Phillips Exeter Academy

Phillips Exeter Academy was founded in 1781 by Dr. John Phillips and his wife, Elizabeth, who resided in Exeter. Dr. Phillips felt strongly about what we now call community service, having given much of his time to his church, the town, and to the province. First a teacher by trade, he firmly believed in educating “youth from every quarter.” That sentiment remains  a true reflection of the inclusive spirit of Exeter- its cultural, racial and socioeconomic diversity.  It is imperative that all members of our community feel heard, supported, and treated with respect. This is one of the reasons Exeter has chosen Harkness as its pedagogy. Harkness strives to ensure that every student has a seat at the table and that each voice carries equal weight.

To learn more about Phillips Exeter Academy's history, click here. 

To learn more about Phillips Exeter Academy's commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, click here. 

As you might expect from a school founded in 1781, traditions run deep.  Traditions on campus serve to build community. Our traditions range from the community gathering together weekly for assembly, a shared cultural experience featuring notable speakers, performances and campus celebrations, to Academy Life Day, a day each fall where classes are cancelled to give students the opportunity to spend time with dorm families and advising groups.

At Exeter, one of the traditions we value the most is that we take a different approach to living at school. Boarders live in the same dorm until they graduate, which creates a smaller family within the community, generates house pride and deepens friendships across classes. Day students are affiliated with a dorm too!  Older students and dorm proctors take on the mantle of welcoming and guiding new students. 

To learn more about dorm life at Phillips Exeter Academy, click here. 

With access to over 450 courses (more than many small colleges), options for interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and global opportunities across five continents, you can expand your learning exponentially — guided by expert faculty who are committed to helping you succeed in whatever you pursue. We're a community that celebrates curiosity and cultivates potential. 

Exeter originated the Harkness philosophy of teaching where 12 students and a teacher join in classes around an oval Harkness Table, used in every discipline and subject we teach at Exeter.  At the Harkness table, our students explore ideas as a group, develop the courage to speak, the compassion to listen and the empathy to understand. It’s a collaborative approach to problem solving and learning. Students are empowered to participate freely and become independent thinkers.

To learn more about academics at Phillips Exeter Academy, click here.  

Our new theater, dance and film center, The Goel Center for Theater and Dance, rivals Broadway in its scope and technical capabilities. There are rehearsal and stagecraft studios, plus four performance stages that range from the minimalist to the grand. Dramat, Exeter's student-run theater organization, has its own space in the new center. This provides serious theater students with a dedicated location in which to experiment and rehearse. 

At Exeter, there are six a cappella groups, 15 chamber groups, three orchestras, four choirs, two jazz bands and the Exeter Association of Rock all compose, practice and perform on campus. Exeter also offers private music lessons in more than 30 instruments and state-of-the-art music facilities like “The Bowld,” a beautiful 250-seat performance space. With 4,600+ performance opportunities annually and extensive programs in visual arts and writing, you’ll have virtually endless options!

To learn more about the Art programs at Phillips Exeter Academy, click here.

You can workout, train and compete year-round in our professional-grade facilities. There are indoor rinks, courts, turf, fields, indoor and outdoor tracks and Mother Nature's best, a river. We field 63 different sports teams including football, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, crew, water polo, golf and squash. 

Every student participates in athletics at Exeter, whether they are participating yoga, competing in intramural, junior varsity or varsity-level sports. On big game days, players who aren't on the field (or on the ice, on the track or pool) are in the stands, united in their school pride. 

To learn more about the Athletic program at Phillips Exeter Academy, click here.

Over 90 student clubs span a universe of interests, giving students a chance to explore their passions, discover new ones and cultivate their leadership skills. From club sports such as archery and surfing to academic clubs (think mock trial and debate teams) to radio broadcasting, Harry Potter trivia....well, there's a club for just about everything you can imagine.   

One of the most popular clubs on campus is the Exeter Student Service Organization (ESSO) is student-led and includes about 50 service-oriented clubs working with community partners. The mission: To provide direct service and support to communities, both locally and globally, and to learn from those experiences and carry that knowledge forward.

To learn more about Community and Student Life at Phillips Exeter Academy, click here.