Vermont Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vermont Academy |
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Logo of Vermont Academy.
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| Address | |
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10 Long Walk
Saxtons River
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05154
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| Coordinates | 43°08′30″N 72°30′31″W / 43.1417444°N 72.5087004°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Private boarding and day school |
| Established | 1876 |
| Head of School | Jennifer L. Zaccara |
| Faculty | 50 |
| Enrollment | 200 |
| Campus | Rural |
| Color(s) | Black and orange |
| Mascot | Wildcats |
| Website | |
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Vermont Academy Campus Historic District
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View of the Vermont Academy campus in 2013.
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| Architect | Adden & Parker; Adden, Parker, Clinch & Crimp; Frank Lyman Austin; Clinton Smith |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000423 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 2015 |
Vermont Academy (often called VA) is a private school in Saxtons River, Vermont. It's a co-educational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. Students from ninth to twelfth grade, plus postgraduates, can study here. It helps students get ready for college.
Vermont Academy was started in 1876. Its campus was recognized as a special historic place in 2015. It is now known as the Vermont Academy Campus Historic District.
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History of Vermont Academy
The idea to create Vermont Academy came up in 1869. It was decided at a meeting in Windsor, Vermont. The school was meant to educate young people from the Baptist community.
A man named Charles L. Jones gave a large amount of money, $20,000, to help start the school. He was from Saxtons River. The first building on campus, Jones Hall, was named after him. It is still used today.
When it first opened in 1876, Vermont Academy had a lower school just for boys. This part of the school focused on outdoor activities.
In 1934, Laurence G. Leavitt became the headmaster. He led the school for 25 years. During his time, the number of students doubled. The school also paid off all its debts.
School Traditions
The Vermont Academy Evening Song
Vermont Academy has its own special song. It was written in 1934 by Dorothy Hall Leavitt. The song talks about the beauty of Vermont and how students will always remember their time there.
O Vermont, we've seen your beauty,
changing with each hour and day.
We have found your hidden trout pools,
where the light and shadows play.
Swirling sparks above a campfire,
hemlocks laden down with snow.
Autumn hillsides flaming crimson,
where the sugar maples grow.
Morning mist upon the mountains,
frosty stars across the sky.
Snowy campus turned to silver,
when the moon is riding high.
O Vermont, we will not leave you,
here behind us when we part.
We will take your beauty with us,
etched forever on each heart!—Dorothy Hall Leavitt
What Students Learn
Vermont Academy offers many subjects. These include Art, English, History, and Mathematics. Students can also study Music, Science, and World Languages. For languages, they can choose French, Latin, or Spanish.
The school also helps students prepare for college. They have a special program called College Counseling. Vermont Academy works with Liceo Europeo, another private school in Madrid, Spain.
Sports and Athletics
Vermont Academy's sports teams are called the Wildcats. They play against other schools in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council. They are also part of the Lakes Region League.
The school offers many sports throughout the year.
- Fall sports include crew, cross country, and soccer. Students can also try equestrian (horse riding), mountain biking, and wilderness skills.
- Spring sports are baseball, equestrian, and golf. Other options are fly fishing, lacrosse, rock climbing, and tennis.
- Winter sports include alpine skiing, basketball, and dance. Students can also do freeski, hockey, nordic skiing, and snowboarding.
The campus has great sports facilities. There are five playing fields and two practice fields. It also has an ice rink and six tennis courts. For adventure, there's a ropes course and a mountain biking course. The school has 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) of trails. There is also a winter sports park with ski jumps and slopes.
Campus Life
The Vermont Academy campus is in Saxtons River. It covers more than 450 acres (about 182 hectares). The campus has buildings that date back to when the school started in 1876.
Jones Hall was the first building. It was the only one until 1888. Then, Fuller Hall was built, named after a school trustee. Alumni Hall was designed in 1921 by a famous architect.
Besides the Wilbur Library, Vermont Academy has many other buildings. There are dormitories for students to live in. These dorms can house over 100 boys and 60 girls.
In the 2000s, new parts of the campus were added. An observatory was built in 2003 for looking at stars. A gymnasium and fitness center opened in 2004. A performing arts center was completed in 2006.
The entire Vermont Academy campus was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. This means it's a special place with important history.
School Costs
For the 2023-2024 school year, the cost for students who live at the school (boarding students) was $69,500. For students who attend during the day and live at home (day students), the cost was $38,000.
Famous People Who Attended Vermont Academy
Many interesting people have graduated from Vermont Academy.
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Frank C. Archibald
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Clara Converse
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Paul Harris
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Some graduates became important politicians or military leaders in the United States. These include diplomats like John Barrett and Mark Palmer. Judges like Joseph Bogdanski and Fred Tarbell Field also went to VA. Three members of the House of Representatives studied here: Henry L. Bowles, Howard A. Coffin, and Samuel B. Pettengill. Frank C. Archibald, who was the Vermont Attorney General, also graduated from the school.
Many graduates have become professional athletes. Basketball players include Bruce Brown and Jordan Nwora. Both have played in the National Basketball Association. Nwora won the 2021 NBA Finals with the Milwaukee Bucks, and Brown won in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets. Hockey players like Chloé Aurard and Paul Fenton also attended. Bill Torrey is in the Hockey Hall of Fame for his work as a manager in the National Hockey League. He helped the New York Islanders win four Stanley Cups in a row. Other athletes include baseball players Bert Abbey and Danny MacFayden, and skiers Rob DesLauriers and Joseph Peter Wilson.
Vermont Academy also educated important inventors. Paul Harris founded Rotary International. Russell W. Porter started the hobby of amateur telescope making. Archibald Query invented Marshmallow Fluff. Christopher A. Sinclair, who used to be the head of Pepsi, also graduated from VA.
Other notable alumni include authors like John Steptoe and Helen M. Winslow. Florence R. Sabin became a famous scientist. Clara Converse was a missionary who helped start education for women in Japan.
Joe Perry, the lead guitarist for the famous rock band Aerosmith, also went to Vermont Academy.
See also
