Our rigorous academic environment offers a balance of structure and freedom, designed to help students develop excellent study, writing, and critical thinking skills, along with an ambitious intellectual curiosity. Our class sizes are small (average size of 12) and our course selection is large (155 courses with 52 designated as Honors or APs)—so you can think big!

This college-model, trimester-long course allows students to pursue an in-depth research or creative project in a discipline of their choice. Under close faculty mentorship, students move through every stage of scholarly work—research, development, implementation, and presentation—while building essential skills in inquiry and critical thinking.

Students seeking the highest level of academic challenge can choose from 23 Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered across every area of study. These college-level classes allow students to explore topics more deeply, prepare for higher-level work, and, in some cases, earn college credit or advanced placement.

Our highly personalized, four-year college advising process gives students the tools—and self-awareness—they need to find the colleges that are the best fit. We utilize expert panels, mock interviews, and more to provide students and families with key information at the appropriate times.

Students may participate in an extensive program of computer science and engineering courses within Williston’s math department. Entry-level courses are available in circuitry, app programming, and robotics, while more experienced students can pursue intermediate and advanced classes or enroll in Advanced Placement options.

Students have the opportunity to sharpen the focus of their coursework by fulfilling the requirements of an academic concentration in one of five areas of study: STEM, Humanities, Language, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. Requirements include completing a Williston Scholars project along with a variety of other curricular and co-curricular subject-specific activities.

Williston’s Core Program is a scaffolded, four-year life and leadership curriculum that engages students with relevant, developmentally appropriate learning about themselves and others. Focusing on unique themes for each class each year, students learn skills that build organization, self-awareness, character, decision-making, responsibility, and leadership through class assemblies, advisory discussions, dedicated classroom sessions, and all-school conversations.

Williston’s network of academic support provides students at every level with the resources and instruction they need to succeed, and the options that best fit their learning style. We offer levels of support for every kind of learner, ranging from drop-in math, science, and writing centers to a structured Academic Strategies Tutorial and supported evening study hall.

Students have the ability to explore their artistic passions as part of Williston’s Afternoon Program. Through the Arts Intensive option, students can choose among visual arts, music, performance, and theater production, using this time to refine a current passion or explore a new artistic discipline under the guidance of a faculty member.