Gould Academy (Top Ranked Private School for 2025-26)

Name: Open House
Start: 2025-10-13T09:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-10-13T12:00:00-04:00
Location: Gould Academy

5.00 (2 reviews)

Tel: (207) 824-7777

39 Church Street
Bethel, ME 04217

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www.gouldacademy.org

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SAVE SCHOOL

Gould Academy is not just a school. It's a journey of self-discovery.

Nestled in the beautiful mountains of Maine, Gould fosters intellectual exploration and personal growth through a unique blend of rigorous academics and experiential learning.

Here, students challenge their assumptions in a safe, nurturing environment, whether it's through our renowned individual sports programs, cutting-edge Maker Space, or our one-of-a-kind experiential program.

At Gould, we don't just prepare students to earn a diploma-we prepare them for life.

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Top Ranked ME School
Grades: 7-12
Enrollment: 230 students
Yearly Tuition: $75,324
Acceptance rate: 99%
Average class size: 10 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: Verified school update

Upcoming Events and News

Ninth Grade Four Point: Exploring Dominica - 08/15/2025
Each March, Ninth Grade students at Gould embark on a Four Point journey, traveling internationally in small groups to learn through cultural immersion. For some snow sports athletes and ...morestudents who weren't able to travel in March, the trip takes place in June after the competition season (and school year) ends. This year, that group journeyed to the Caribbean island of Dominica, where they learned to sea kayak, stayed with local families, and experienced a new and vibrant culture. hide
Gould’s International Culture Festival by Andy Moses ’26 - 07/23/2025
Gould Academy's International Culture Festival is a special event that is hosted by the Global Student Organization (GSO). During the festival, international students proudly share their country's culture with the ...moreschool community. Round tables are set up to represent each global student's respective country in Clough Dining Room, and students simply walk up to them and interact with the table's display-whether that be through food, games, or other visual traditions. As a result, students become more informed about other cultures and also have a ton of fun! hide
Gould Students Sweep Prestigious Camden Conference Essay Competition - 05/30/2025
In an extraordinary display of academic excellence and civic engagement, Gould Academy students have made history by earning all three top honors in the 2025 Camden Conference Bill Taylor Essay ...moreContest - a first in the competition's decades-long tradition. hide
What We Carry: Lessons from 40 Years of Junior Four Point - 04/30/2025
Many things have changed over the past forty years, but Junior Four Point at Gould Academy is not one of them. We now carry tiny computers in our pockets that ...morerun our lives, get directions from satellites, and ask virtual assistants to answer our questions. Still, every March, like clockwork, Gould Academy eleventh graders strap on their issued snowshoes and backpacks and trek into the mountains of Western Maine and the White Mountain National Forest for a nine-day, eight-night winter camping expedition. hide
Three Gould Juniors Earn National Ski Patrol Jackets at Sunday River - 04/01/2025
This winter, three Gould Academy juniors-Clare Greene '26, Brandon Philip '26, and Brenna Fraser '26-achieved a milestone that sets them apart in ski safety and rescue. Through Gould's renowned Ski ...morePatrol program, they completed hundreds of hours of training and testing with Sunday River's professional patrol team, earning their official jackets as National Ski Patrol members before their senior year. hide
Four Gould Snowboarders Nominated to 2025–26 U.S. Snowboard Pro Team - 03/02/2025
Gould Academy is proud to announce that four of our very own riders have been nominated to the 202526 Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Pro Team in the discipline of Snowboard ...moreCross, as released by U.S. Ski & Snowboard on May 15. hide
...read more

Top Rankings

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

School Overview

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE)

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades 7-12

Offers Post-Graduate Year

Yes

ADD/ADHD Support

Yes

Learning Difference Programs

Yes

Learning Programs Supported

Neurodivergence

Year Founded

1836

Colors

White, Blue

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Last Day of School

Mon. May 25, 2026

Campus Size

456 acres

Student Body

Total Students

230 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

State avg.: 16%

Students by Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

38 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

6:1

National avg.: 13:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

75%

Average Class Size

10 students

Number of AP Courses

11 courses

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

Advanced Courses

BiologyCalculus AB

Calculus BCChemistry

English LanguageEnglish Literature

Government ComparativePhysics

StatisticsUS History

Average SAT score

1230

(Out of 1600)

Matriculation DataMatric. Data

View Matriculation Data

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Mountain casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

None / Rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$75,324

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

Day Tuition: $54,848

% on Financial Aid

43%

Acceptance Rate

99%

National avg.: 81%

College Acceptance Rate

99%

Admissions Director

Kristen Kaschub

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

Total Sports Offered

20 sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

7 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

Affinity GroupsMath Team

Outing ClubSustainability Club

Ultimate Frisbee

Arts and Music Programs:

Drama ProgramMusic Program

School Notes

School Mascot: Husky

Private High School for Boys and Girls
Grades 9-12, Postgraduate and Winter Term for Grade 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Gould Academy cost?

Gould Academy's tuition is approximately $75,324 for private students.

What is the acceptance rate of Gould Academy?

The acceptance rate of Gould Academy is 99%, which is higher than the national average of 75%.

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 20 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, 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 rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

5.00 out of 5 (2 reviews)

5 1/19/2024

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 Parent - Kathleen

5 3/3/2020

Gould is an amazing school full of wonderful opportunities and a very supportive environment! My favourite teacher is Mr. Greene!

- Posted by Parent - Karen

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