The Williams School
A unique university-affiliated secondary school experience that offers students a head start on their journey to higher education in the U.S. Established in 1891 within the campus of Connecticut College the Williams School has been educating students for over 130 years with approximately 200 students from across the world currently attending. Each student at Williams is supported by a caring advisor who helps them navigate their academic choices, social life and more. In middle school, students are taught how to effectively learn in an American classroom, and in the upper school they implement these strategies to gain a competitive edge when applying to college. Every year, students graduating from Williams go on to Ivy League universities and other top institutions, such as Stanford University and Williams College.
• Location: New London, CT
• Founding Year: 1891
• Grade Levels: 6-12
• Total Enrollment: 180
• Teacher-to-Student Ratio: 1:8
• Faculty with Advanced Degrees: 80%
• Average Class Size: 10-12
• Number of Varsity Sports Teams: 11
• Number of Clubs: 50+
• Average SAT Score: 1384
• Average ACT Score: 31
Williams students benefit greatly from the school’s unique connection with Connecticut College • Williams is a school inside a college-it is located on the 750-acre campus of Connecticut College, which is ranked among the Top 55 Liberal Arts Colleges in the US.
• Williams students have access to college level facilities such as libraries, laboratories, athletic facilities and more. Students graduating from Williams have an advantage in getting accepted to Connecticut College. The Upper School program provides a wide variety of course options and advanced academic programming
• Through the College Acceleration Program, 10 juniors and 10 seniors take one course per semester at Connecticut College, with almost 50 different courses to choose from. By graduation, students who successfully complete the program earn a transcript from Connecticut College alongside their Williams diploma.
• A unique academic offering is the Interdisciplinary Certificate Program where students take five courses in a focused subject area (engineering, environmental sustainability, global perspectives, humanities and the arts). Participating students also complete an independent research project while receiving guided professional exploration.
• In 2016, the Advanced Courses Curriculum was introduced. This curriculum allows faculty to explore topics that go beyond the set AP courses while also preparing students to take an AP test in a subject if they choose.
• 20+ art elective courses available in Visual Arts, Dance, Performing Arts, Music, Theatre, and Digital Arts. Advanced art courses include Portfolio Development, Digital Imaging, Music Theory, Stage Combat and Music Composition.
• The Senior Project is a culmination of academic experiences that challenge seniors to develop a project based on their interests. This project allows students to take ownership of their education as they explore their potential college major. Excellent college acceptance results with consistent admissions to Ivy League Schools and Top 50 National Universities
• Students take part in a Personalized College Counseling Program. The college counseling office offers students and families individualized attention and support throughout the college admissions process.
• The program begins in 9th grade, when students are advised through course and co-curricular selection. It ramps up in 11th grade when each student is assigned a dedicated counselor who meets with them regularly to map out their college application strategy.
• Williams graduates are consistently accepted by top universities including Yale, MIT, Stanford, Cornell and Brown. Desired location for international students
• As a historic Connecticut seaport community, New London boasts an active arts and cultural community, and offers stunning natural landscapes and opportunities for outdoor activities, such as sailing and beach trips.
• New London is conveniently located within driving distance of major cities like Boston and New York City. It is also close to top universities including Harvard, Yale, Brown and Columbia.
