September 20, 2007, Yarmouth, Maine: North Yarmouth Academy (NYA) opened the school year in September with its highest enrollment in the school’s 194-year history, Headmaster Peter Mertz announced. Opening day enrollment was 331 students, including 84 new students in grades 6 through 12. NYA this year enrolled students from 43 towns in Maine along with two international students.
"NYA's excellent college preparatory program continues to attract growing numbers of students who thrive in our close-knit community of learning where high expectations and structure build personal character as well as intellect," Mertz said. "We are off to a great start. We have exceptional new teachers joining a strong and creative faculty. We have wonderful new students including children of alumni, siblings, folks from ‘away,’ immigrants and foreign exchange students, all adding to the vibrancy of our community. I am so pleased with how they have all come together and the real sense of purpose and positive energy that pervades our campus."
NYA’s growth is part of a plan put in place by the Board of Trustees three years ago, which approved increasing the size of the school’s freshman class by 10-12 students each year for four years. The plan includes adding additional faculty and teaching sections so that class sizes at NYA continue to be small, averaging under 14 students. When complete, the growth will increase the size of NYA’s Upper School from about 180 students to a maximum of 220 students. NYA’s Middle School is at full capacity since expanding its sixth grade five years ago and is now home to about 130 students in grades 6-8.
In the past five years, NYA has significantly improved its teaching facilities. The school raised more than $7 million dollars to build a new Middle School in 2003 and a new Science Center in 2006. The school is now considering a campus master plan aimed at building or renovating classroom, athletic and performing arts facilities on the 20-acre campus.
Families who are interested in learning more about NYA should call the Admission Office at 846-2376. The school will begin hosting prospective students on October 3 at a series of casual gatherings where teachers, students and parents will be on hand to discuss the NYA program and answer questions.
Upcoming Information Nights:
Wednesday, October 3, 6:00 pm, Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road, Falmouth
Wednesday, October 17, 6:00 pm. NYA Campus, Priscilla Savage Middle School, 172 Main Street, Yarmouth
Thursday, October 25, 6:00 pm, Curtis Memorial Library, 23 Pleasant Street, Brunswick
North Yarmouth Academy is an independent, college preparatory, coeducational day school serving students in grades 6 through 12. NYA is dedicated to fostering integrity, character and intellect in young adults. For more information, please contact NYA at 207-846-2380 ext. 9327 or visit our website at www.nya.org.