Gould Academy

Elevate your education at Gould Academy, nestled in the picturesque mountain village of Bethel, Maine, since 1836.
Our remarkable snow sports program, in partnership with Sunday River Resort, is unparalleled.
Students embrace the slopes as ski patrollers, instructors, enthusiasts, and competitive athletes taking advantage of Sunday River's expansive terrain.
Academics are equally extraordinary, with innovative faculty providing experiential learning like hand-building skis and snowboards and investigating the natural world surrounding campus in environmental science.
The Four Point Program delivers a holistic education, featuring world travel and cultural immersion as ninth-graders and a transformative winter camping expedition in eleventh grade.
Gould fosters independence in our exceptional residential environment.  Dorm life extends the classroom, shaping students into self-reliant individuals within a vibrant community.
With a network of caring mentors guiding every Gould journey, students reach their peak potential.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked ME School
  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 190 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $71,000
  • Average class size: 10 students
  • Application Deadline: Feb. 1 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

School News

  • Gould Alum Peyton Meader ’22 on MIT All-Indigenous Rocket Launch Team - 11/17/2023
    Peyton Meader '22 is a member of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) first all-Indigenous Rocket Team in Cambridge, MA, where she is a second-year chemical engineering student. The team, Doya, ...morerecently placed second in the First Nations Launch international student competition with a blast that reached a height of 1,290 meters. Peyton was featured prominently in an article for the MIT News and on the MIT website, and the story was reported locally by The Bethel Citizen. We're following Peyton's career closely and are among her biggest fans. Congrats, Peyton! hide
  • Chris Pyle '23 Takes Second Place in Bill Taylor Essay Contest, Advocates for Internet Equality - 08/01/2023
    The Camden Conference has announced this year's Bill Taylor Essay Contest Winners. Representing Gould, Chris Pyle '23 earned second place for his essay, "Assessing Internet Inequality in the US."

Top Rankings

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

Category
Attribute
Sports offered
School History

School Overview

Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
Offers Post-Graduate Year
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Year Founded
1836

Student Body

Total Students
190 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
5%
State avg.: 16%
Students by Grade
Gould Academy Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
50 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
4:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
75%
Average Class Size
10 students
Number of AP Courses
11 courses
List of Courses Offered
Advanced Courses
Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, English Language, English Literature, Government Comparative, Physics, Statistics, US History
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Mountain casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
Feb. 1 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
Tuition Notes
Day Tuition: $53,250
% on Financial Aid
43%
Admissions Director
Kristen Kaschub
Admissions Associate
Marcy Lavallee

Sports

School Notes

  • Private High School for Boys and Girls
  • Grades 9-12, Postgraduate and Winter Term for Grades 7-8
  • Boarding School in the Mountains of Maine
  • Founded in 1836 and located in the historic mountain village of Bethel, Maine, Gould celebrates winter through an unparalleled partnership with Sunday River Resort. Students experience the mountain by becoming ski patrollers and instructors, sliding on rails and racing through gates, or discovering a lifelong passion by simply learning to ski and ride. We flip our daily schedule in the winter and begin our days on snow to take advantage of the best conditions, returning to campus for academics in the afternoon. Sunday River is one of the largest ski and snowboard resorts in the Eastern United States, and we explore every acre of terrain. Academics at Gould are both challenging and inspiring. Our innovative faculty offers unique and intentional experiential opportunities you won't find at other schools. Hand-build your own skis or snowboard. Pilot underwater robots in the Marlon Family IDEAS Center, Gould's maker space. Investigate the natural world surrounding campus in Environmental Science. Develop your artistic passions, hammering iron in the blacksmithing forge. Become a world traveler with your ninth-grade classmates, and go on a winter camping expedition in the White Mountains in our signature Four Point Program. Gould Academy delivers an exceptional residential boarding school experience. The dorms are an extension of the classroom where students learn to live independently and engage with a vibrant community. At the heart of every Gould journey is a network of caring adults to mentor students and help shape their future. Advisors, coaches, teachers, and dorm parents become trusted adults that students can depend on. Elevate your expectations-reach your peak potential.
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • Ronan Donovan '01 - National Geographic Photographer. Read more at https://www.gouldacademy.org/alumni/connect/seeing-the-bigger-picture-with-ronan-donovan-01
    • Finnian Donovan '05 - Running Tide Director of Operations. Read more at https://www.gouldacademy.org/alumni/connect/looking-to-the-ocean-for-sustainability.
    • Troy Murphy '10 - Troy Murphy (born June 13, 1992) is an American freestyle skier. He came in 4th in the Men's Moguls competition in the 2018 Winter Olympics. He's since achieved notoriety on social media for portraying a character named Donny Pelletier, an out-of-control hot dogger with a wicked Maine accent and a penchant for swilling Moxie.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Gould Academy cost?
Gould Academy's tuition is approximately $71,000 for private students.
Who are famous alumni from Gould Academy?
Gould Academy famous alumni include: Ronan Donovan '01, Finnian Donovan '05 and Troy Murphy '10.
What sports does Gould Academy offer?
Gould Academy offers 21 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Cycling, Equestrian, Field Hockey, Freestyle Skiing, Golf, Kayaking, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Nordic Skiing, Rock Climbing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Track and Field. Gould Academy is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in Maine for most sports offered.
What is Gould Academy's ranking?
Gould Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Maine for: Largest student body, Most sports offered and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Gould Academy?
The application deadline for Gould Academy is Feb. 1 / rolling (applications are due on Feb. 1 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (2 reviews)
5  
Great place for a child to learn how to be resilient and curious. Many different clubs, activities, and sports to be involved in. The mountain town location is pretty spectacular, too.
- Posted by
5  
Gould is an amazing school full of wonderful opportunities and a very supportive environment! My favourite teacher is Mr. Greene!
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked ME School
  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 190 students
  • Yearly Tuition: $71,000
  • Average class size: 10 students
  • Application Deadline: Feb. 1 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Maine is $14,473 for elementary schools and $29,502 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Maine is 73% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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