GO FAR
T GETHER
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BECOME PART OF NEARLY THREE CENTURIES OF BRIGHT, BOLD AMBITION.
TOGETHER WITH GOVS, YOU WILL LEAD RESEARCH, HOIST TROPHIES, DISCOVER PASSIONS, AND PREPARE TO TAKE ON WHAT COMES NEXT. YOU’LL GO FURTHER THAN YOU EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
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LIVE WITH FRIENDS
Boarding pg. 28
WELCOME TO GOVS Our warm, inspiring environment is where you will realize your full potential, both as a unique individual and as part of a thriving community. Governor’s knows living and learning together will take each one of us further.
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UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY
Arts pg. 16
Location pg. 14
ACCESS EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCES
Academics pg. 04
College pg. 32
LEARN ALONGSIDE FACULTY GROW THROUGH CONNECTIONS
PREPARE FOR EXCELLENCE Community pg. 24
Athletics pg. 20
COMPETE AS A TEAM
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Academics
LEARN ALONGSIDE FACULTY
CURRICULUM THAT IS RIGOROUS AND RELEVANT. YOU WILL CULTIVATE THE COURAGE, CURIOSITY, AND SKILLS TO RISE TO THE INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGES YOU’RE GIVEN.
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The academic program at Govs highlights place-based and experiential learning. A few signature opportunities include: MARSH WIKI PROJECT In ninth grade, you will participate in a marsh study that builds on 10+ years of research. You test samples, compare your data to national and historical trends, and ultimately contribute to a real scientific research project.
PUBLIC SPEAKING Whether you express your view at Harvard Model Congress or recite a Shakespearean monologue on stage, the development of clarity, intentionality, and confidence when speaking in public is threaded throughout your education.
JUNIOR THESIS As a junior U.S. History student, you will dig deep into a time of history that interests you, culminating in a research paper. It could be the shaping of the American frontier or a new cultural voice in the 20th century that inspires you to articulate your findings and analysis on the page.
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Academics
LEARN ALONGSIDE FACULTY
At Govs, students integrate critical thinking with creative expression, open dialogue with thoughtful reflection, and place-based experience with problem solving.
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7:1
12
honors and advanced courses
student to faculty ratio
students per class, on average
A SAMPLING OF COURSES Advanced English Literature & Composition Advanced Film & Animation Advanced Spanish: Literature, Identity & Global Perspectives Advanced Statistics Global & U.S. Citizenship Harmonics, Electricity & Magnetism Honors Engineering Honors Environmental Science Honors Microeconomics Introduction to Ceramics Journalism Multivariable Calculus Neuroscience
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COLLABORATE TO ACHIEVE COMMON GOALS “During Winter Musical run-throughs, if you aren’t in a current scene, you’re helping with tech, fixing costumes, or working on a dance. Everyone is doing something.” Tavi Marsh ’27
THINK CRITICALLY AND SOLVE PROBLEMS “I learned so much in Mr. Lefebvre’s Honors Marine Science class. To understand human impact on ecosystems, I started doing research on corals in the tank at the Alfond Center and practicing coral husbandry.” Anna Doherty ’26
ADAPT READILY
Seven Essential Skills These are the skills that anchor our academic and co-curricular programs so our students can lead lives of joyful discovery, collaboration, and success.
LEAD WITHIN A MORAL AND ETHICAL FRAMEWORK “My environmental science class analyzed campus soil and shared our findings with the Facilities Department so they could add nutrients accordingly to help plants thrive. It was cool to not only learn but help the community around us.” Miffy Wang ’24
COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY
“The books I read in my U.S. History class showed me how we could learn from history to improve our own future. Historical events combined with good storytelling makes reading more interesting.”
“I used to shy away from raising my hand in class, let alone talking in front of an audience, but I now find myself giving a Chapel Talk and speaking at morning meetings. I found my voice at Govs.”
Freddy Kniker ’25
Juliana Lucero ’26
ACCESS AND ANALYZE INFORMATION
BE THOUGHTFUL AND ENGAGED READERS
“We worked with the Hanalani School in Hawaii to study the impact of human activities on local water quality. Students executed their data analysis right on Governor’s campus to understand how we are affecting our own watershed.”
“Mrs. Gold encouraged me to explore different literary genres, stretching me to grow into a more engaged reader by teaching me to look at the ‘bigger picture’ of what I was reading.”
Lisa Borgatti Science Teacher
Maggie Delay ’25
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Academics
LEARN ALONGSIDE FACULTY
PLACE-BASED LEARNING In American Studies and U.S. History classes, students explore Salem, Massachusetts, to engage with the legacy of the witch trials and the moral complexities of collective memory.
Students in our Advanced U.S. Government & Politics class work with local and state elected officials to draft bills and request earmarks for issues that matter to them.
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Nearby Plum Island and the Atlantic Ocean are natural laboratories for students in our marine science courses.
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Academics
LEARN ALONGSIDE FACULTY Meet Erika Mitkus “THE BASS INSTITUTE IS FOCUSED ON BRINGING PLACE-BASED LEARNING TO THE FOREFRONT OF A GOVS EDUCATION, ALLOWING STUDENTS TO PURSUE THEIR INTERESTS WHILE STUDYING ALONGSIDE OUTSIDE EXPERTS.” In addition to her role as a biology teacher, Erika is the Director of the Bass Institute at the Alfond Center, where she inspires students and fellow faculty alike to think about curricula with a more holistic and complex picture of the real-world challenges that exist around and outside of the region.
THE BILL ’67 AND PETER ’71 ALFOND COASTAL RESEARCH CENTER Nestled on the banks of one of the most complex ecosystems in the country, the new Alfond Center features an aquatic lab fed by the Parker River, as well as research and learning spaces connecting all academic disciplines.
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DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND BREADTH OF: EXPERIENCE
INDEPENDENT STUDIES You can pursue your research passion with a faculty mentor, possibly leading to publication in a scientific journal. One student recently designed a green crab fertilizer that may have commercial uses, and another is studying cold-water Atlantic coral with help from Roger Williams University.
CARDBOARD BOAT REGATTA Can you design a boat solely out of cardboard and tape—that will bear the weight of a student? Every spring, our physics classes host their annual Cardboard Regatta, testing their knowledge of buoyancy, forces, and float by sailing their cardboard vessels down the Parker River.
BLANDING’S TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT In Advanced Environmental Science, you work with a local conservationist to raise endangered turtle hatchlings until they can survive in the wild. Students practice statistical modeling and are developing “head start” protocols for other schools to use.
NEW ENGLAND COASTAL HISTORY & ECOLOGY In this multidisciplinary, place-based course, ninth graders can choose to focus their history and biology studies on the North Shore and the Great Marsh. You explore immigration and epidemics, boatbuilding, indigenous use of the marsh, and more.
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Academics
LEARN ALONGSIDE FACULTY
WE ALL NEED CONNECTION. PEOPLE WHO ARE FOR US AND WITH US.
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Govs faculty stay informed and remain curious. They motivate you while caring for you. They model our values as they share their expertise through teaching, advising, and coaching.
EXPERTISE
ADVISING
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
You learn from university researchers and local policy makers. Teachers who are also published authors, practicing artists, and curricula developers for The New York Times bring their enthusiasm and experience to the classroom.
Each week, you meet with your advisor to celebrate successes and discuss concerns inside and outside of the classroom. The connection between student and advisor is one of ongoing guidance, respect, and comfort, providing an anchor as you navigate life at Govs.
Whether you need help with that tricky trig equation or that essay’s thesis statement, faculty are there for you at the Learning Center, located in the Carl A. Pescosolido Library. Support is available during the academic day and evening study hall.
Meet Tori Davis TEACHES: English ADDITIONAL ROLES: Varsity Alpine Ski Coach, Varsity Track & Field Coach, Head Dorm Parent, and Advisor “Our students learn alongside faculty who help them develop a passion for learning, grow as individuals, and figure out what impact they want to have on the world.”
Meet Marcus Soule TEACHES: Physics and Engineering ADDITIONAL ROLES: Science Department Chair, Robotics Director, Head Dorm Parent, and Advisor “In project-based learning, the project is the learning, not the outcome. Students are building their mastery and knowledge as they go through it.”
Meet Claudia Asano Barcomb “AS AN ADVISOR AND COACH, I FIND GREAT JOY IN HELPING STUDENTS LEARN THE POWER OF SELF-ADVOCACY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A GREAT TEAMMATE AND CLASSMATE. THE RESULT IS STRONG, SELFLESS LEADERS.” In addition to being an advisor and a coach, Mrs. Barcomb is the Director of Afternoon Programs & Athletics and appreciates the role our afternoon programs play in developing life skills.
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Location
ACCESS EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCES
Head to the Carl A. Pescosolido Library to collaborate with your classmates.
The Bill ’67 and Peter ’71 Alfond Coastal Research Center is a living laboratory for you to learn sophisticated research skills.
On Cardinal & White Day, cheer alongside alumni as the football team marches to victory on the Sager Bowl.
Grab your Govs hoodie and cheer for your classmates at the Whiston • Bragdon Arena, arguably the best rink in the ISL.
Enjoy a midday break— maybe a smoothie—on the outside terrace of the Peter Marshall French Student Center.
Our Little Red Schoolhouse is the original from 1763.
WITH 456 ACRES ON THE NORTH SHORE, YOU WILL GO FAR. 5 MILES NORTH TO NEWBURYPORT 14
15 MINUTES TO ATLANTIC OCEAN
Take a seat in one of 490 seats in the Wilkie Center for the Performing Arts and enjoy a theater performance or concert put on by your talented classmates.
Feel safe knowing Duncan Health Center nurses are available 24/7 to support you.
The Alfond Family Dining Hall is a Certified Green Restaurant that features comprehensive recycling and composting programs.
Turn right after walking over the covered bridge to reach Ingham Dormitory, which has a great sledding hill and patio for lawn games.
33 MILES SOUTH TO BOSTON 15
Arts
UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY
ART THAT STIRS AND INFLUENCES. YOU WILL DEVELOP CREATIVE WORK ALONGSIDE A COLLECTIVE OF PEERS AND TEACHERS WHO CELEBRATE, CRITIQUE, AND INSPIRE ONE ANOTHER.
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EXPLORE Every ninth grader studies four arts disciplines.
Intro to Fine Arts course
ELEVATE Arts are prioritized at Govs as an essential part of your day.
15 annual concerts and productions Arts nights included in weekend activities Dedicated performing arts block in the middle of the academic day
SPECIALIZE Refine your artistic passions and talents on a deeper level through arts electives.
Architecture Ceramics II Honors Chorus Intermediate Drawing & Painting Intermediate Studio Art Jazz Ensemble Music Theory Advanced Photography Honors Research Seminar in Documentary Filmmaking
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Arts
UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY
TALENT AND UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES FLOURISH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
(Self ) Portrait by Joshua Xiang ’27, Painting, Gold Key
Whether you are an accomplished artist or are painting and sculpting for the first time, our visual arts courses will inspire you to excel creatively.
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SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS In the 2026 award competition, Govs students earned 13 Gold Keys, 12 Silver Keys, and 13 Honorable Mentions. Two students went on to win national awards for their photography.
Tortoise by Tiger Xiong ’27, Drawing, Silver Key
Whimsical Fish by Lucy Bonner ’28, Ceramics, Honorable Mention
Homeward by Alex Wang ’27, Photography, Gold Key
The Weight of a Pause by Nicholas Zhou ’27, Photography, Gold Key
Vapor Dreams by Nixie Gerdes ’27, Ceramics, Silver Key
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Athletics
COMPETE AS A TEAM
OUR CARDINAL RULE: PURSUE 20
EXCELLENCE 21
Athletics
COMPETE AS A TEAM
Join some of the best athletes in the Independent School League (ISL) and a centuries-old athletic tradition of chasing titles in cardinal and white.
100+ alumni currently competing in NCAA collegiate athletics
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teams have played in New England or ISL Championship Tournaments in the past two years. 22
COACHES WHO DEVELOP TOP COMPETITORS. COACHES WHO COMMIT TO FORMING ATHLETES WITH INTEGRITY.
25 VARSITY TEAMS Alpine Skiing Baseball Basketball Cross Country Field Hockey Football Golf Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Softball Tennis Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor) Volleyball Wrestling
COACHES WHO MATCH YOUR INTENSITY.
Meet Sean McGonagill “ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF MY JOB IS SEEING THE VALUABLE LESSONS THAT MY STUDENTS AND PLAYERS CAN LEARN AND GROW FROM IN ALL FACETS OF THEIR LIVES.” He is the varsity boys basketball head coach, the JV football head coach, a dorm parent, a mathematics teacher, and an advisor. Mr. McGonagill is a “triple threat,” who knows the lessons gleaned during lay-up drills or a New England tournament game translate to the classroom, the dorm, and the world beyond Govs.
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Community
GROW THROUGH CONNECTIONS
ATHLETICS In addition to interscholastic athletics, we offer recreational sports such as tennis, hockey, yoga, and disc golf to get you moving, playing, and stretching.
STEAM Creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration come together during STEAM activities, ranging from robotics to biological science competitions.
Governor’s Afternoon Program 3:30 P.M. With dozens of activities to choose from, the afternoons are when you follow your curiosity and create, perform, serve, or compete.
COMMUNITY SERVICE Helping with the Special Olympics, volunteering with local youth at an after-school program, and tending to the school garden are just a few of the ways you can give back to your community in the afternoons.
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ARTS From performing a new dance for the recital to throwing pots for the annual soup kitchen fundraiser, there are lots of ways to express yourself and engage your creative mind and heart.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS After dinner, gather with peers who share a common interest, or explore something new in a student club that is supported by a faculty advisor.
Asian & Asian American Association
Strong Women at The Governor’s Academy
Black Latinx Association
Investment Club
Community Facilitators
Peer Advisors
Debate Club
Philoso-Tea Club
Environmental Club
Photography Club
Gender Sexuality Alliance
Bible Study Club
Harvard Model Congress
Student Athlete Leadership Team
Inter-Cultural Union
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Community
GROW THROUGH CONNECTIONS
IT’S EVERYONE TOGETHER THAT UPLIFTS AND CELEBRATES US ALL.
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“WE KNOW THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR STUDENTS IS ENHANCED WHEN THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY ROLE MODELS WHO BRING AND SHARE A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES AND LIFE EXPERIENCES.” Dr. Peter H. Quimby ’85 Head of School
CHAPEL TALKS Wednesday mornings at Moseley Chapel are a time to affirm and honor your Govs community members. Students may open up about humorous life happenings, or handling grief, or both. Chapel Talks offer powerful opportunities for reflection and connection.
MORNING MEETINGS CHAPEL
Want to remind the Govs community about the dance show, pep rally, Wednesday morningsor in Social the peaceful, nonsectarian space of Justice Conference? of Mosley Chapel is a On timeMonday to witness, affirm, honor your and Friday and mornings, Govs community members during Chapel Students we come together to Talk. celebrate each giving a talk may openother, up onexchange topics about humorous ideas, and makelife happenings, or the navigation of deep grief, or both. Whether plans for the days ahead. And on you are a witness or aThursdays, speaker, Chapel talks offer powerful we hear from a guest opportunities for reflection, connection, and change. speaker during Convocation.
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Boarding
LIVE WITH FRIENDS
A FULL—AND FULLY BALANCED—DAY. Picture a Thursday for a ninth-grade boarding student at Govs. Day students are welcome on campus from breakfast in the morning to study hall and weekend events in the evening.
ACADEMIC CLASSES COMMUNITY MEETINGS Gather as a community four dedicated times each week.
Meet for each class three times a week for 60 minutes plus 30 minutes once a week for additional instruction, extra help, or assessment.
7:30 a.m.
8:15 a.m.
9:55 a.m.
12:35 p.m.
1:05 p.m.
BREAKFAST
CONVOCATION
GLOBAL & U.S. CITIZENSHIP
LUNCH
BIOLOGY
9:25 a.m. ADVISORY MEETING
11:35 a.m. ORCHESTRA PRACTICE
ADVISORY Connect with your advisor to reflect on the current week and plan for the week ahead.
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AF TERNOON PROGRAM Choose from athletics, the arts, STEAM, and community service activities. DORM LIFE CLUB MEETINGS Share a common interest or explore something new, supported by a faculty advisor.
Relax together with friends every evening.
2:15 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
10:15 p.m.
FOUNDATIONS IN LITERATURE
VARSITY TRACK & FIELD PRACTICE
DINNER
INTER-CULTURAL UNION MEETING
STUDY HALL
LIGHTS OUT
MEAL TIMES Enjoy three culturally and allergy-conscious meals served each day. Cereal, fruit, and a sandwich bar are available all day.
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Boarding
LIVE WITH FRIENDS
FRIDAY NIGHTS AT MANSION HOUSE Some of the best campus memories are made on Friday nights, when Head of School Dr. Peter H. Quimby and his wife, Dr. Laurie Quimby, invite all students into their home for conversation, games of pool, and delicious snacks.
TWILIGHT SOFTBALL The Govs community celebrates the longer and warmer days of spring with lively games of pick-up softball after dinner, enjoying grand slams and sunsets together.
JUMPING THE WALL A tradition since the 1950s, after graduation the senior class takes a leap—literally and metaphorically—over the old stone wall behind Mansion House to celebrate their next chapter. 30
“THE BONDS FORMED IN THE DORM BUILD CONFIDENCE, INDEPENDENCE, AND LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS.” Karl Koenigsbauer Director of Admission, Head Dorm Parent, JV Boys Lacrosse Coach, Advisor
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A BOARDING STUDENT?
WHAT ARE THE FOOD OPTIONS?
Each day, evening, and weekend brings a unique and exciting mix of activities. You might watch a favorite show on Netflix or help a friend prepare for the Honors Precalculus exam. Perhaps you share some brownies or nachos prepared by your dorm parent while hanging out in the dorm common room at night. Or, after a thrilling lacrosse game or a stand-out Winter Concert performance, you settle in for a restful night’s sleep. These moments, both big and small, create a sense of community and belonging.
Our dining hall serves three allergy-conscious meals per day, and there is cereal, fruit, and a sandwich bar available all day if you get hungry between meals. Everyone loves Thursdays, when our campus enjoys a themed station—burrito, ramen, and Mediterranean, to name a few favorites. The Grill in the student center is open afternoons and evenings, even on the weekends, for a burger and fries or a smoothie. And on the weekends, we’re host to some of the best local food trucks, like the Lexie’s Burger and Cookie Monster trucks.
WHO LIVES WITH ME?
WHAT WILL I DO ON THE WEEKEND?
Boarding at Govs provides a fulfilling experience with a warm, family-like atmosphere among dormmates, proctors, and dorm parents. Whether in a single or double room, you create lifelong friendships living alongside peers from all over the country and world.
With a campus brimming with possibilities—and no Saturday classes—you’ll find endless things to do on the weekends. Perhaps you’ll create a stunning print during Arts Night in Kaiser or challenge a friend to the inflatable obstacle course race. You could also take a trip to nearby Newburyport, or Newbury Street or Chinatown in Boston. There’s ample time to catch up with friends and to study, too.
WHAT IS THE DRESS CODE? We keep it casual. Just be sure to wear your Govs gear on game days!
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College
PREPARE FOR EXCELLENCE
TOGETHER, WE GO FURTHER. Our college search process is designed around finding your best-fit college. Explore your interests and aspirations through 1:1 meetings with your college counselor as you build a comprehensive and thoughtful list of schools. This, along with our College Search Seminar Series, guides you as you take steps each year toward, well—your next big step.
NINTH GRADE Meet your assigned college counselor Explore academic interests Consider extracurricular options Plan sophomore year classes
SOPHOMORE YEAR
JUNIOR YEAR Attend the College Process Kick-Off Meeting and college search seminars Meet with your college counselor Create your preliminary college list Take SAT or ACT
Attend meetings on the college process overview Learn the value of selfreflection and goal setting Take full SAT and ACT diagnostic exams Continue to explore extracurriculars and interests Plan junior year classes
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Complete first draft of college essay
SENIOR YEAR Finalize your college list Submit completed Common Application to colleges Meet with visiting college admission officers Attend College Application and Transition to College seminars Submit matriculation deposit for your top choice!
COLLEGE MATRICULATION FOR THE CLASS OF 2026 Bates College
New York Institute of Technology
University of Colorado (Boulder)
Belmont University
New York University
University of Denver
Bentley University
Northeastern University
Boston College
Oberlin College
University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)
Boston University
Pepperdine University
Brown University
Providence College
Bryn Mawr College
Roger Williams University
Bucknell University
Rollins College
Case Western Reserve University
Rutgers University
University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)
Clemson University
Saint Michael’s College
University of Oxford
Colby College
Santa Clara University
University of Richmond
College of Charleston
Southern New Hampshire University
University of Tampa
College of the Holy Cross Columbia University Concordia University (Montreal) Connecticut College Cornell University Dickinson College Elmira College Endicott College Georgetown University Gettysburg College Harvard University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Mercy University Middlebury College
St. Lawrence University St. Olaf College St. Thomas University Texas Christian University Trinity College
University of Massachusetts (Amherst) University of Miami University of Michigan
University of Virginia University of Washington Washington University in St. Louis Wilkes University Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Tufts University United States Naval Academy University of California (Berkeley) University of California (San Diego) University of California (Santa Barbara) University of Central Arkansas University of Chicago
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Apply Now
1 ELM STREET BYFIELD, MA 01922 An independent, college preparatory school for students in grades 9 through 12 on the North Shore of Massachusetts.
978.499.3120 ADMISSION@GOVSACADEMY.ORG
THEGOVERNORSACADEMY.ORG