Bright, bold, and ambitious students have been learning and growing at The Governor`s Academy, the oldest boarding school in New England, for over 250 years.
Located in Byfield, Massachusetts, thirty-three miles north of Boston and five miles south of Newburyport, our expansive campus is bordered by the Parker River and the Great Marsh.
Govs is an open, optimistic learning community filled with life-changing opportunities.
Students in ninth through twelfth grade learn and grow at Govs in our classrooms, studios, theaters, fields, and courts.
Surrounded by friends and teachers, our students discover and develop their passions across academics, arts, and athletics, and achieve excellence.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 415 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $72,900
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $58,025
- Acceptance rate: 23%
- Average class size: 11 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 31
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Selectivity
Offering Breadth
Student Test Scores
School History
School Overview
Definition of Terms | 2024 School Data
The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12
8-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1763
1906
Campus Size
465 acres
125 acres
Student Body
Enrollment
415 students
315 students
% Students of Color
20%
26%
% International Students
15%
20%
% Students Boarding
60%
70%
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
26
18
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
78%
71%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$89.275 million
$28 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$72,900
$66,250
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$58,025
$35,600
% Students on Financial Aid
30%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$47,400
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No
Acceptance Rate
Application Deadline
Jan. 31
Jan. 15
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Average Percentile SSAT
81%
-
Acceptance Rate
23%
60%
Director of Admissions
Mike Kinnealey
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
18
16
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
24
23
Extracurriculars
Book Club, Chamber Orchestra, Chapel, Chorus, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Creative Writing Club, Dance Company of NMH, Debate Club, Drama Club, Entrepreneurship Club, Environmental Club, Guitar Lessons, Peer Advisors, Proctors for Mansion House, Productions Club, Project Outreach, Social Committee, Student And Faculty Alliance, Student Center & Performing Arts Center, The Governor (student newspaper), The Milestone (yearbook), The Spire (literary magazine), Tour Guides
College Matriculation
Year: 2019 - 2022
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
New York University (NYU)
5
Elon University
4
Tufts University
4
Colby College
3
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
3
Cornell University
2
Cornell University
2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2
Northwestern
2
University of Pennsylvania
2
School Notes
- The Academy offers a challenging, thought-provoking, and student-centered curriculum that inspires a passion for learning. By focusing on the learning process and the development of 7 Essential Skills, The Governor's Academy teaches students how to think critically, creatively, and independently. We encourage students to acquire knowledge through hands-on activity, multi-disciplinary inquiry, analysis, and reflection. Many structures, including the advising system, extra-help sessions, and evening study hours--supervised by dormitory parents--help students learn to study and manage their time well. Our goal is to teach young people to become actively accountable for their own learning and to grow by learning with others. Classes meet for 60 and 90-minute periods, affording students and teachers more opportunity to explore subject matter in depth, from different perspectives and with a variety of classroom activities. In addition to traditional assessments such as tests and papers, students debate, conduct hands-on laboratory and field experiments, make oral presentations, research in groups, use technology to create presentations, and design their own portfolios. Students and faculty bring to The Governor's Academy a richness of experience, perspective, and diversity which adds immeasurably to the education of all. This is the spirit that inspires a community--this family--of learners. During the past decade, many new buildings have been erected or renovated, including the Math and Science Center, Library, Student Center, Performing Arts Center, renovated dining hall, new ice hockey arena, synthetic turf field, and dormitory.
- The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) accreditations: New England Association of Schools and Colleges; Association of Boarding Schools
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Booker T. Washington Jr. - Son of famous abolitionist, statesman and author
- Yu Kil Chun - First Korean to study in West; essayist and social reformer
- Theophilus Parsons - Helped draft Bill of Rights and developed US judiciary system
- Edward Preble - Commodore of the USS Constitution
- Dan Gadzuric - NBA basketball player
- Jeb Bradley - Congressman - New Hampshire
- Samuel Phillips - Founder of Phillips Academy, Andover
- Duncan Robinson - NBA basketball player
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) cost?
The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)'s tuition is approximately $72,900 for boarding students and $58,025 for day students.
What schools are The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) often compared to?
The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)is often viewed alongside schools like Brooks School, Phillips Academy Andover, Middlesex School by visitors of our site.
What is the acceptance rate of The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)?
The acceptance rate of The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) is 23%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 60%. The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)'s acceptance rate is ranked as one of the top boarding schools with low acceptance rates.
Who are famous alumni from The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)?
The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) famous alumni include: Booker T. Washington Jr., Yu Kil Chun, Theophilus Parsons, Edward Preble, Dan Gadzuric, Jeb Bradley, Samuel Phillips and Duncan Robinson.
What sports does The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) offer?
The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) offers 18 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track and Wrestling.
What is The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)'s ranking?
The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Low acceptance rates, High # of AP/advanced courses offered, High SSAT scores and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy)?
The application deadline for The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) is Jan. 31.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Alumni #1
Class of 2009
5.0012/5/2016
Clark University
Class of 2009
5.0012/5/2016
Clark University
The Governor´s Academy was known as Governor Dummer Academy when I applied, and it was still known that way for part of my time as a student there. As such, my classmates and I. . .
The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Alumni #2
Class of 2007
5.008/1/2007
Princeton
Class of 2007
5.008/1/2007
Princeton
One of the main things is that it has a block schedule, which makes it more like a college schedule while you are still in high school. Instead of having. . .
The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) Alumni #3
Class of 2006
5.008/10/2006
Allegheny College
Class of 2006
5.008/10/2006
Allegheny College
GDA has many unique experiences to offer its students. However, I would say that the best thing about this small school is the people. In the dorms you not only live with your classmates, but. . .
Show more reviews (5 reviews)
Related Schools
Show me:
People that viewed The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) also viewed these schools: Brooks School, Phillips Academy Andover, Middlesex School, Choate Rosemary Hall and Phillips Exeter Academy.
The nearest boarding school to The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) is Brooks School (10.0 miles away)
School
Location
Miles
Grades
Students
346 students 10 miles 1160 Great Pond Road
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 725-6272
North Andover, MA 01845
(978) 725-6272
10
9-12
346
1,154 students 14 miles 180 Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 749-4050
Andover, MA 01810
(978) 749-4050
14
9-12, PG
1,154
867 students 132.6 miles 333 Christian Street
Wallingford, CT 06492
(203) 697-2239
Wallingford, CT 06492
(203) 697-2239
132.6
9-12, PG
867
1,106 students 16.2 miles 20 Main Street
Exeter, NH 03833
(603) 777-3437
Exeter, NH 03833
(603) 777-3437
16.2
9-12, PG
1,106
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