Berwick Academy

Berwick Academy, chartered by John Hancock in 1791, serves over 600 students in grades Pre-K through 12 and post-graduate. While also offering boarding opportunities, the student body represents over 60 communities in the north shore of MA, NH, and southern ME and offers 8 bus routes with 25 stops for easy access to the Hilltop. Berwick`s extensive arts and athletics programs complement a rigorous academic curriculum, which balances tradition with innovation and prepares students for a complex and dynamic world.
Students are empowered to be bold to take risks, own their learning, ask the difficult questions, pursue their passions, and to discover and be their own authentic selves.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked ME School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-12
  • Enrollment: 539 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $40,410
  • Acceptance rate: 50%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Berwick Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Maine for:

Category
Attribute
School History

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-12
Offers Post-Graduate Year
Yes
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Berwick has learning support specialists in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools
Year Founded
1791

Student Body

Total Students
539 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
7%
State avg.: 16%
Students by Grade
Berwick Academy Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
73 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
7:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
53%
Average Class Size
12 students
List of Courses Offered
Average SAT score
1280
Average ACT score
26
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
four pocket pants, no jeans, modest attire for girls

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
Tuition Notes
Tuition ranges from $10200 (PK) - $46250 (Upper School)
% on Financial Aid
41%
Acceptance Rate
50%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Jen Wing
Admissions Associate
Haley Preston (Upper School)

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
21 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Chess Club, Diversity Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Investment Club, Literary Magazine, Math Team, Middle School Book Club, Middle School Bulldogs for Justice, Middle School Project Bulldog, Model United Nations, Outdoors Club, Outreach Club, Student Government, Sustainability Club

Arts and Music Programs:
Dance, Lower School Music Classes, Middle School Hands on Music, Middle School Strings, Upper School Band, Upper School Choir, Upper School Jazz Ensemble

School Notes

  • Vision Statement:
  • Berwick Academy, founded in 1791, is dedicated to promoting virtue and useful knowledge among the rising generations.List of 2 items.Vision StatementBerwick Academy strives to become a nationally recognized coeducational day school. We seek this recognition for the unique qualities of the Berwick experience. Excellence at Berwick will continue to be attained by day and residential students who stretch and engage in ways that catalyze achievement of their individual potential in all areas of school life. Berwick will be further distinguished in its peer group through its synergistic relationship with the values and priorities of Seacoast families, which include quality of life, balance, perspective, and authenticity.This combination of national excellence and Seacoast values will result in Berwick being pursued by educators from across the nation and by prospective Seacoast students and families. Berwick Academy`s culture and first-rate facilities will be known as a reason for families to relocate to our area. Our graduates will be equipped to thrive at the finest and most diverse colleges and universities in the country, but they will be grounded by the core values of our community.We will bring this vision to fruition by engaging the talent and resourcefulness of our exceptional students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and parent community. Together we will improve all aspects of the school with particular focus on enhancing our programs and bolstering financial durability. We will know that our vision has been realized when enrollment selectivity has increased substantially, net endowment has improved significantly, and other private day school educators routinely seek our input on teaching, finance, diversity, program, and campus development.
  • Statement of Community:
  • Berwick Academy is committed to building a diverse school community that ensures active and full participation, values fairness and equity, and addresses the systemic marginalization experienced by underrepresented groups. We strive to support and attract students, families, faculty, staff, and administrators whose varied backgrounds, including disability status, family composition, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, strengthen our community.Through our curriculum, co-curricular activities, and community-building efforts, students can expect to leave Berwick AcademyKnowing Themselvesand what makes up their identity. They will beSocially Aware, open-minded, empathetic, and willing to explore and understand others` perspectives. We equip our students to beCivically Engagedcitizens, so that they may give of themselves and actively work to redress inequity toward a more just society asEquity Mindedupstanders and allies."Dedicated to promoting virtue and useful knowledge" now and in the future, we must prepare students to understand, identify with, and engage in an ever-changing world.
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • Mike Eruzione - Captain the US Men's Hockey Gold Medal Team
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Berwick Academy cost?
Berwick Academy's tuition is approximately $40,410 for private students.
What is the acceptance rate of Berwick Academy?
The acceptance rate of Berwick Academy is 50%, which is lower than the national average of 73%. Berwick Academy's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Maine with low acceptance rates.
Who are famous alumni from Berwick Academy?
Berwick Academy famous alumni include: Mike Eruzione.
What sports does Berwick Academy offer?
Berwick Academy offers 13 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis and Volleyball.
What is Berwick Academy's ranking?
Berwick Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Maine for: Lowest average acceptance rates, Largest student body and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Berwick Academy?
The application deadline for Berwick Academy is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Calendar

View the Berwick Academy yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event
Date
Last Day of Classes for Grade 12
May 10, 2024 (Friday)
Last Day of Classes for Grades 9-11
May 24, 2024 (Friday)
Thanksgiving Break (Campus Closed)
November 27, 2024 (Wednesday)
Spring Break
March 10, 2025 (Monday)

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (5 reviews)
5  
Berwick holds high academic expectations led by teachers that are intensely passionate and excited about the subject matter they teach. Classes are small. Students are seen, heard, and active participants in their education. There is a strong sense of mutual respect between our children and their teachers. Our children see themselves with infinite potential because the adults in their world see them that way. Whatever a student has a passion for is not only valued but nurtured and supported by the school. Our children are learning how to pursue their interests today, but also, perhaps more importantly, how to pursue any interest they may have in the future. Berwick also actively creates spaces and opportunities for students to have fun and cultivate lasting, healthy friendships. BA is a cell phone-free school, where you see students talking with each other at lunch and then heading outside to play some pickup ball or sit under the shade of a tree with a friend. There are requirements for afterschool activities but the choices are plentiful and range from rec level to varsity. Many independent schools focus solely on academics - what we love about Berwick is that our children are held to high academic rigor while also being strongly encouraged and supported to create balance (mental, physical, and social) in their lives.
- Posted by
5  
BA is an amazing community. The teachers KNOW our son and he has access to resources and opportunities that are allowing him to grow in ways we never could have imagined.
- Posted by
5  
Berwick Academy is a school that pays you back. Although the school is most widely known for it's academic prowess, innovation, and college placement ability, where BA really shines is through it's intimate, family-like environment. By this design, Berwick fosters tailored development by truly educating the whole student. As a fairly recent graduate, I can honestly say that Berwick not only gave me (and my peers) access to a number of highly selective colleges, it also provided me with a solid personal foundation comprised of confidence, self awareness, and social ability that shaped the person I am today. Although the real value of Berwick was not as clear to me when I was a student there, I know now that my unfettered access to my extremely gifted and memorable teachers, my highly challenging course load, and the academy's ongoing promotion of self discovery was not something that most others enjoyed. I know it was a huge sacrifice, but I am forever indebted to my family for having the foresight and decidedness to send me there and will most definitely work to do the same for my children.
- Posted by
5  
Berwick Academy is a wonderful school. I attend Berwick for 9 years, then worked there as the Assistant Alumni Director, and I am now on the Alumni Council. The school has grown and changed in amazing ways over the many years I have been involved. I would highly recommend this school to any parents looking for a private school experience for their child. It will be the experience of a life time.
- Posted by
5  
The investment of a Berwick Academy education has paid many dividends throughout the years since graduating from the school. Not only did I receive a top notch education, but the curriculum naturally offers the ability to become a "well rounded" student. The small teacher-to-student ratio fosters the ability to build lasting relationships with the faculty and promotes a very intimate learning environment. Attending a school like Berwick Academy made the transition to college a lot more manageable as the course load and demands of each student were quite rigorous, but fair. Berwick Academy has made huge strides over the years incorporating new innovations into their curriculum, making them one of the premier college preparatory institutions. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to study at Berwick Academy and continue to cherish my experience there.
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked ME School
  • Grades: Prekindergarten-12
  • Enrollment: 539 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $40,410
  • Acceptance rate: 50%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in York County, ME is $14,216 for elementary schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).

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