Vermont Academy

By providing a supportive community and close personal attention to its students, Vermont Academy develops confident, active learners and respectful citizens. Vermont Academy is a small secondary school, primarily boarding in nature, that sees the potential and value of every student and prepares them to thrive in college and life. Using the Core Beliefs as a guide, Vermont Academy graduates engage in the world as critical thinkers and make a positive difference in the global community.

Vermont Academy was chartered in 1872 and opened its doors in the fall of 1876. The school was founded by the Vermont Baptist Convention and was associated with that denomination for the first 60 years of its history. From the beginning, students came from all over the country and from many foreign nations.

Vermont Academy’s educational philosophy is based on four historic values of ingenuity, independence, community, and love of the land. These values create the underpinnings of an early bound book called The Vermont Academy Way, and they represent the framework shaping the development of today’s curriculum. Students will become problem solvers through work in the classroom, the community, and independent and team projects. Vermont Academy’s program is student focused and growth oriented, emphasizing learning by doing. Creativity and problem solving run through all programs allowing students to be curious and to contribute solutions to academic and community challenges.

Students will know their strengths and challenges, and with mentoring from caring adults, strive to build on these strengths and overcome challenges. By cultivating self-awareness, students will become more resilient and able to advocate for themselves. Students are encouraged to maximize their individual growth as students, athletes, artists and citizens in individual and team settings.

Students will feel a sense of belonging in a close knit community while also understanding the impact of their actions in school and in a wider global community. Adults in the Vermont Academy community know students well from close mentoring relationships which allow students to thrive. Based on the belief that all members of the Vermont Academy community are viewed as assets worthy of respect, tolerance and good citizenship are nurtured. Exposure to diverse and global perspectives expands cultural understanding. Leadership and community service opportunities provide avenues for students to contribute to the welfare of others.

Students will come to understand and appreciate the rural Vermont environment while also learning the importance of sustainability, preservation, and appreciation of “place.” Tucked in the safety of a small Vermont village on a 450 acre campus, students are never far from the natural environment around them. From ski hills, rivers, and hiking trails, to local farms and the sugar-bush, students are exposed to the serenity of the rural Vermont experience. Most of Vermont Academy’s longest held traditions celebrate Vermont’s resources and encourage students to understand and enjoy the importance of nature in their wellbeing and for the preservation of our Earth.