Focus 

Intellectual curiosity

Day fees 2024/25 

$52,600

Boarding fees 2024/25

$67,300

Pupils 

1,106

Ages

14–18

Spear’s Review

An elite boarding school in the US state of New Hampshire, Phillips Exeter Academy offers a traditionally top-class American education. Its philosophy, known as the Harkness method, holds active speaking, listening and thinking as paramount. With more than 450 courses on offer, students are pushed to reach their best potential while indulging their interests. The school’s former pupils include giants of American business and culture, including Mark Zuckerberg and the novelist John Irving. 

Set on more than 600 acres of grounds, there is more than enough space for the great range of sports and outdoor activities on offer, complementing the high academic standards. Sports play a large part in Exeter life, with nearly three-quarters of students partaking in at least one sport. There are more than 20 sports to choose from, so students can take full advantage of the extensive sports hall, athletics track, playing fields and tennis courts.

The academy also offers over 200 clubs and societies, including the rock climbing club, ocean awareness club and electronic music club. 

Academics

In 2024, the average SAT score was 1440.

University and college destinations

Between 2022 and 2024, the academy has sent a number of students to Ivy League universities Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania and Yale. 

Head teacher

Bill Rawson was appointed principal of Phillips Exeter Academy in January 2019, following a six-month tenure as interim principal. An Exeter alumnus, Rawson received a BA in American studies from Amherst College and a law degree from Stanford Law School. He then spent more than 30 years as a lawyer before returning to Exeter as head.

Admissions

The admissions process for a child includes scheduling a tour; attending an interview; submitting essays set by Exeter; undertaking standardised assessment; and submitting relevant documentation including teacher recommendations, principal recommendations and the previous year's transcript.

Accessibility

Boston Logan International Airport: 1 hour 

Location

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