EMMA WILLARD SCHOOL

Conducts admissions outreach by traveling to independent schools in the Northeast and Midwest to engage with prospective families and promote enrollment.

Funds student participation in summer writing workshops through the Beth Leonard and Evans Starzinger Writing Center Opportunity Fund, supporting access to specialized academic and creative development experiences.

Operates school facilities including the Cheel Aquatic Center, Hunter Science Center, Alice Dodge Wallace ’38 Center for the Performing Arts, and Tangeman Commons (faculty housing). Hosts annual traditions and campus-wide events such as Revels, Ring Week, May Day, and spring celebrations, including a bicentennial celebration.

Provides a comprehensive secondary education for approximately 362 students from 35 countries and 19 states, maintaining a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 11–13 students. Offers 139 academic courses including 21 Advanced Studies options, supported by 49 teaching faculty (94% with advanced degrees), and enrolls 44% of students with financial aid totaling $6.6 million annually.

Offers theatre classes in acting, production organization, and creative development, and supports student participation in theatre productions in technical and leadership roles. Maintains the Alice Dodge Wallace ’38 Center for the Performing Arts as a central venue for performances and traditions, and operates a multi-tiered choir program.

Provides summer education programs for approximately 137 to 400 students annually. Operates GirlSummer, a summer camp program involving elective development, camper scheduling, and state-mandated documentation, and offers writing-focused Jestermester programs as part of experiential learning.

Employs 11 full-time houseparents and 10 residential houseparents to support student health, safety, and wellness in a boarding environment. Organizes campus traditions such as Ring Week and May Day, and hosts cultural and seasonal events including trips to The Clark and MASS MoCA to foster community bonding.

Offers coursework designed to develop critical thinking, research, media literacy, and citizenship skills through the study of global and domestic politics. Students engage with current events and diverse media sources, conduct in-depth research, and produce original deliverables such as public announcements and symposium presentations.

Participated in the "Dodge Study" of female adolescents led by Harvard researcher Carol Gilligan, contributing to research on adolescent development in single-sex educational environments.

Offers robust experiential learning opportunities including over 130 practicums, 79 student capstone projects, 39 student clubs, and 30 Community Engagement Opportunities (CEOs). Features the Signature program showcasing student work such as guides for children coping with parental illness, golf course design, and narratives highlighting women in engineering.

Conducted the Infinite Horizon campaign, the largest in the history of girls’ schools, surpassing its $175 million goal. Raised $3,954,571 through The Emma Fund in the 2024–2025 giving year and received $15,051,607 in total contributions from 1,489 donors during the same period.

Offers academic sessions for alumni that reflect current curriculum, including literary analysis, critical interpretation of statistics, and color theory in art and perception. Features alumni writing in Signature magazine, including poetry and other creative works.