an incredibly hard decision to send her away from home but looking back it was without doubt the right one.

Our family has had a wonderful experience with Williston Northampton School. The school provides a warm, supportive, and academically challenging environment where students are encouraged to grow both intellectually and personally.

What stands out most is the close-knit community and the genuine care that teachers, advisors, and staff show toward students. The balance between academics, athletics, arts, and leadership opportunities allows students to develop confidence and independence while still feeling supported.

We have also been impressed by the school’s commitment to character, integrity, and global perspectives. Our child has become more mature, motivated, and engaged since attending Williston.

We are grateful to be part of the Williston community and highly recommend the school to families looking for a nurturing and inspiring boarding school experience.

The Williston Northampton School provides a supportive and challenging environment where students can grow academically, socially, and personally. The teachers genuinely care about students, the community feels welcoming, and there are great opportunities in academics, athletics, and arts. Williston helped me become more confident, independent, and prepared for the future.

I have worked at Williston for fifteen years and our two children graduated, and both received an exceptional education from their dedicated teachers. From journalism to theater to advanced math classes, the teachers support students to achieve their highest potential. Williston offers a safe, balanced, and supportive community that welcomes students from all over the US and the world, bringing them together in a way that celebrates the individual and at the same time creates a Williston community known for being welcoming. Williston Scholars is a signature program academically that allows students to demonstrate university level research, while the CORE program prepares them with the skills they need for success beyond the classroom.

As a parent of an international student, I worried a lot when I sent my son alone to school in America for the first time. But during his time at Williston Northampton School, I could see him becoming more independent and growing into a mature young man. I feel very thankful to the school for this.

I also really appreciate the teachers and staff for their dedication and kindness. Their support helped my son a lot. I think Williston will always have a very special meaning in my son’s life in the future.

Williston is a school with love.This is the first time my daughter attends a boarding school.As a Grade 9 student,she was a little worried about the new challenge.The teachers can notice her emotion and gave her help. Really appreciate.

The Williston Northampton School boasts a convenient location, approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Boston Logan International Airport and about a half-hour drive from Hartford Bradley Airport. It is situated in Easthampton, a town rich in artistic atmosphere, where the local community is simple, safe, and welcoming, capable of meeting all students' daily dining and shopping needs.
The school's English department is exceptionally strong, with teachers who are highly professional and each possess unique strengths. Among them are professional journalists, novelists, and poets. The school newspaper, The Willistonian, has a long history and is directly advised by the department head, who also teaches courses in journalism and communication. The school's academic dean is reliable, efficient, and ensures well-organized management. She serves as a student advisor and communicates very proactively and thoroughly with her advisees and their parents. This year, the math teacher, in addition to their regular school schedule, has made breakfast and weekend dormitory hours available to students in need, demonstrating great dedication and responsibility.
Under the principal's leadership, the school is a particularly loving family. The teachers are warm-hearted and always willing to help, which is especially important for international student families. Last year, my daughter had vision problems requiring regular follow-ups, and on several occasions, a teacher from the school's Health and Wellness department drove her. Whenever a child has a live-streamed event or wins anSans an award at school, the international student coordinator proactively sends emails with viewing links and sincere congratulations; to facilitate communication with parents, the Chief Development Officer even learned to use WeChat and is very willing to help in urgent situations.
The school emphasizes physical activity, and after each game, an email is sent to parents summarizing the results and providing context. My daughter's golf team has several away games each week, for which the head coach personally drives the team, and even arranges dinner for the team members when they return late.

I sent my daughter, who had studied at a private girls' school in Japan until junior high, to study abroad. I believe it's a top-level school for non-native initial English learning support classes. Unlike many other schools, they even arranged transportation between the school and major airports, a service often unavailable or less comprehensive elsewhere, and there was regular communication from advisors to parents, making it a very reliable school for parents supporting from afar.

The school's academics are rigorous, and teachers create an engaging classroom atmosphere, caring for every student. There are abundant sports programs with many opportunities to participate. Competitive seasons foster students' sense of collective honor and physical fitness. A wide variety of extracurricular classes and clubs are available, offering experiences of different flavors and interests from around the world. There is ample free time outside of classes, allowing students to freely allocate their time to develop independent living skills.

Williston Northampton School was founded in 1841. It boasts a unique geographical location in the Hartford area of New England, less than 1.5 hours from Boston and 3 hours from New York. The school has a strong academic program, offering 155 courses, including 25 AP courses and 26 honors courses, providing a very rich curriculum.
School Advantages:
1. The Williston Scholars Program is a university-level demonstration course, located near five universities including Amherst College and Smith College, and offers cooperative university courses. This program is a three-month course that allows students to delve deeply into subjects they are passionate about in any discipline.
2. The school hosts special writing workshops. For over 20 years, the Williston Writers' Workshop series has invited renowned authors to campus to teach, share insights into the writing process, and inspire the next generation of writers.
3. The Grum Project is Williston's visiting artist program. Funded by a generous alumna of Northampton School for Girls, the Grum Project brings a variety of artists—musicians, actors, visual artists, dancers, etc.—to campus for short residencies, allowing the entire Williston community to participate.
4. Strong in sports, the school has 295 athletes who are among the best in the nation; it offers a total of 35 sports annually, ranging from squash to ice hockey.

You can challenge yourself with various activities while being guided by kind teachers on a wonderful campus located on a vast site. It's an excellent school.

My child is in ninth grade at Williston, and she had a wonderful year. Firstly, the school has strict rules and regulations to ensure student safety, dedicated study time, and a regular lifestyle, such as scheduled evening self-study sessions and a ban on mobile phone use within the campus. Secondly, the school staff are all very professional and understanding; they even act as drivers for the children on weekends, taking them to town for shopping and dining. Thirdly, the school has a relaxed campus atmosphere, and the children are all very nice. Fourthly, the school's geographical location is excellent, with a beautiful environment that makes one want to linger. Fifthly, the school offers a wide variety of club activities that can cater to children of all levels.

Williston Northampton, established in 1841, boasts a unique geographical location in the Hartford area of New England, less than 1.5 hours from Boston and 3 hours from New York. The school has a strong academic program, offering 155 courses, including 25 AP courses and 26 honors courses, providing a rich curriculum.

School Features:

1. The Williston Scholars Program is a collegiate model course, adjacent to five universities including Amherst College and Smith College, offering cooperative university courses. This program is a three-month course that allows students to delve deeply into topics they are passionate about in any discipline.

2. The school has special writing workshops. For over 20 years, the Williston Writers' Workshop Series has invited renowned authors to campus to teach, share insights into the writing process, and inspire the next generation of writers.

3. The Grum Project is Williston's visiting artist program. Funded by a generous alumna of the Northampton School for Girls, the Grum Project brings a variety of artists - musicians, actors, visual artists, dancers, and more - to campus for short residencies, so that the entire Williston community can participate.

4. Strong in sports, the school has 295 athletes who are among the best in the nation; it offers a total of 35 sports annually, ranging from squash to ice hockey.

In April, I was invited by the school to visit Williston, a strong American high school known for its rigorous academics and balanced development in sports and arts. It focuses on fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus environment, having developed the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) program since the summer of 2020 to combat discrimination.

In the admissions review process, they equally value applicants' comprehensive performance in sports, arts, and academics, making it a good school worth considering.

Williston students, the school's inclusivity is really great.

Principal Zhan's Comment: This school has strong academics. WNS offers over 140 courses (including 27 AP courses) for students to choose from. The newly renovated science laboratories can meet all students' learning needs. Teachers are highly skilled, interact frequently with students, and maintain close relationships. The school focuses on students' psychological well-being, paying special attention to the integration and participation of new students, especially international students.
The school's college admissions record is excellent. In the past five years, 33 students successfully entered Ivy League universities. In 2022, a total of 128 ED/EA university admission offers were secured.
In terms of cultural heritage, WNS recognizes that diversity and inclusion promote cross-cultural communication. Therefore, it frequently organizes activities aimed at achieving equity both inside and outside the school, such as community identity discussions, the annual 'Why Not Speak Day,' and guest lectures emphasizing social justice.
Regarding academic development, in addition to a rich curriculum, WNS is surrounded by 5 renowned American universities. Leveraging this advantage, the school offers a cooperative university program – the Williston Scholars Program. This three-month program allows students to delve deeply into subjects they are passionate about in any discipline.
In terms of community building, 70% of the students reside on campus. All dormitory buildings are arranged in a circle, and boarding students engage in activities and play together, creating a warm and harmonious living environment.
Regarding emotional support, the school is deeply concerned about students' psychological growth and values children's psychological balance, thus providing ample opportunities for communication and interaction.

Williston Northampton School, established in 1841, has been recognized as a 'Blue Ribbon School of Excellence' by the U.S. Department of Education. The school is located in the Hartford area, spanning 125 acres, enjoying an excellent geographical location, just 4 miles from downtown Northampton and an hour and a half from Boston. The school is close to five renowned universities, offering rich educational resources: Amherst College, Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College, New Hampshire State University, and the University of Massachusetts. The school offers 155 courses, including 25 AP courses and 26 honors courses, providing a very rich curriculum. It is a long-standing local institution.

The school excels in sciences, focuses on nurturing students' artistic talents, and values writing. The writers' workshop invites renowned authors to teach on campus.

Williston Northampton School has a special writing workshop. For over 20 years, the Williston Writers' Workshop series has invited celebrated authors to teach on campus, share insights into the writing process, and inspire the next generation of writers. The school has hosted screenwriters, poets, editors, novelists, journalists, and memoirists, including multiple Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners.

Launched in the fall of 2016, the Grum Project is Williston's visiting artist program. Funded by a generous alumna of Northampton School for Girls, the Grum Project brings a variety of artists – musicians, actors, visual artists, dancers, etc. – to campus for short residencies so that the entire Williston community can participate.

The school's Williston Scholars Program is a college-level model curriculum, adjacent to five colleges including Amherst College and Smith College, and features collaborative university courses. This program is a three-month course that allows students to delve deeply into topics they are passionate about in any discipline. Under the close guidance of Williston teachers, students and peers will guide them through academic project development, research, implementation, and final presentations, helping them learn the skills needed to succeed at the university level.

Data for Williston Northampton School: student population 420, student-faculty ratio 1:6, international students 23%, boarding students 70%, 81% of faculty with advanced degrees, offers 27 AP courses, average class size 12. The Williston Northampton School is a private, co-educational, full-day college preparatory school with its campus located in Northampton, Massachusetts. The school provides a rigorous college preparatory curriculum for all boarding and day students from grade 7 through postgraduate year. The school offers every opportunity for students to challenge themselves, ignite their passion for learning, and teach traditional subjects in innovative ways. At its core, the school's curriculum is college preparatory, supplemented by a rich array of elective courses. The school organically combines foundational courses, student-interest-driven electives, and special programs to satisfy students' intellectual curiosity. Teaching in all classes emphasizes linguistic proficiency, clarity of thought, and academic integrity.

WNS has four large and excellent art studios, a photography studio (including a digital photography studio and darkroom), and a film studio. WNS offers students a variety of unique art programs with courses in many artistic fields, including painting, design, oil painting, sculpture, photography, and filmmaking. The Grubbs Gallery at WNS exhibits monthly art installations as well as student final works, and the gallery also hosts lectures and workshops by professional artists that students can choose to attend. Teachers' teaching methods connect lessons to life, identifying painting themes through each student's rich imaginative ability.
Cross country is a strength of WNS; over the past five years, 40-45 boys with diverse aptitudes and talents have participated in the cross country team. The WNS cross country program primarily helps each team member achieve personal goals; despite rigorous training, competition results are excellent and exciting. WNS's Nonotuck Park and the Manhan Rail Trail serve as excellent training grounds for this program. This fall, WNS will host its annual Shaler Invitational with 15 schools participating, providing memorable competition experiences for the attending teams.

Williston School's swim team is very strong. The girls' swim team recently defeated former champions Dana Hall School in a regional competition, and the boys' team is also excellent, notably having a male swimmer who is a national top-6 athlete in the 17-year-old age group.
Williston's science curriculum focuses more on teaching scientific principles and methodologies, which can enhance students' curiosity about the natural world. In addition to core courses, the school also offers AP courses. The school's natural environment serves as an excellent outdoor laboratory, and most notably, five nearby universities provide Williston students with college-level science experiences. Mr. Bill Berghoff, Head of the Science Department, has applied the concept of integrated science from nearby UMass Amherst and incorporated it into Williston's academic program, where students will work in small groups and conduct experimental research. In mathematics, after completing basic courses, students can choose advanced courses, or pursue studies in computer science and engineering.

Easthampton, a small town in western Massachusetts, is 85 miles from Boston and 150 miles from New York. There are 5 well-known universities within a 15-mile radius: Amherst, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, New Hampshire State University, and the University of Massachusetts. There are many extracurricular activities, up to 46, and students can always find one that suits them. Some women's sports are quite strong at Eastern schools, such as women's hockey and softball. The arts and performing arts programs are also very good. It's a very comprehensive school. Most importantly, the school atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. The school has a large endowment, and the student body is also relatively large. The surrounding resources are also quite rich, with 5 universities nearby, and some courses can utilize the shared library system of the neighboring schools.

Sports are an integral part of a Williston education. Its rich athletic programs are very welcoming to everyone, whether you are an aspiring collegiate athlete or someone looking to try a new sport, you will have a great experience. Williston offers over 30 different sports, providing a wealth of athletic opportunities. The school's coaches, most of whom are also on-campus staff or teachers, view sports as another opportunity to teach and mentor students outside of the classroom. Williston has an incredible track record of developing top athletes for professional competition, with over 30% of graduating students recruited to continue competing in college.

The teachers in the school's visual and performing arts department are all working artists. Art is also an integral part of student life and the Williston community. Their art courses, ranging from 2D foundations to AP Music Theory, provide expert instruction and practical experience in areas such as fine art, photography, dance, music, and theater. Students are encouraged to find inspiration in 13 different creative spaces on campus, including painting, photography, and music studios, performance spaces, and costume and set shops.

Williston Northampton School has special writing workshops. For over 20 years, the Williston Writers' Workshop Series has invited renowned authors to campus to teach, share insights into the writing process, and inspire the next generation of writers. The school has hosted screenwriters, poets, editors, novelists, journalists, and memoirists, including multiple Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners. For students participating in the Writers' Workshop, three months include learning from visiting authors, culminating in masterclasses and community readings. Read an article about the 20th anniversary of the Writers' Workshop.

The school's first Writers' Workshop host was Rachael Cerrotti. Rachael Cerrotti is an award-winning photographer, writer, educator, and audio producer. She joined us on October 19th, exploring the generational impact of war and memory. Rachael is currently the inaugural storyteller for the USC Shoah Foundation, where she produces and co-hosts the "Memory Generation" podcast.

In 2019, Cerrotti released her first podcast, "We Share The Same Sky." It is the first narrative podcast ever based on Holocaust survivor testimony, chronicling her decade-long journey to retrace her grandmother's wartime story.

1. With 27 AP courses and over 140 courses, the curriculum is rich, encouraging students to participate, experience, and delve deeply into their preferred course areas.
2. Offers the Williston Scholars Program: located adjacent to five universities including Amherst College and Smith College, with cooperative university courses.
3. Offers the COMPASS program, a comprehensive curriculum designed for students' academic and social success.

The number of ninth grade students this year, hailing from more than 11 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Macau, Mexico, and Vietnam. After submitting an application this year, there was absolutely no response. It's not a Vericant partner school. I called five or six times, but they wouldn't schedule an interview. They never sent an email, and many emails I sent went unanswered. Feeling strange, I went to their official website and found they wrote this: they listed Hong Kong but not China. What does this mean? It clearly doesn't welcome Chinese students. I suggest parents in mainland China not apply to them; it's a waste of money.

Williston's Core Life and Leadership Program is a signature program of the school, a four-year life and leadership course designed to provide students with ample support. This program features unique themes for each grade level, through which students will develop organizational skills, self-awareness, decision-making abilities, a sense of responsibility, and leadership capabilities via class meetings and discussions.

For 9th grade, the theme focuses on students understanding their roles as individuals, students, and adolescents, while developing strong life and learning skills. In 10th grade, the school helps students understand their identity within the context of their community and the world, and learn to make informed decisions to gain greater independence and responsibility. In 11th grade, students strive to find their voice, enabling them to take charge of their future in college and other leadership roles. The 12th grade emphasizes becoming leaders in the community, mentoring younger students, and integrating them into the world.

In terms of academics, Williston offers many Signature Programs, including the 9th Grade Program, which begins with an overnight trip and is followed by special workshops. This program primarily aims to cultivate students' curiosity, organizational skills, and empathy. The Writing Workshop invites renowned authors to campus to teach and share their insights on writing, inspiring the next generation of student writers. Other distinctive courses also include The Grum Project, Photography Lecture Series, and the Technology Course Program.

The school also places great importance on the arts. Facilities are state-of-the-art, and faculty members are musicians, actors, and visual artists who impart their talent and experience hands-on to students. All Williston students take at least three semesters of art classes. In the arts, the school also has unique programs including Arts Concentration, the Grum Project visiting artists program, Arts Walk, and a professional arts gallery.

Athletics are an integral part of a Williston education. Students at the school can participate in over 30 different sports. Williston has an incredible record: over 30% of its student-athletes are selected to compete at the collegiate level.

Williston boasts a strong academic atmosphere, surrounded by five universities with which it has collaborative teaching programs. The school promotes the holistic development of students, focusing on unearthing their artistic talents. For example, the Grum project invites renowned artists to the school to conduct workshops. At the same time, the entire school community is very welcoming, offering numerous programs to help 9th-grade students integrate into the new environment. Furthermore, Chinese students admitted to Williston have a strong track record of gaining admission to prestigious universities, including Stanford, Upenn, and Amherst. Based on our past experiences with students admitted to Williston, the school places significant emphasis on standardized test scores, as well as students' critical thinking abilities and English expression skills.

During the Williston 2020 admissions season, when the results were released on March 10th, the average admitted TOEFL score for boys was 111, and for girls, it was 107. The admissions director stated that for Chinese students, scores are one of the evaluation criteria they value highly. Of course, there are also exceptional admissions; for example, in 2019, a 10th-grade girl with a TOEFL score of only 96 was admitted.

The school's graduates have an excellent track record. In fact, looking at the admitted students, a large proportion are top students from public schools. These students might not have had obvious advantages during the application season (e.g., in English thinking or extracurricular activities, they might not have stood out), but after adapting to American high school for a year, their advantages gradually became prominent. Therefore, it's very understandable that they excel when applying for college.

From another perspective, the admissions office has a thorough understanding of Chinese students and the school's own strengths, leading to accurate student positioning.

I once visited and inspected the school and was warmly received by Vice Principal Ann. The school was formed by the merger of Williston Academy and Northampton School for Girls, located in the Hartford area. Its convenient location is only 4 miles from downtown Northampton, an hour and a half drive from Boston, and about two and a half hours from New York City. The school has comprehensive facilities, a rigorous academic atmosphere, and simultaneously promotes the holistic development of students, encouraging them to be passionate, sincere, and goal-oriented.

School Highlights:

1. Strong in Sports: 295 athletes are among the best in the nation; offers a total of 35 sports annually, ranging from squash to ice hockey.

2. Rich Surrounding Educational Resources: Has cooperative teaching programs with five nearby universities (Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke, University of New Hampshire, and University of Massachusetts).

3. Grum Project: The school invites renowned artists to campus, who lead students in workshops and share their outcomes with the community; the Grubbs Art Gallery displays student works; an excellent photographer lecture series is held annually; the Writers' Workshop features renowned authors giving lectures.

4. Broad Curriculum, Strong Academics: Featured courses include writing, dance, art, American government, leadership, and technology.

5. Ninth Grade Program: Helps ninth-grade students smoothly transition to high school learning and life through dormitories, leadership opportunities, special ninth-grade courses, and community building.

The Williston Northampton School is located in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, an area known for its beautiful scenery, numerous universities, and rich cultural heritage. WNS is a 3-hour drive from New York and 2 hours from Boston. The school covers 125 acres, with 425 students in the high school division, 251 of whom are boarding students. International students make up 24% of the student body, and there are not many Chinese students, with only about 4 per grade. The school offers over 140 courses, including 26 AP courses, with a challenging curriculum. 11th and 12th graders can delve into advanced courses such as genetics, organic chemistry, psychology, and astronomy, and also have opportunities for independent research. Additionally, students have the chance to study at the nearby Five Colleges and attend performances and events. Each year, about 7 students from the school matriculate into Ivy League universities.

Williston is located in Central Massachusetts, surrounded by the Five College Consortium. The school is situated in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and was established in 1841. Its location is excellent, with convenient transportation. Leveraging the advantages of nearby universities, Williston not only boasts a strong academic atmosphere but also focuses on providing college preparatory courses as its core curriculum. The school offers a total of 155 courses, covering various fields such as humanities, science, and arts. This includes 49 honors and AP courses. The school utilizes resources from nearby universities to offer students numerous college-level academic research opportunities, where students will engage in interdisciplinary research projects under the guidance of their teachers. Thanks to its advantageous location, Williston students have opportunities to attend classes, participate in lectures, and watch performances at nearby universities.