Holderness School (Top Ranked Private School for 2024)

33 Chapel Lane
Plymouth, NH 03264

Holderness School Photo #2 - Our setting in the White Mountains is a source of daily inspiration. We find wisdom in the forest, grace on the river, spirituality on the snow-capped mountain peak, and joy in every season. Our environment is built for elevation.

Holderness School Photo #3 - Holderness is just a few miles from the slopes of Cannon Mountain, Loon Mountain, and Waterville Valley. Our Snow Sports athletes also train in Switzerland, Colorado, Utah and California - just to name a few. (pictured: Loon Mountain)

Holderness School Photo #4 - In the Holderness classroom, each student is literally in the front row, with an average class size of 12. We offer AP courses spanning multiple disciplines and encourage students to pursue an intellectual passion of their own in their twelfth-grade year as part of the Senior Thesis program.

Holderness School Photo #5 - Athletics aren't just about wins and losses-they're about testing your limits. Our three-season sports philosophy is counter-cultural: instead of encouraging specialization, we honor participation and effort in everything we do. We cultivate grit and persistence. We find joy in the playing.

Holderness School Photo #6 - We think that great things happen when students work alongside practicing artists. They learn not only to speak and understand the language of the arts, but how the arts can break down barriers between people, and inside them.

Holderness School Photo #7 - We have a ratio that you won't hear about at any other school 8:1. That's what we call a "ratio for relationships" - a ratio that means that for every eight students in a dormitory there is one faculty member to support, guide and mentor them.

Holderness School Photo #8 - Even casual visitors to Holderness are struck by how often they hear "hello" in the buildings and on the walkways.

Holderness School is an independent boarding school, grades 9-12, for academically minded students with a love of the outdoors.

We are located in beautiful Holderness, NH in the heart of ski country. Visit our website to fill out an online inquiry and give us a call or email to schedule a campus visit!

Quick Stats (2024)

Top Ranked NH School
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 380 students
Yearly Tuition: $73,800
Acceptance rate: 35%
Average class size: 12 students
Application Deadline: Feb. 1
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Holderness School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in New Hampshire for:

School Overview

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES)
Institute for Independent Education
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Religious Affiliation

Episcopal

Grades Offered

Grades 9-12

Offers Post-Graduate Year

Yes

ADD/ADHD Support

Yes

Learning Difference Programs

Yes

Year Founded

1879

School Calendar

Link to School Calendar

Student Body

Total Students

380 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

10%

State avg.: 19%

Students by Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

53 teachers

Student : Teacher Ratio

7:1

National avg.: 13:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

62%

Average Class Size

12 students

Number of AP Courses

21 courses

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

Advanced Courses

AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Comparative Government & Politics, AP Computer Science A, AP Economics, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP French Language & Culture, AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Statistics, AP US Government and Politics, AP US/AP European History: Advanced History of the West 1, AP US/AP European History: Advanced History of the West 2

Average SAT score

1253

(Out of 1600)

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

Matriculation DataMatric. Data

Link to Matriculation Data

Classroom Dress Code

Formal

Business Casual. e.g., colored jeans, slacks or khakis, skirt, or dress and a collared shirt or blouse

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

Feb. 1

Yearly Tuition Cost

$73,800

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

Day student tuition is 49,200

% on Financial Aid

41%

Average Financial Aid Grant

$23,000

Acceptance Rate

35%

National avg.: 85%

Admissions Director

Mr. David Flynn

Admissions Associate

Ms. Erin Morales

Endowment Size

$60 million

Sports

Total Sports Offered

21 sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

20 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:
Current Events Club, Dial Yearbook, Diversity Club, Engineering Club, Fishing Club, Green Alliance, Investment Club, Math Team, Mosaic Literary Magazine, Perspectives, Poetry Club, STEMinist, The Picador, Vestry

Arts and Music Programs:
Acapella Group, Arts in the Afternoon, Dance, Drama/Theater, Recording Studio

Recreational Athletic Programs:
The Outing Club

School Notes

Holderness School is an independent boarding and day school for grades 912 offering a rigorous college preparatory education and curriculum in a vibrant and supportive community.
Holderness School's motto is very important to us. In Latin it ispro deo et genere humano.This translates as "For God and Humankind," and this value drives our focus on strengthening the minds, bodies, and spiritual lives of our students.
We offer a college preparatory curriculum with a range of courses, very small classes, and teachers who care about you personally. Our academics will prepare you for applying to college, succeeding in college, and even help you build networks and skills for your career.
We love the outdoors here and believe that athletics are a foundation for great health, so you'll participate in three sports a year. We offer unique sports like rock climbing and mountain biking, as well as traditional school sports like football, lacrosse, ice hockey, and soccer. Half of our students are alpine, nordic, snowboarding and freeski athletes, and many of them compete at the national or international level. But not all of them; you might be someone who gets on snow for the first time at Holderness and develops a life long love of winter sports.
Holderness School also believes in caring for one another in active ways that lay the foundation for confident leadership. All students participate in our Jobs Program and share in the work of running the school. We are also a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools and its guiding principles are steeped in a Christian tradition of inclusion and open inquiry. Students and faculty attend chapel twice a week together and often collaborate on the service content and style.
The sum of these values is that we have a very warm and connected community with a joyful spirit. If you choose Holderness School you will graduate with an excellent academic foundation, strong leadership skills, and life-long connections--ingredients for a happy and successful life.

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Holderness School cost?

Holderness School's tuition is approximately $73,800 for private students.

What is the acceptance rate of Holderness School?

The acceptance rate of Holderness School is 35%, which is lower than the national average of 73%. Holderness School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in New Hampshire with low acceptance rates.

What sports does Holderness School offer?

Holderness School offers 21 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Cycling, Field Hockey, Football, Freestyle Skiing, Golf, Ice Hockey, Kayaking, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Nordic Skiing, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Softball and Tennis. Holderness School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in New Hampshire for most sports offered.

What is Holderness School's ranking?

Holderness School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in New Hampshire for: Lowest average acceptance rates, Largest student body, Most AP courses offered, Most sports offered, Most extracurriculars offered, Oldest founding date and Largest endowments.

When is the application deadline for Holderness School?

The application deadline for Holderness School is Feb. 1.

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