Excellence in the Classroom, Leadership on the Mountain, Success in Life.
At Waterville Valley Academy, academics are built with the same spirit that defines our athletics: challenge, perseverance, and growth. Our students are not only elite athletes but also curious thinkers, engaged leaders, and compassionate community members. The classroom and the mountain work together, teaching resilience, discipline, and grit that prepare students for success in college and beyond.
The Waterville Valley community is the perfect backdrop for adventure, growth, and connection. Our classrooms open into the mountains, and our students learn and live in a setting surrounded by trails, ski terrain, tennis courts, and even a golf course that weaves through campus.
We make the most of our setting year round. Students take part in the Four Thousand Footer Club, aiming to summit all 48 of New Hampshire’s highest peaks during their time at WVA. It is a proud tradition that reflects our culture of challenge and achievement. Rock climbing, mountain biking, golf, and tennis are part of everyday life. Trips to the ocean to surf or Boston for museum or Red Sox games are regular events.
Just steps from campus, students can walk to local shops, restaurants, the ice arena, and the White Mountain Athletic Club. They train in the pool and fitness center and enjoy a town built for active, connected living.
Our academic program is as ambitious as our athletics. WVA offers a college preparatory curriculum that matches the rigor of the nation’s top independent schools while also meeting the needs of competitive athletes.
From middle school through high school, our teachers meet students where they are, challenge them to grow, and give them the support needed to thrive both on snow and in the classroom. This is what sets us apart. At other schools, athletes are forced to choose between academic rigor and elite training. At WVA, students are not asked to compromise. They are surrounded by teachers who understand their dual commitments and by peers who share the same drive. Our program is intentionally designed so that high level athletics and high level academics elevate one another rather than compete for attention.
The WVA College Counseling and Pathway Program begins early and guides each student toward success after graduation.
The results speak for themselves. Recent graduates have earned admission to Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Colby, Middlebury, Boston College, the University of Utah, the University of Denver, and the University of New Hampshire among many others.
Full Term (Grades 9 through 12, Day and Boarding)
A rigorous year long program for student athletes committed to excellence on the mountain and in the classroom. Includes AP offerings, flexible schedules, individualized academic support, and full college counseling.
Winter Term (Grades 9 through 12, Day and Boarding)
A focused program from November through March that allows athletes to maximize their training season while staying aligned with home school academics. Includes structured study, academic continuity, and full support from WVA faculty.
Middle School (Grades 6 through 8, Day Program with limited boarding for grade 8)
A developmental program designed for motivated younger athletes, blending high level training with academic growth. Students follow a mix of WVA core classes and their home school curriculum, ensuring long term success in both sport and academics.
Skiing Builds Champions—On the Mountain and Beyond
At WVA, we believe that the lessons learned on snow: resilience, discipline, time management, and grit translate directly into success in college and in life. Our student-athletes stand out because they’ve learned to push through challenges, pursue excellence, and balance intense athletic and academic commitments with maturity and purpose.
This mindset sets our students apart in the increasingly competitive college admissions landscape. WVA graduates have recently been accepted to top-tier universities including Harvard, Dartmouth, Middlebury, and Boston College. Of our eight graduates in 2025, an impressive three are headed to Colby College and one to Yale. Still others, including Post-Graduate athletes, are off to Dartmouth, the University of Denver, Plymouth State University, University of Utah and the University of New Hampshire—a testament to their preparation, character, and drive.
With our Pathway Program, each student works one-on-one with our full-time college counselor to map a pathway that fits their academic and athletic goals. Whether aiming for NCAA skiing or simply carrying their passion for winter sports into a vibrant college life, our graduates are well-equipped for the journey ahead.
At WVA, skiing is more than a sport. It’s a foundation for lifelong success.
Priscilla Fay – Director of College Counseling – pfay@gowva.org
