Lee Academy

In 1845, when Henry David Thoreau first went on his famous trip to Walden Pond a school was created in the North Maine Woods. A school that would change the lives of generations of students from the state of Maine and throughout the World.

This school is Lee Academy, nestled amongst the woods and waters of some of America's most beautiful natural surroundings. Lee Academy bestows its students with a quality liberal arts education with a focus on place-based, environmental, and outdoor instruction. Lee cultivates strong character and civic-minded citizens through its accepting, diverse community, athletic programs, extracurricular activities, and outdoor adventures!

Our Alumni have gone on to become leaders in industry and technology, artists and entrepreneurs, adventurers and conservationists. We provide a safe nurturing environment for you to discover your passions as we open doors to the World for you. We invite you to join us in our lovely hamlet in the woods and find your dream.

Imagine yourself sitting in the woods sketching New England fall foliage for an art project, snowshoeing during physical education, collecting insects from a stream during biology class, or tracking maple sap production for a climate study in environmental science.

These are all every day experiences at Lee Academy, where we consider the outdoors to be one of our most important classrooms. In addition to being integrated throughout our curriculum, we offer a concentrated pathway in outdoor and environmental education, where students may participate in this focused program for a semester or a year. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between the environment, climate change, culture, and the economy. Students strengthen problem solving, communication, leadership, and collaboration skills as they work together to develop sustainable solutions to real-life environmental concerns and face challenges during outdoor adventures.

Lee Academy’s Moores Campus, located between the vast North Maine Woods and the Downeast Lakes Region, provides the perfect location for environmental learning experiences and outdoor adventures. Students gain an appreciation of the connection between time spent in the wilderness and improved physical and mental well-being as they participate in activities such as hiking, camping, paddling, and outdoor winter sports. Time spent “unplugged” in pristine wilderness allows for reflection and increased mindfulness.

Lee Academy offers a comprehensive, placed-based high school curriculum, which is rooted in our natural outdoor location. Our school has developed a remarkable sense of community among our diverse and accepting student body, faculty, and staff.

At Lee Academy, we focus on developing the whole person. All of our courses are student centered and project based, with each class helping students to advance their critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills. The assessment process is rigorous and authentic, allowing students to demonstrate their understanding in a meaningful way. Lee Academy is known for the personal attention and support that students receive from faculty, staff, and administration. Our current student:teacher ratio is 15:1. Academic support and English as a Second Language programs are easily accessed and provided to students on an individual basis.

The dynamic and engaging curriculum of Lee Academy provides diverse course offerings, from traditional academic courses to a wide variety of electives, including thirteen AP courses and opportunities for college credit through dual-enrollment and on-line classes. A pathway providing immersive outdoor and environmental learning experiences is specifically unique to Lee Academy and its surroundings. Local students may also take advantage of career and technical training through the nearby vocational school.