New Hampshire is home to some of the oldest and most prestigious preparatory schools in the United States.
New England gave birth to higher education in the United States and is still home to some of the country's most esteemed colleges and universities, including Harvard, Yale, Brown and MIT. It's no surprise that New Hampshire, in the heart of New England, hosts prestigious preparatory schools for those hoping to give their children every opportunity to succeed. These schools offer students a varied and rigorous academic curriculum coupled with active arts and athletics programs in a diverse student community.
Holderness School
Holderness was founded in 1879 by members of the Episcopal General Convention, and the school maintains a focus on faith by seeking to teach students to "work for the betterment of humankind and God's creation," according to its website. Holderness School's mission statement emphasizes striking a balance among scholarship, character and community involvement. Prospective students and their families are encouraged to visit the campus before applying.
New Hampton School
New Hampton School is a coed preparatory school founded in 1821. The school sits on a 325-acre campus and hosts 245 boarding students, as of January 2011. New Hampton School offers a rigorous college prep program that combines scholarship with active participation in both the arts, such as dance and photography, and athletics, such as football, skiing, rock climbing, kayaking and tennis. New Hampton School has an impressive 5-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is one of the oldest and most prestigious preparatory schools in the United States. Founded by John Phillips in 1781, Phillips Exeter is home to 1,000 coed boarding students, as of 2010. Phillips Exeter offers courses in 19 academic departments, including art, English, economics, mathematics, music, religion, science, theater and dance, as well as transitional language and culture courses for international students. In 2007, Phillips Exeter's endowment crossed the $1 billion mark, making it' endowment comparable to that of an Ivy League university. As of January 2011, Phillips Exeter offers full scholarships to all accepted students from households with an annual income of less than $75,000.
Tilton School
Tilton School was founded in Tilton in 1845. As of January 2011, the school has 54 day students and 203 boarding students from 23 states and 17 countries. Its student-to-faculty ratio is 5-to-1. Tilton added a new academic building and a new residence hall in 2007. The school also hosts a weather station that plays a crucial role in the science, math and statistics courses.
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