The Williston Northampton School vs. Berkshire School
Should you attend The Williston Northampton School or Berkshire School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
School
Definition of Terms | 2025 School Data
The Williston Northampton School
(17)
19 Payson Avenue
Easthampton, MA 01027, United States of America
Easthampton, MA 01027, United States of America
Top Rankings
The Williston Northampton School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 307 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Offering Breadth
Student Test Scores
Berkshire School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 307 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
School Resources
Selectivity
Overview
Located on 125 acres in Western Massachusetts, Williston has a history dating back to 1841. Williston`s 420 students come from 30 countries and 25 U.S. states.
All Williston students take part in Williston`s Comprehensive Program for Academic and Social Success, known as COMPASS, which unifies our CORE Life and Leadership Program; our Williston Scholars program; our College Counselling program; and our Center for Academic Success (Academic Suport).
At the core of the Williston experience is our balance of academic excellence and support-students choose from 145 courses, and they utilize our Writing Center, our Math Center as well as more formalized academic support.
Additionally, Williston has a long history of athletic excellence, with over 35 percent of our graduating seniors going on to play at the college level in the last 5 years.
Founded in 1907, Berkshire School is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school for 400 ninth-12th graders and post-graduates, offering a forward-thinking curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities on a 400-acre campus in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
Berkshire's signature programs, including Advanced Math/Science Research, Advanced Humanities Research, and Pro Vita Winter Session, are offered along with advanced sections and AP offerings in all disciplines.
These programs are designed to expand the minds, provide real-world experiences, and help distinguish our students in an increasingly competitive college process.
With a range of artistic and athletic offerings and national recognition for our efforts in sustainability, Berkshire provides an extraordinary setting in which students are encouraged to learn in the words of the School motto: Pro Vita Non Pro Schola Discimus, "Learning-not just for school but for life."
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12, PG
9-12, PG
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1841
1907
Campus Size
125 acres
400 acres
Students Body
Enrollment
400
400
% Students of Color
18%
21%
% International Students
24%
16%
% Students Boarding
70%
89%
Average SAT Score
1360
n/a
Average ACT score
29
n/a
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
Yes
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
Yes
Yes
Frequency of Saturday Classes
Bi-Weekly
weekly
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Casual
Average Class Size
13
12
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
4:1
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered
29
17
ESL Courses Offered
Yes
No
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
75%
70%
Summer Program Offered
No
No
Finances
Endowment Size
$60 million
$195 million
Tuition (Boarding Students)
$74,000
$73,200
Tuition (Day Students)
$51,000
n/a
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$25,250
$54,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
$1
n/a
Admission
Application Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Jan. 15
Accepts Standardized Application
Yes
No
SSAT Required
Yes
No
Average Percentile SSAT
63
65
Acceptance Rate
33%
20%
Director of Admissions
Christopher J. Dietrich
Allison Letourneau
Associate Director of Admissions
n/a
Mark Saunders
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered
29
17
Sport
Total Sports Offered
21
21
Sports
Alpine SkiingBaseball
BasketballCrew
Cross CountryDiving
Field HockeyFootball
GolfIce Hockey
LacrosseSoccer
SoftballSquash
SwimmingTennis
Track and FieldUltimate Frisbee
VolleyballWater Polo
Wrestling
Alpine SkiingBaseball
BasketballCrew
Cross CountryDance
Field HockeyFootball
GolfIce Hockey
LacrosseMountain Biking
MountaineeringNordic Skiing
Rock ClimbingSoccer
SoftballSquash
TennisTrack and Field
Volleyball
Extracurricular
Total Extra-curric.Total Extracurriculars
33
33
Extra-curric.Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Arts and Music Programs:
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Blue and White Society (school spirit)Blue Notes (male a capella)
Filipino Culture ClubJane Austen Club
Maiyeros (boys a capella)Math Tutoring Society
Milagros (gospel choir)Mitchell Cabinet (Service Club)
Model UNPhilanthropy Society
Photography ClubScience Team
Service ClubSpanish Community Center Tutors
Student Council OfficersStudent Multicultural Board
SubterraneansT.R.I.B.E. (Trust, Respect, Individuality, Belief, Equality)
The Book Club and Literary SocietyThe Debate Society
The Log (Student Newspaper)Theater
Westtown Competitive Gaming ClubWillistonian (Student Newspaper)
Arts and Music Programs:
Chinese Chess ClubMake-a-Wish
Muslim Students AssociationNative American Club
Peer Educators (healthy decisions)Philanthropy Club
Principles of Coaching
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Maiyeros - male a cappellaThe Press - campus sports news
Club or Organization:
Recreational Athletic Programs:
1907 SocietyAfro-Latino Society
Astronomy ClubBadminton Club
Berkshire Birding ClubBuddhist Meditation Group
Collegium MusicumDance Ensemble
Debate ClubDog Walking Club
Entrepreneurs ClubEnvironmental Action Club
Fellowship of Christians at Universities and Schools (FOCUS)Fly Fishing Club
French ClubGay Straight Alliance (GSA)
Green Key ClubGreensleeves (Boys' A Cappella)
Investment ClubJewish Student Union
Kids 4 Kids (Elementary School Tutoring)Maple Syrup Corporation
Math TeamMock Trial Club
Model United NationsPhilanthropy Society
Quiz BowlStudent Activities Committee
Ursa Minor (Girls' A Cappella)Yoga and Meditation Club
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Dance ProgramRitt Kellogg Mountain Program
Theater Productions