Waynflete School

{{Short description|Private school in Portland, Maine, US}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox school | name = Waynflete School | image = waynflete logo.png | caption = | established = 1897 | founders = Agnes Lowell and Caroline Crisfield | type = Private day school | head_of_school = Geoff Wagg | city = Portland | state = Maine | country = United States | grades = Early childhood education (from age 3) to twelfth grade | gender = Coeducational | enrollment = 584 total 183 Lower School 156 Middle School 245 Upper School | schedule = Block scheduling | avg_class_size = 13 students<ref name=AISNEMember/> | faculty = 144 | ratio = 9:1<ref name=AISNEMember/> | campus = Urban, 3 acre campus 35 acre athletic complex | accreditation = New England Association of Schools and Colleges | newspaper = The Flyer | endowment = US$ 30.5 Million (as of June 30, 2024)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://issuu.com/waynflete/docs/wfs-143_philanthropy_at_waynflete_2024_sp_r4_2_?fr=sMWU5MDY1NjQ1MTE | title=2023–24 Philanthropy at Waynflete }}</ref> | colors = Dartmouth Green {{Color box|#00693E|border=darkgray}} | motto = ''Vincite, Virtute, Vera'' (Latin) Conquer With True Virtue | nickname = Flyers | website = [http://www.waynflete.org/ waynflete.org] }}

'''Waynflete School''' is a private, co-educational college preparatory day school established in 1898 for early childhood education (from age three) to the 12th grade.<ref name="WaynfletePrograms">{{cite web |title=Waynflete School, Admission: Tuition |url=http://www.waynflete.org/podium/default.aspx?t=157188 |access-date=November 4, 2011 |publisher=Waynflete School}}</ref> It is located in the West End of Portland, Maine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-27 |title=Waynflete School proposing $12 million expansion in Portland's West End |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2016/02/26/waynflete-proposing-major-expansion-in-portlands-west-end/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Press Herald}}</ref>

==History== In 1898, Waynflete School was established by Agnes Lowell and Caroline Crisfield. During a trip to England, they became interested in statesman and educator William Waynflete, after whom the school is named. The school opened with forty-nine students. In the early twentieth century, Waynflete adopted a progressive education model emphasizing physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development through hands-on learning, as championed by philosopher John Dewey. In 1950, boys past the fourth grade were admitted, and in 1967, boys were admitted into the upper school.<ref name=WaynfleteHistory>{{cite web|url=http://www.waynflete.org/podium/default.aspx?t=124016|title=Waynflete School, Mission & History: History|publisher=Waynflete School|access-date=November 4, 2011|archive-date=October 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001025603/http://www.waynflete.org/podium/default.aspx?t=124016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Catchment== The Maine Department of Education is responsible for school assignments in unorganized territories, and it pays entities to educate students in unorganized territories. {{As of|2025}} it assigns Perkins Township, Sagadahoc County to Waynflete School as one option. The school is also an option for the Washington community in Franklin County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/eut/findschool|title=Education in the Unorganized Territory - Find Your School |publisher=Maine Department of Education|access-date=2025-07-13}}</ref>

==Academics== Lower School provides education from early childhood (ages 3 and 4) to fifth grade, with the middle school serving sixth through eighth grades, and upper school serving ninth through twelfth grades.<ref name=WaynfleteAcademics>{{cite web|url=http://www.waynflete.org/podium/default.aspx?t=123763|title=Waynflete School, Curriculum: Academics|publisher=Waynflete School|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> The school has approximately 550 students, with an average classroom size of thirteen students, and a student to teacher ratio of nine to one.<ref name=AISNEMember/>

Cocurricular activities such as student government and community service are offered in middle and upper school.<ref name=WaynfleteCocurriculars>{{cite web|url=http://www.waynflete.org/podium/default.aspx?t=123762|title=Waynflete School, Curriculum: Co-Curricular Activities|publisher=Waynflete School|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

Waynflete School won the state Science Olympiad ten times, most recently in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Maine#Division_C_Competitions|title=Maine - Wiki - Scioly.org}}</ref> The ''Portland Press Herald'' has called the school a "dynasty" in science competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-22 |title=Waynflete's science olympians hope to extend dynasty |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2022/03/22/waynfletes-science-olympians-hope-to-extend-dynasty/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Press Herald}}</ref>

===Accreditation=== Waynflete is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC),<ref name=NEASCAccreditation>{{cite web|url=http://cis.neasc.org/cis_directory_of_schools/details/9035|title=CIS Directory of Schools: Member Details|publisher=New England Association of Schools and Colleges|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS),<ref name=NAISMember>{{cite web|url=http://transact.nais.org/Custom/CompanyInformation.aspx?id=0722&addressnum=|title=Membership Directory: School Information|publisher=National Association of Independent Schools|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> Maine Association of Independent Schools, Independent School Association of Northern New England (ISANNE), Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE),<ref name=AISNEMember>{{cite web|url=https://www.aisne.org/waynflete-school/|title=Waynflete School|publisher=Association of Independent Schools of New England|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> and Cum Laude Society.<ref name=CumLaudeSocietyMember>{{cite web|url=http://cumlaudesociety.org/Forms/MEMBER_SCHOOLS.pdf|title=MEMBER SCHOOLS|publisher=Cum Laude Society|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

===Recognition=== * Bowdoin College – Abraxas Award, 2005<ref name=BowdoinAbraxasAward2005>{{cite web|url=https://www.bowdoin.edu/news/archives/1bowdoincampus/002281.shtml|title=Waynflete School Receives 2005 Abraxas Award from Bowdoin|publisher=Bowdoin College|date=July 7, 2005|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> * Malone Family Foundation – Malone Scholar School, 2011<ref name=MaloneScholarSchool>{{cite web|url=http://www.malonefamilyfoundation.com/malonescholars2011.html|title=Malone Scholars Program: Schools Selected in 2011|publisher=Malone Family Foundation|year=2011|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> * Down East Magazine – Readers' Choice Private School, 2011<ref name=DownEastReadersChoice2011>{{cite web|url=http://www.downeast.com/magazine/2011/july/readers-choice|title=Readers' Choice: 2011 Features Statewide|publisher=Down East Magazine|date=July 2011|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

==Campus== thumb|right|Waynflete's Thomas House Waynflete has a three-acre campus made up of historic homes modified for school use, as well as newly constructed buildings. The campus consists of eleven buildings,{{Clarify|reason=more than 11 buildings are listed|date=June 2025}} which include: Boulos House, Hurd House, Sills Hall, Hewes Hall, Founders Hall, Morrill House, Cook-Hyde House, Thomas House, Davis Hall, Emery Building, Upper School Science Center,<ref name=WaynfleteHistory/> LEED Silver certified Arts Center<ref name=WaynfleteArtsCenter>{{cite web|url=http://www.waynflete.org/podium/default.aspx?t=128054|title=Waynflete School, Curriculum: Arts-The Art Center|publisher=Waynflete School|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> designed by Scott Simons Architects consisting of a 276-seat theater<ref name="ISANNECampusSpecifics">{{cite web |title=Full School Directory: WAYNFLETE SCHOOL |url=http://www.isanne.org/page.cfm?p=465&start=21 |access-date=November 4, 2011 |publisher=Independent School Association of Northern New England}}</ref> and exhibition gallery,<ref name=WaynfleteArtsCenter/> two gymnasiums,<ref name=WaynfleteHistory/> and two school-owned housing units, one used for the residence of the headmaster, and the other not currently used for educational purposes. Waynflete also has a thirty-five-acre<ref name=MaloneScholarSchool/> off-campus scenic athletic complex named Fore River Fields.<ref name=WaynfleteAthleticFacilities>{{cite web|url=http://www.waynflete.org/podium/default.aspx?t=127875|title=Waynflete School, Athletics: Athletic Facilities|publisher=Waynflete School|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

==Athletics== Lower school students participate in physical education. Middle school students participate in competitive sports or non-competitive activities. Upper school offers competitive sports at the junior varsity and varsity level, as well as physical education options and an independent physical activity program.<ref name=WaynfleteAthletics>{{cite web|url=http://www.waynflete.org/podium/default.aspx?t=123757|title=Waynflete School, Curriculum: Athletics Overview|publisher=Waynflete School|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

Waynflete competes in the Western Maine Conference<ref name=WesternMaineConference>{{cite web|url=https://sites.google.com/site/westernmaineconference/|title=Western Maine Conference Schools|publisher=Western Maine Conference|access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> and is a member of Maine Principals' Association (MPA).<ref name=WaynfleteAthletics/> The school athletic teams are called Flyers, with the school colors being green and white. Waynflete is a rival to North Yarmouth Academy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-03 |title=Waynflete girls continue to excel with win at NYA |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2024/05/02/waynflete-girls-continue-to-excel-with-win-at-nya/ |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Press Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-18 |title=NYA gets revenge, wins at Waynflete in regular season finale |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2023/10/17/nya-gets-revenge-wins-at-waynflete-in-regular-season-finale/ |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Press Herald}}</ref>

== Tuition == Tuition for the 2023–2024 academic year ranges from $30,690 for kindergarten and Grade 1, to $38,205 for Grade 12.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tuition and Tuition Assistance |url=https://www.waynflete.org/admission-and-tuition-assistance/tuition-and-tuition-assistance |access-date=2024-01-05 |website=Waynflete |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Notable alumni== {{Alumni|date=May 2026}} * Amy Allen (2010), first woman to win a Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical) * Susannah Beck (1986), distance runner * Christopher Fitzgerald (1991), actor * Linda Lavin, actress * Nicole Maines (2015), transgender activist and actress * Judd Nelson, actor * Michael Odokara-Okigbo (2008), member of the Dartmouth Aires * Jane Spencer (1994), writer * Liv Tyler (transferred out), actress

==See also==

* Education in Maine

Other private high schools in Maine which take students with public funds (from unorganized areas and/or with agreements with school districts): * Foxcroft Academy * Lee Academy * George Stevens Academy * Washington Academy

Connecticut private academies acting as public high schools: * Gilbert School * Norwich Free Academy * Woodstock Academy

New Hampshire private academies acting as public high schools: * Coe-Brown Northwood Academy * Pinkerton Academy

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading== * {{cite journal|last=Robinov|first=Kelsey|url=https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/muskie_capstones/56/|title=Maine's Charter School Law: Predicted Impacts on Waynflete School Enrollment|journal=Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations|date=2014-05-13|publisher=University of Southern Maine|page=56}} - Capstone Research Project

==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.waynflete.org|Official School Website}}

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Category:Educational institutions established in 1898 Category:High schools in Portland, Maine Category:Private schools in Portland, Maine Category:Preparatory schools in Maine Category:Private elementary schools in Maine Category:Private middle schools in Maine Category:Private high schools in Maine Category:1898 establishments in Maine Category:West End (Portland, Maine)