The Governor's Academy

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The Governor’s Academy
Non Sibi Sed Aliis Not for self, but for others
Established	1763
School type	Private, boarding
Religious affiliation	none
Headmaster	John M. Doggett, Jr.
Location	Byfield, MA, USA
Campus	450 acres
Enrollment	371
Student:Teacher ratio	1:6
Average SAT scores (2004)	1252
Color(s)	Maroon and White
Mascot	Governor
Conference	Independent School League

The Governor's Academy (formerly Governor Dummer Academy) is an independent school with 376 students in grades nine through twelve. The school was established in 1763, and is located on 450 acres in Byfield, Massachusetts, 25 miles north of Boston. It is the United States' oldest independent boarding school. For more information, including a video, campus tour, and audio interviews with faculty and students, please see the award-winning website at www.thegovernorsacademy.org.

More than a School...

The Governor's Academy is more than a school. It's a community...a place where people live and learn, work and play, laugh and occasionally cry with each other. The friendliness and openness are palpable. People feel it the minute they step foot on campus. While students and faculty are a large part of our community, faculty spouses and children are also important members. Walking down a path on campus, you're as likely to encounter a toddler on a tricycle as a fellow student, a teacher's spouse coaching on an athletics field as a faculty member's dog waiting at the dining hall door. Even if you are a visitor, don't be surprised to get a hello or a friendly wag of the tail. There are no strangers here.

In the Classroom...

Students study in small classes where they can get to know their teachers well. Most faculty live on campus and serve as dorm parents and coaches as well as classroom teachers. Accelerated and AP classes are offered in subjects from mathematics and science to art, foreign languages, English and history. Chinese will be offered in fall 2007 along with the Western languages (French, Spanish, German) and Latin currently offered.

On the Field...

The Governor's Academy maintains a strong athletic program rooted in a long tradition of excellence. We are committed to providing a variety of opportunities that meet the talents, interests, and needs of our student-athletes. Academy teams continuously face rigorous competition from some of the top preparatory schools in New England, and our coaches are committed to helping their players achieve their dreams. At The Governor's Academy we strongly believe in coach as teacher and teacher as coach. In the athletic program, we are committed to students as individuals, players, and students.

The Academy is a member of the Independent School League. The school fields 20 varsity teams and brings home many trophies and championships each year.

On Stage and in Studio...

Programs in visual and performing arts are offered in the Kaiser Art Center and the Performing Arts Center. Kaiser has studios for photography and film, ceramics, drawing, painting and design. The PAC has a 500-seat auditorium/theater, a black box, an art gallery, and a complete workshop for technical theater.

History

The school was founded two years after the death of William Dummer, who funded it in his will. Dummer had been lieutenant governor and acting governor of Massachusetts for many years and led the colony through a difficult period in the earlier 18th Century fighting off forays by "French & Indians" during what became known as "Dummer's War" in the 1720s. He also served as an early Overseer of Harvard College.

Over the years, the school's name has been entwined with those of many famous people. Paul Revere created the first seal for the school; John Quincy Adams served as secretary to the Board of Trustees; Theophilus Parsons, a Chief Justice of Massachusetts and author of the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, attended the Academy ; Samuel Phillips, Jr., founder of Phillips Academy, Andover graduated in 1771; Captain Edward Preble, commander of the USS Constitution and a hero of the War of 1812, studied here; Booker T. Washington Jr. (son of Booker T. Washington) starred on the football team in the early 1900s; Yu Kil Chun, a famous social reformer and the first Korean to study in the West, attended the school.

New Name....Same 'Ol Place...

In December of 2005, the Board of Trustees voted to change the name of the Academy to "The Governor's Academy" amid concerns that "Dummer" was deterring prospective students outside the local area from applying. Legally the name will remain "Governor Dummer Academy, doing business as "The Governor's Academy." When founded, the Academy was named "Dumm'r Charity School." Subsequently the name was changed to "Dummer Academy."

The decision to change attracted media attention from around the country [1]. Those who promoted the change see it as one of a number of ways to expand the geographic representation and the overall initial appeal of the school, especially to those who are not familiar with the school. The name change took effect on July 1, 2006.[2]

Mission Statement

The Governor's Academy expects and promotes the individual’s active commitment to integrity, learning, academic excellence and the health of the community. Enriched by our unique tradition and beautiful surroundings, we are distinguished by our support of individual growth and achievement in academics, the arts and athletics in a diverse community that values teamwork, service and respect for others.

Tuition

The yearly tuition is $37,500 for seven-day boarding students and $29,600 for day students.

Members of the Independent School League, New England