Mission & Core Beliefs

Ingenuity

Students will become problem solvers through work in the classroom, the community, and independent and team projects. Vermont Academy’s program is student focused and growth oriented, emphasizing learning by doing. Creativity and problem solving run through all programs allowing students to be curious and to contribute solutions to academic and community challenges.

Independence

Students will know their strengths and challenges, and with mentoring from caring adults, strive to build on these strengths and overcome challenges. By cultivating self-awareness, students will become more resilient and able to advocate for themselves. Students are encouraged to maximize their individual growth as students, athletes, artists and citizens in individual and team settings.

Community

Students will feel a sense of belonging in a close knit community while also understanding the impact of their actions in school and in a wider global community. Adults in the Vermont Academy community know students well from close mentoring relationships which allow students to thrive. Based on the belief that all members of the Vermont Academy community are viewed as assets worthy of respect, tolerance and good citizenship are nurtured. Exposure to diverse and global perspectives expands cultural understanding. Leadership and community service opportunities provide avenues for students to contribute to the welfare of others.

The Land

Students will come to understand and appreciate the rural Vermont environment while also learning the importance of sustainability, preservation, and appreciation of “place.” Tucked in the safety of a small Vermont village on a 450 acre campus, students are never far from the natural environment around them. From ski hills, rivers, and hiking trails, to local farms and the sugar-bush, students are exposed to the serenity of the rural Vermont experience. Most of Vermont Academy’s longest held traditions celebrate Vermont’s resources and encourage students to understand and enjoy the importance of nature in their wellbeing and for the preservation of our Earth.