The White Mountain School

Students and families choose a White Mountain education because we are a school of curious and engaged students and teachers; we are a school of inquiry and engagement. We know, both intiutively and from research, that to build engagement requires connections between teacher and student and student and material. Connections are best built when teacher and student determine questions and direction together, forging for the student a sense of ownership and responsibility for one’s learning. No matter what subject, no matter what level, we are deeply and purposefully committed to those principles. The result? Deeper understanding, greater retention of knowledge, and increased curiosity -- the foundation for lifelong learning and success.

The White Mountain School motto is Levavi oculos in montes -- I have lifted up my eyes to the hills. Our motto captures our place and the contagious spirit of the School; we seek to be uplifting and open to what lies ahead and all its possibilities and challenges. We are a school of inquiry and engagement. Grounded in our Episcopal heritage, we prepare and inspire students to lead lives of curiosity, courage and compassion.

As a college preparatory school, we follow a traditional liberal arts curriculum. We believe that a broad approach to human understanding of our world and its interconnections is essential to success in college and life. Our classes focus more on discussion than lecture because we know that students must explore ideas on their own to truly learn. Our curriculum offers a breadth and depth that is unique in a small school setting, and we work to engage each student by linking the curriculum to current issues and personal interests. WMS students graduate prepared to succeed because they know how to think analytically and critically, how to communicate their ideas with clarity and precision, and how to apply their skills and knowledge as engaged citizens.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that the diversity of a school directly contributes to the quality of its students’ education. Exposed to a variety of perspectives, students learn to think critically, to challenge their assumptions, and to explore alternative approaches and solutions to real world problems. We know as well that children grow best when they feel wholly safe and wholly welcome. Students bring their personal backgrounds and histories to the classroom and their classmates and their teachers are richer for that gift.

The White Mountain School is a school built on relationships. Research shows that students who have strong relationships with their teachers are more likely to succeed. With 130 students, we value the teacher and student relationships through absolute numbers rather than ratios; our students are known, and known well. Teachers and students intersect throughout the day in multiple dimensions, from dorm life to work jobs and from the extra-curricular programs to the classroom. In so many ways, The White Mountain School has created a student culture that is healthy and joyful, curious and kind. This cultural piece matters; when students feel safe and known, and when they are grounded and feel joyful, they are better poised to think and learn with creativity, clarity, and confidence.

We are also a school that asks questions. We embrace student-driven inquiry as the driving philosophy behind our approach to teaching and learning. We know, both from our experience and from research, that students learn best when they are invested and find purpose in what they are studying and when their work has an authentic audience. We encourage students to boldly pursue new and interesting lines of thinking, pushing and inspiring them to live and grow into their creative and intellectual potential.

At The White Mountain School we believe that true education should do more than inform; it should inspire. Courses here, while aligned with a college preparatory curriculum, extend beyond the classroom and into the world around us. Here students master their Spanish on our annual international service trip, practice forest stewardship as they help to manage our 240 acre campus property, and learn to measure slopes in advanced algebra while designing their own trail projects.

Our teachers know that in every interaction with a student there is a chance to motivate, mentor, and challenge; they teach here because they truly want to share their lives and passions with young people. These components of our academic program balance rigor and relevance as we prepare our students for college and, ultimately, for lives beyond formal academics.