The Mountain School of Milton Academy (2026 Profile)

5.00 (1 review)

151 Mountain School Rd
Vershire, VT 05079

Tel: (802) 685-4520

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The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #1 - The Mountain School - 418 Acres

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #2 - Farm Day brings the entire community together for a full day of hands-on work in the fields, barns, and gardens. It's an invitation to get dirty, work hard, and take pride in shared effort.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #3 - Bringing classes outside is a central part of the learning experience at TMS, where ecology plays a vital role in helping students understand the interconnectedness of the natural world.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #4 - One of the multiple greenhouses used for teaching and growing

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #5 - Participating in livestock care.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #6 - The Snowshoeathon is a beloved winter tradition where students strap on snowshoes and trek through snowy woods and fields, raising funds and spirits with every step.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #7 - The Outdoor Program invites students to explore Vermont's forests, mountains, and rivers as they build skills in hiking, camping, and navigation while deepening their sense of place and adventure.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #8 - Farm Day brings the entire community together for a full day of hands-on work in the fields, barns, and gardens. It's an invitation to get dirty, work hard, and take pride in shared effort.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #9 - Each spring semester, students take part in sugaring by tapping maple trees and boiling sap into syrup. This seasonal tradition connects them to the rhythms of the land and the changing year.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #10 - Each spring semester, students take part in sugaring by tapping maple trees and boiling sap into syrup. This seasonal tradition connects them to the rhythms of the land and the changing year.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #11 - After Solo, students come together to share stories and reflect in a meaningful post-Solo gathering that celebrates their time of solitude and growth.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #12 - Each spring, students experience lambing season firsthand, helping care for newborn lambs and learning about the cycle of life on the farm.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Photo #13 - Working on the farm is a daily hands-on experience where students care for animals, tend crops, and learn the rhythms of sustainable living.

Nestled on a working farm in Vershire, Vermont, The Mountain School of Milton Academy offers a unique semester program for high school juniors, with limited spots for spring sophomores and fall seniors. With an emphasis on farming, food systems, forests, and the future, students engage in a rigorous place-based Honors and AP curriculum alongside hands-on farm work and experiential culinary and outdoor programming.

Over the course of the semester, students deepen their connection to the land, the community, and themselves in a truly transformative experience.

Please note: all figures are per semester, not annual, as we are a semester program.

Quick Facts (2026)

School Type: School with Special Program Emphasis
Grades: 10-12
Enrollment: 47 students
Yearly Tuition: $39,750
Acceptance rate: 65%
Average class size: 8 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

The Mountain School of Milton Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Vermont for:

School Overview

School Type

School with Special Program Emphasis

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades 10-12

ADD/ADHD Support

Yes

Learning Difference Programs

Yes

Learning Programs Supported

Mild Learning Differences

Year Founded

1984

First Day of School

Sat. Aug 29, 2026

Last Day of School

Sat. Jun 5, 2027

Campus Size

418 acres

Student Body

Total Students

47 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

27%

State avg.: 12%

Students by Grade

The Mountain School of Milton Academy Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

14 teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

3:1

National avg.:

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

64%

Average Class Size

8 students

Number of AP/Advanced Courses

6 courses

Classroom Dress Code

Casual

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

None / Rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$39,750

View national tuition avg.

% on Financial Aid

35%

Acceptance Rate

65%

National avg.: 82%

Admissions Director

Jara Ruiz-Anchia

Application URL

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

18 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

BIPOC Affinity GroupCreative Writing Club

Current Events ClubDungeons and Dragons Club

First Gen / Low Income Affinity GroupJewish Affinity Group

LGBTQ+ Affinity GroupLiterary and Arts Magazine

Meditation GroupRunning Club

Student Activities CommitteeWellness Club

Yearbook

Arts and Music Programs:

Art & the EnvironmentCulinary Studies

Recreational Athletic Programs:

Cross-country skiingHiking

Snowshoeing

School Notes

School Motto: Learn by doing. Grow through belonging. Lead for the common good.

The Mountain School of Milton Academy is a semester-long place-based academic program for high school juniors set on a 418-acre working farm in the hills of Vershire, Vermont. Operated by Milton Academy since 1984, the Mountain School is the oldest semester school in the country.. It welcomes students each fall and spring to live, learn, and grow in a close-knit, intentional community where relationships run deep and learning feels alive.
Here, students dive into challenging academics with Honors and AP-level courses, including English, Food Systems, and Environmental Science alongside field sciences, history, mathematics, and electives.. But the learning does not stop in the classroom. Students will plant and harvest vegetables, care for livestock, split wood, cook meals, and complete chores that maintain the school and support farm operations.. They also venture into the surrounding forests, build outdoor skills, make maple syrup, and connect with the natural world in ways that are both grounding and exhilarating.
One of the most memorable experiences is Solo, a four-day, three-night camping trip in the White Mountains, a time that is set aside for quiet reflection and solitude in nature. It is a chance to slow down, listen, and truly feel part of the landscape. With limited access to technology, students unplug and tune in to each other, to nature, and themselves. Students live in cozy, faculty-led houses, share chores, and gather around meals they help prepare, creating a rhythm of life that feels purposeful and shared.
Students do not just live alongside each other-they co-create their community. Through open dialogue and collaborative decision making, they learn what it means to lead with empathy and listen with intention. The Mountain School encourages place-based and experiential learning, sustainability, and personal growth. It invites students to ask big questions about themselves, their communities, and their relationship to the land.
The Mountain School partners closely with students' sending schools to ensure academic alignment and a smooth transition back, making it a seamless part of their high school journey. Alums often describe their semester as a turning point that deepened their curiosity, strengthened their sense of self, and shaped how they engage with the world.
For many, it is a life-changing semester filled with wonder, discovery, and friendships that last well beyond Vermont's green hills and snowy trails. The Mountain School accepts applications from high school juniors for both fall and spring semesters, with limited spaces available for fall seniors and spring sophomores.

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Mountain School of Milton Academy cost?

The Mountain School of Milton Academy's tuition is approximately $39,750 for private students.

What is the acceptance rate of The Mountain School of Milton Academy?

The acceptance rate of The Mountain School of Milton Academy is 65%, which is lower than the national average of 71%.

When is the application deadline for The Mountain School of Milton Academy?

The application deadline for The Mountain School of Milton Academy is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

5 2/28/2026

Going here was honestly one of the best choices I've ever made, and it lead to so many of greatest experiences of my life. I've met lifelong friends and made a new family. The Mountain School is now another place I call home, you'd be making a mistake by not going here.

- Posted by Student/Alumni - Ezra Blumenfeld

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