North Yarmouth Academy

NYA has been the best experience for our kids! The friendly, supportive small school setting is a place where kids thrive. The teachers and staff all know the kids so well and both support and challenge them, and have a lot of fun along the way. Academics are challenging, but in the right way. They faculty challenge each kid to the best of their ability, but with support at every step of the way to make sure they have all the resources they need. There is also a lovely balance for all students in that everyone participates in both sports and the arts. This felt intimidating at first but I'm seeing my more arty kids find their own athleticism, and I love seeing super athletic kids finding true artistic talent. From toddlers to Upper schoolers, I see so many smiles and happy, engaged kids every time I am on campus.

Both of our sons have attended NYA's Middle School in the past 3 years, and our daughter will be starting 6th grade in the fall. As our children approached school age, we opted for the strong public schools in the area. All was good until COVID, and we quickly realized that, due to sheer size and what the public schools could handle, we needed a change for our boys in particular. From the beginning, we were extremely impressed by the teachers, the curriculum, and, the athletic and arts programs at the school. In three years, we have seen tremendous growth and confidence in our boys, which is why our daughter will be attending in the fall. Our favorite thing about the school is the teachers. The beautiful facilities and campus, along with extensive athletic and art programs, are wonderful indeed, but it is the people at NYA that truly make the difference. We are so grateful that circumstances brought us to NYA, and want to strongly encourage others to check out NYA sooner than later!

NYA was right for both of our sons, despite their vastly different learning styles. The ability to individualize the student experience was beneficial, and the true connection the faculty make to the students is very affirming for young people. We were impressed by the respectful, encouraging community of students, staff, administrators, and faculty all coming together to support each other. It's truly remarkable in this day and world, to see the kindness and camaraderie the students here exhibit. The music, drama, and arts programs are standout, and we liked the fact that all students participate in sports, because it kept our sons active and taught them how to work within a group. One of our sons has gone on to Berklee in Boston to study music, and the other went to Northeastern for engineering; both felt better prepared for the academic and organizational demands of higher education than their peers. Our family has stayed involved with NYA even though the boys have graduated, because it feels so good to see what each student there is encouraged to achieve!

NYA has been a fantastic educational experience for both my kids. There is a culture of academic rigor, responsibility, and kindness that I don't see in other schools in our area. The teachers are engaged and invested in each student's success. In addition to top notch academics, NYA offers great extracurriculars, sports and arts programming, producing well rounded, academically strong, respectful students. It's an amazing school that I highly recommend.

I have had the privilege of having all 4 of my children at NYA for the last 7 years (4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th grade). We moved from out of state, and it very quickly became apparent that the school was going to be a place of growth and community for not only them but also my husband and I.The education is fantastic. 0ur children have their own learning style.The small class size and extremely dedicated staff truly catered to their needs.The staff is always available for extra help, and the plethora of out-of-the classroom learning experiences is fantastic.From river clean ups to museum visits,. The requirement of both art and athletics for all middle schoolers creates well balanced individuals who interact with students who otherwise may not have been in their friend circle. The high school prep hockey program was a big draw for us.The new facilities at Travis Roy Arena are phenomenal and have included a brand new fitness center for all the NYA community to use.It is truly a community, not just a school.

I went to NYA from 7th to 12th grade, graduating in 2016. It was a very influential part of my adolescent experience that I'm grateful for - it was the right place for me at that stage. Overall, I wouldn't change my decision to attend, and I feel grateful for what I learned in and out of the classroom in my time at NYA.Because of NYA's size, I truly felt seen and valued by my teachers, coaches, and other mentors, which helped me find my voice, develop personal accountability, and learn how to learn + think critically. When I got to the college classroom, I appreciated just how much NYA prepared me academically. Even now in the workforce, I feel that my writing and analytical skills are stronger than many of my peers'. And how could we forget senior speeches! The process of writing, refining, and delivering a presentation was great practice for college presentations, facilitating/leading meetings with executives or clients in the workplace, and more recently, my first conference speaking engagement.NYA also launched for me a lifelong theme of doing lots of activities (and enjoying being busy). In high school, that meant classes, music, art, sports, and friends. In college and beyond, that affinity has manifested in the form of a Google Calendar full of numerous jobs, clubs, intramurals, social circles, events, and more.I can't speak to their current initiatives and programming, but during my time, I felt that inclusion and diversity were areas of growth for the school, particularly in terms of creating a welcoming environment for students of color, diverse financial backgrounds, and different abilities and interests.

NYA is a special place. The teachers really care about their students -and it's small enough so they get to know each other really well. I am always impressed with the ways in which the school can accommodate students' passions - like the independent studies and diplomas with distinction, and various musical ensembles like Blue Grass and Studio Band (aka garage band). Music, art, drama, and clubs are all built into the daily schedule leaving time after school for other activities. The lower school is an amazing place - Montessori through kindergarten with a vibrant art, music, and foreign language program. Students in the middle and upper school participate in an activity each season, which can be sports, drama, music, or a waiver for activities that NYA may not offer (equestrian, gymnastics, martial arts, etc.). Amazing hockey facility on campus, and the Prep Hockey program is impressive. Students are completely prepped for college when they leave. I highly recommend it!

My high school daughter is thriving at NYA. She left the anonymity of the public school system for a school environment where she is valued as an individual. NYA has a strong sense of community, and teachers care about each student and their success in school. Students support each other in the classroom and on the athletic fields. NYA students receive a rigorous eduction and graduate high school well-prepared for the challenges of college.