Academics

Arts & Athletics

Boarding

At Vermont Academy, every decision teachers make is driven by an emphasis on what is best for the students. Through our specialized college-prep curriculum and course offerings, we're able to provide something that interests all students. We prioritize making ourselves accessible and available to facilitate the growth of each individual student and their need to prepare for a changing world, and our college counseling team works one-on-one with students to help them find a college that targets their best interests and abilities.

From the physics whiz who discovers a talent for graphic design, to the varsity basketball player who gets on stage for the 24 Hour Play festival, to the robotics team member who plays drums in the jazz ensemble, every student at Vermont Academy has the opportunity to get involved in the arts.

We also offer a robust athletics program with 14 varsity sports offered, such as hockey, basketball, and soccer. Additionally, with our proximity to Mount Snow Ski Resort we've been able to bring our student athletes world class snowboard and ski development programs with Vermont Academy at Mount Snow.

Vermont Academy is primarily a coed boarding school in nature; our residential program is an integral part of our students’ lives. Living with peers and dorm parents strengthens the relationships within our community. Our residential program strives to maintain a family atmosphere, while gradually preparing students for the challenges of independent living in college. We have students from all over the United States and international students from over 20 different countries.

As a top independent boarding and day school for grades 9–12 with a postgraduate program, our curriculum is rooted in the neuroscience of the teenage mind, ensuring that all learning is active — intentional — relational — and relevant. We prioritize and honor joy in learning, and have a robust selection of electives, extracurriculars, arts, and athletics. 

Our students are three times as likely to gain admission to a top 25 college or university. They’re also ten times as likely to hold the door open for someone, invite a classmate to sit with them, or try something new — like playing lacrosse and joining the dance program.

Our mission is to prepare students to blaze trails in learning and in life. With $9 million in financial aid and merit awards distributed each year, we bring top-level education well within reach. And we’ve been around since 1826, which means this year, we celebrate our 200th birthday!

Explore Western Reserve Academy, Ohio's #1 boarding and day college prep high school.

At Western Reserve Academy, Jayden’s path is one of leadership, creativity and impact. Hailing from Millersville, Maryland, he serves as Student Body Co-President, helping to shape the student experience with empathy and vision. A natural performer, Jayden starred in Just and Perfect, WRA’s original documentary about Frederick Douglass, and he’s an Honors Dance student who has performed everywhere from school productions to center court at Rocket Arena before a Cleveland Cavaliers game.

In the classroom, Jayden’s schedule reflects his range of interests — from Digital Music Production and Computer Programming: Python to Advanced Dance and Advanced Engineering & Fabrication. Through WRA’s Compass program, he’s channeling his leadership toward social impact with a project focused on equitable access to Black hair care: “I will also improve access to hair care services by consistently bringing products, specialist barbers and braiders to campus,” he explains.

He’s also a member of the DEIB Committee, a volleyball player, and an enthusiastic traveler who has studied in both the Galápagos Islands and China. Wherever Jayden goes next, he carries WRA’s spirit of innovation and inclusion — leading with generosity, thoughtfulness and heart. 

Sia moves through spaces noticing what isn’t yet noticed — who might need a hand, a smile, or a spark of encouragement. From Peninsula, Ohio, she’s woven herself into the fabric of WRA through dance, tennis, and service. She sits on the Student DEIB Committee and thrives on creating opportunities for connection. 

One highlight of her efforts was winning first place in WRA’s inaugural campus-wide Connections Challenge, a school-wide scavenger hunt designed to help students meet new people. For Sia, the Challenge was more than a game; it was a chance to engage with peers across grades, break the ice, and turn small interactions into meaningful connections.

Sia’s curiosity and compassion extend beyond social engagement. Her Compass project, The T3 Program (Time, Talent, and Treasure), addresses the “generosity gap” among young people, giving middle school students in Northeast Ohio early opportunities to explore service and civic engagement. At the junior level, she balances this with rigorous coursework, including CL Compass, CL Calculus, and CL U.S. History & Government, and participates in WRA’s Cancer Immunology program. Sia doesn’t just move through experiences — she builds bridges, turning curiosity into action and connections into community.

For Finn, creativity isn’t just expression — it’s opportunity. A native of Hiram, Ohio, Finn came to Western Reserve Academy eager to explore his passions for technology, storytelling and visual media. That curiosity has already evolved into a thriving creative career. Through his website and social media, finnfratostudios, he’s building a large and loyal audience, capturing high-profile moments behind the camera — from photographing Dr. Shaquille O’Neal to shooting live action at Cleveland Monsters games and the first round of March Madness at Rocket Arena.

 On campus, Finn channels the same drive into leadership as Creative Director of the Reserve Sports Network (RSN), where he leads a team of student storytellers covering WRA athletics. His coursework reflects a seamless blend of art and engineering, with studies in Digital Video Editing & Effects, 3D Art, Advanced Engineering & Fabrication, and Digital Music Production.

A passionate Honors Dance student, glider champion, and member of the Astronomy Club, Finn brings creativity to every endeavor, on the stage, in the studio and beyond. At WRA, his personalized pathway empowers him to turn curiosity into craft and passion into profession.

What makes Reserve so special? It’s the blend of personalized academic pathways, unrivaled programs and Midwestern values of kindness and empathy — all set on a beautiful 190-acre campus in Hudson, Ohio. When you live and learn at Reserve, you’re part of a community that nurtures and challenges, one that once uncovered imprints itself on a person’s heart for life.

65% of our faculty live on campus — which sometimes means homework help is literally right around the corner. Teachers host study sessions, coach teams, direct programs, and even open their homes for dinners (invitations to Ms. Chen’s dumpling night are legendary). When you live where you learn, you’re learning around the clock.

All images of students not in masks and not following social distancing guidelines pre-date our COVID-19 policies.