Honoring its founder's vision, Emma Willard School proudly fosters in each young woman a love of learning, the habits of an intellectual life, and the character, moral strength, and qualities of leadership to serve and shape her world.
Quick Facts (2026)
- Top-Ranked NY School
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 354 students
- Yearly Tuition: $80,495
- Acceptance rate: 35%
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Feb. 1 / Jan. 15 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Emma Willard School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in New York for:
Category
Attribute
Acceptance Rate
Student Body
AP Courses
Sports offered
Extracurriculars
School History
School Resources
School Overview
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
Offers Post-Graduate Year
Yes
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Year Founded
1814
Colors
Black; Red; White
Summer School Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details
School Calendar
Campus Size
137 acres
Student Body
Total Students
354 students
Student Body Type
% Students of Color
34%
State avg.: 39%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
49 teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
National avg.: 11:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
94%
Average Class Size
12 students
Number of AP/Advanced Courses
20 courses
List of Courses Offered
AP/Advanced Courses
Advanced Studies Art HistoryAdvanced Studies Biology
Advanced Studies Calculus ABAdvanced Studies Calculus C with an Introduction to Multivariable Calculus
Advanced Studies ChemistryAdvanced Studies Chinese IV
Advanced Studies Comparative Government and PoliticsAdvanced Studies Computer Science Explorations
Advanced Studies Computer Science with JavaAdvanced Studies Entomology
Advanced Studies French V: French Identity(ies)Advanced Studies Latin IV: Literature and Empire
Advanced Studies Physics IAdvanced Studies Postcolonial Perspectives: Literature & Theory
Advanced Studies Spanish V: Migration and IdentityAdvanced Studies Statistics
Advanced Studies The Politics of EmotionAdvanced Studies United States History
Average SAT score
1321
(Out of 1600)
Average ACT score
29
(Out of 36)
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Feb. 1 / Jan. 15 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
$80,495
Tuition Notes
Day tuition = $49,995
Financial Aid average boarding award is $50,599; average day award is $28,006
Summer Program Cost
$775
Summer Program Cost Notes
Regular Session: $775
Writer\'s Retreat: $950
Theatre Intensive: $950
Leadership in Training: $500
% on Financial Aid
43%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$30,292
Acceptance Rate
35%
National avg.: 82%
College Acceptance Rate
100%
Admissions Director
Katie Myer
Admissions Associate
Jing Zhang Benavot
Application URL
Endowment Size
$245 million
Sports
Total Sports Offered
17 sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
36 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Arts and Music Programs:
Amnesty InternationalAsian Student Union
Black Latine Student UnionCampus Players (Theatre Club)
CREATE - Coding and RoboticsDebate Team
Democracy MattersEmma Green (Sustainability Club)
EMMAcappellaEntrepreneurship Club
F-Word (Feminist Club)FOCUS (Christian Group)
Human Rights AdvocatesInternational Club
Math LeagueMedTalks
Mock TrialModel UN
OMEGA (Fashion Club)Philanthropy Club (Phila)
Pride ClubQuiz Team
School Newspaper (The Clock)Science Olympiad
Stock Market ClubStudent Council
Student Organization for Animal Rights (SOAR)Triangle Literary and Arts Magazine
Writing ClubYearbook (The Gargoyle)
Arts and Music Programs:
Chamber OrchestraChoir
Emma ArtistsInner Choir
OrchestraSemiquavers
School Notes
- School Motto: Gaudet Patientia Duris (Patience Rejoices in Adversity)
- School Mascot: Jesters
- LOOK WITHIN, SEE BEYOND. What drives your passion to learn? Are you an artist? A scientist? An athlete? A combination of all? At Emma Willard School, we invite you to embrace your passion and use it to shape your high school learning experience and beyond.
- As the nation's first institute of higher learning for young women, Emma Willard School has been a leader in girls' education for over 200 years. Our founder, Emma Hart Willard, was a bold advocate for access to education, wanting young women to have more opportunities than what was available to her at that time. She was empowered to want more for herself and others and set forth for a life of extraordinary impact. Since 1814, we have been challenging independent school students to question, reason, learn, grow, and lead.
- Whether you already know your passion, or are still finding your way, Emma Willard School empowers you to discover your authentic self. With a balance of academic rigor, personalized opportunities to grow and create, and a focus on individual wellness, Emma Willard School prepares boarding and day students in grades 9 through 12 to go out and impact their world.
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Jane Fonda '55 - Activist and Actor
- Kirsten Gillibrand '84 - U.S. Senator for NY State
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1832) - Author, lecturer, and chief philosopher of the woman's rights and suffrage movements.
- Eunice Newton Foote (1838) - American scientist, inventor, and women's rights campaigner who discovered the greenhouse effect
- Jean Camper Cahn '52 - Lawyer and social activist who co-founded the Urban Law Institute and Antioch School of Law
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Emma Willard School cost?
Emma Willard School's tuition is approximately $80,495 for private students and $775 for summer students.
What is the acceptance rate of Emma Willard School?
The acceptance rate of Emma Willard School is 35%, which is lower than the national average of 75%. Emma Willard School's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in New York with low acceptance rates.
Who are famous alumni from Emma Willard School?
Emma Willard School famous alumni include: Jane Fonda '55, Kirsten Gillibrand '84, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1832), Eunice Newton Foote (1838) and Jean Camper Cahn '52.
Does Emma Willard School offer a summer program?
Yes, Emma Willard School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What sports does Emma Willard School offer?
Emma Willard School offers 17 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Badminton, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Dance, Diving, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball and Winter Track. Emma Willard School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in New York for most sports offered.
What is Emma Willard School's ranking?
Emma Willard School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in New York 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 Emma Willard School?
The application deadline for Emma Willard School is Feb. 1 / Jan. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Feb. 1 / Jan. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
Related Schools
Show me:
People that viewed Emma Willard School also viewed these schools: La Salle Institute, St. Gregorys School, Christian Brothers Academy, Northwood School and Hackley School.
The nearest high school to Emma Willard School is La Salle Institute (1.5 miles away)
The nearest elementary school and preschool is Susan Odell Taylor School For Children (0.3 miles away)
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(Math and Reading Proficiency)
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Miles
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Pieter B Coeymans School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
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(Math: 37% | Reading: 43%)
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(Math: 50-59% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
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2025 Rt 9w
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Rank:
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