Holderness School fosters equally in each student the resources of the mind, body, and spirit in the creation of a caring community, inspiring all to work for the betterment of humankind and Gods creation.
The life of the mind is the central pillar of Holderness's three-fold commitment to mind, body, and spirit. The school's academic program is intentionally challenging, geared to providing a strong preparation for all colleges and universities, and laying the foundation for a lifetime of curiosity, inquiry, and learning. The program demands energy and hard work, and course selections are broad enough to accommodate each student's interests, strengths, and pace of learning. Meanwhile, faculty members are available around the clock to provide help, advice, or just friendly support.
In the Holderness classroom each student is literally in the front row. Class size never exceeds 16 and typically is around 12. The school operates on a semester basis, but most courses are year-long. Students usually carry five courses, with preparation time for each course averaging between forty-five minutes to an hour.
Holderness faculty members are skilled, knowledgeable, and empathetic. They average nearly 15 years of teaching experience. Two-thirds have advanced degrees, or are in programs leading to such degrees. All are involved in other aspects of a student's life at Holderness, whether as advisor, coach, dorm parent, or fellow-learner in the school's March cycle of Special Programs. Additionally, all have interests and abilities beyond their subject-areas. They themselves represent the healthy interrelationship of mind, body, and spirit, and draw on a broad spectrum of personal experience _ not to mention a characteristic sense of fun _ in their teaching methods.
