Holderness School vs. Berkshire School
Should you attend Holderness School or Berkshire School? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
Top Rankings
Holderness School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Offering Breadth
Berkshire School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
School Resources
School Resources
Selectivity
Overview
An independent school community committed to rigorous academics, epic adventures, and all-in athletics surrounded by New Hampshire`s lakes and White Mountains.
Founded in 1907, Berkshire School is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school for 400 ninth-12th graders and post-graduates, offering a forward-thinking curriculum and state-of-the-art facilities on a 400-acre campus in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
Berkshire's signature programs, including Advanced Math/Science Research, Advanced Humanities Research, and Pro Vita Winter Session, are offered along with advanced sections and AP offerings in all disciplines.
These programs are designed to expand the minds, provide real-world experiences, and help distinguish our students in an increasingly competitive college process.
With a range of artistic and athletic offerings and national recognition for our efforts in sustainability, Berkshire provides an extraordinary setting in which students are encouraged to learn in the words of the School motto: Pro Vita Non Pro Schola Discimus, "Learning-not just for school but for life."
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12, PG
9-12, PG
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Supports Learning Differences (LD)
No
No
Year Founded
1879
1907
Campus Size
620 acres
400 acres
Students Body
Enrollment
300
400
% Students of Color
12%
21%
% International Students
14%
16%
% Students Boarding
90%
89%
Average SAT Score
1253
n/a
Average ACT score
25
n/a
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
Yes
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
Yes
Yes
Frequency of Saturday Classes
Weekly
weekly
Classroom Dress Code
Formal
Casual
Average Class Size
12
12
Student : Teacher ratio
6:1
4:1
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered
21
17
ESL Courses Offered
No
No
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
62%
70%
Summer Program Offered
No
No
Finances
Endowment Size
$60 million
$195 million
Tuition (Boarding Students)
$71,000
$73,200
Tuition (Day Students)
$47,320
n/a
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$32,300
$54,000
Admission
Application Deadline
Feb. 1
Jan. 15
Accepts Standardized Application
Yes
No
SSAT Required
Yes
No
Average Percentile SSAT
65
65
Acceptance Rate
45%
20%
Director of Admissions
David Flynn
Allison Letourneau
Associate Director of Admissions
Woody Kampmann
Mark Saunders
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered
21
17
Sport
Total Sports Offered
25
19
Sports
Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Climbing, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Field Hockey, Football, Freestyle Skiing, Golf, Ice Hockey, Kayaking, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Nordic Skiing, Rock Climbing, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track
Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Dance, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Squash, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
Extracurricular
Total Extra-curric.Total Extracurriculars
16
33
Extra-curric.Extracurriculars
Academic Competition Team, Alliance Club, Blue Key, Community Service Club, Dorm Prefects, Drama Club, Environment Club, Fishing Club, Habitat for Humanity, Holdernotes Acapella, Indoor Soccer, Investment Club, Multicultural Club, Student Newspaper, Student Vestry, Yearbook
1907 Society, Afro-Latino Society, Astronomy Club, Badminton Club, Berkshire Birding Club, Buddhist Meditation Group, Collegium Musicum, Dance Ensemble, Dance Program, Debate Club, Dog Walking Club, Entrepreneurs Club, Environmental Action Club, Fellowship of Christians at Universities and Schools (FOCUS), Fly Fishing Club, French Club, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), Green Key Club, Greensleeves (Boys' A Cappella), Investment Club, Jewish Student Union, Kids 4 Kids (Elementary School Tutoring), Maple Syrup Corporation, Math Team, Mock Trial Club, Model United Nations, Philanthropy Society, Quiz Bowl, Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program, Student Activities Committee, Theater Productions, Ursa Minor (Girls' A Cappella), Yoga and Meditation Club