White Mountain School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The White Mountain School |
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| Type | Private, boarding and coeducational |
| Motto | Levavi Oculos In Montes |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Episcopalian |
| Established | 1886 |
| Head of School (interim) | Donald Ball |
| Teaching staff | 21.1 (on a FTE basis) |
| Enrollment | 140 (2021) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 5.5 |
| Campus | Rural 250 acres (100 ha) |
| Color(s) | Blue, White |
| Endowment | $2 million |
| Website | www.whitemountain.org |
The White Mountain School, also known as White Mountain or WMS, is a special kind of school called a co-educational independent boarding school. This means both boys and girls live and learn there. It is located in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, United States. The school started in 1886 as St. Mary's School in Concord, New Hampshire. It moved to its current spot in 1936. The school is just north of the beautiful White Mountains in New Hampshire.
Contents
- What is the History of White Mountain School?
- What Do Students Learn at White Mountain School?
- Who Teaches and Helps Students?
- Who Goes to White Mountain School?
- What is the School Campus Like?
- What Sports and Activities Can Students Do?
- How Much Does it Cost and How Can Students Get Help?
- Who Are Some Famous Alumni?
What is the History of White Mountain School?
The White Mountain School began in 1886. It was first an all-girls high school. It was connected to the Episcopal Church and called St. Mary's School. This first school was in Concord, New Hampshire.
In 1935, the headmistress, Dorothy McLane, moved the school. It moved north into the White Mountains area. The new location was the estate of Ernest Poole in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire. The school then changed its name to St. Mary's-in-the-Mountains.
Just one year later, in 1936, the school moved again. It bought the Seven Springs Estate in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. This is where the school is located today. Over the next 25 years, the campus grew. New dorms were bought, and new classrooms were built.
On January 3, 1964, the school's main building burned down. A new main building was built in its place the next year. In 1970, the school started letting a few boys attend as day students. By 1972, the school became fully co-educational. This means both boys and girls could live and learn there. At that time, its name changed to The White Mountain School.
What Do Students Learn at White Mountain School?
The White Mountain School uses a traditional liberal arts way of teaching. This means students learn about many different subjects. These include English, history, math, science, and world languages.
Students can take many different courses. Some are for beginners, while others are more advanced. There are also Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Students can even design their own special projects. To finish school, students need to earn 19 credits. This includes specific amounts in English, history, math, science, and other subjects.
The White Mountain School was the first high school in the U.S. to offer Sustainability Studies. This subject teaches students about living in a way that protects the environment.
What are Field Courses?
The White Mountain School has something unique called a Field Course. This is a week-long learning trip. Students explore a topic in a real-world setting. These trips happen in October and March. They last for five days.
For example, students have studied poverty in Portland, Maine. They have explored art and adventure in the Adirondacks. Other trips have focused on island ecology in Acadia National Park. Students have also learned about avalanche forecasting in Wyoming and Idaho. Some courses explore history, like walking in Thoreau's footsteps in Massachusetts. Others focus on social issues, like Women's Rights in Washington, DC. There are also trips for science, like studying desert ecology in Tucson, Arizona. Students can even do community service in the Dominican Republic.
What is the LASR Project?
The LASR Project is another special part of learning at White Mountain School. "LASR" stands for Leadership, Arts, Service, and Research. Students choose a project in one of these areas.
They can do a research project, create an art portfolio, or work on an independent study. Older students might complete a Senior Project. Some students even lead a Field Course. These projects help students explore their interests. They also help them develop important skills.
Who Teaches and Helps Students?
Every student at White Mountain School has a faculty advisor. This advisor helps the student throughout the year. They also talk with parents. The advisor is the main contact between the student, their family, and their teachers.
Many teachers at the school have advanced degrees. This means they have studied their subjects at a very high level. About 67% of the teachers have these special degrees. They also have other certifications.
Who Goes to White Mountain School?
The White Mountain School has about 123 students. They come from all over the country and even from other parts of the world. About 49% of the students are boys, and 51% are girls.
Most students, about 76%, live at the school. These are called boarding students. The other 24% are day students. They live in nearby towns and come to school each day.
What is the School Campus Like?
The school's campus is 250-acre (100 ha) big. It sits on a hilltop between Bethlehem and Littleton, New Hampshire. From here, you can see amazing views of the White Mountains.
The McLane Academic Center holds the classrooms. It also has a multimedia center and learning labs. The school library has over 7,000 books. It also has online catalogs and databases. Students can even borrow books from Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire.
The Fred Steele Science Center has modern labs. It uses SMART Board technology. This allows students to do many different science projects. The new Catherine Houghton Arts Center has studios for dance, art, and music. The school works with Creative Edge Dance Studio. This partnership offers dance classes for all levels. Students can use the art and music spaces outside of class too.
The school has a large indoor climbing wall. It is 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) big. This climbing wall is inside a sports center. The center also has exercise equipment and weights. Outside, there are two sports fields. There is also a big trail system for walking and biking.
The campus also has a school farm. Students helped build a shed there. There is a chicken coop with hens. They also have an organic garden for vegetables and fruits. Composting bins help turn food waste into soil. The student center is in the McLane building.
Students who live at the school stay in one of four dorms. Teachers and their families also live in the dorms. Each dorm has common areas with couches, a TV, and a microwave. The dining hall serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also has drinks and snacks all day.
On weekends, teachers plan fun activities for students. These include outdoor trips like moonlight hikes and ski trips. Students can also go mountain biking. There are shopping trips and visits to movies or plays. The school also hosts cultural events. Sometimes, students bake cookies in faculty kitchens or play games.
What Sports and Activities Can Students Do?
The White Mountain School is part of the Lakes Region Athletic League. This league is part of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council. Students can join many different sports and activities.
- Adventure Sports
- All-mountain skiing and snowboarding
- Ice climbing
- Freestyle skiing and snowboarding
- Mountain biking
- Sport climbing
- Outdoor rock climbing
- Whitewater kayaking
- Team Sports
- Cross-country
- Cycling
- Boys lacrosse
- Girls lacrosse
- Boys soccer
- Girls soccer
- Co-curricular Activities
- Dance
- Farm and Forest
- Robotics
- Theater
The school's rock climbing program is very special. It was the first high school program to be approved by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). The sport climbing program works with USA Climbing. This gives students chances to compete. Students who do outdoor sports learn how to climb safely. They also learn about leaving no trace, first aid, and planning trips. They learn about nature too.
How Much Does it Cost and How Can Students Get Help?
For the 2016-2017 school year, the cost for tuition, room, and board was $57,900. For day students, tuition was $29,000. Extra help like Learning Center tutorials or the ESL Program cost more.
About 40% of students get financial aid. This means they get money to help pay for school. The average amount given was $40,000. Whether a student gets aid depends on their family's financial need. This is decided by School and Student Services (SSS).
Who Are Some Famous Alumni?
Many successful people have graduated from The White Mountain School.
- Lucy Nettie Fletcher: A nurse who served in World War I.
- Lucile Wheeler '52: An Olympic skier. She was the first person from North America to win a world title in downhill skiing.
- Audrey Thomas '53: A novelist and short story writer. She won the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize three times.
- Will Gadd '85: A famous ice climber and paraglider pilot.
- Parker Croft '05: A film actor and screenwriter. He is known for movies like Falling Overnight and the TV show Once Upon a Time.
