Waynflete School

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. It is located in the West End of Portland, Maine.

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.

Catchment

The Maine Department of Education is responsible for school assignments in unorganized territories, and it pays entities to educate students in unorganized territories. 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.

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. The school has approximately 550 students, with an average classroom size of thirteen students, and a student to teacher ratio of nine to one.

Waynflete School won the state Science Olympiad ten times, most recently in 2024. The Portland Press Herald has called the school a "dynasty" in science competitions.

Accreditation

Waynflete is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Maine Association of Independent Schools, Independent School Association of Northern New England (ISANNE), Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE), and Cum Laude Society.

Recognition

Bowdoin College – Abraxas Award, 2005
Malone Family Foundation – Malone Scholar School, 2011
Down East Magazine – Readers' Choice Private School, 2011

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, 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, designed by Scott Simons Architects consisting of a 276-seat theater and exhibition gallery,

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.

Waynflete competes in the Western Maine Conference and is a member of Maine Principals' Association (MPA).

Tuition

Tuition for the 2023–2024 academic year ranges from $30,690 for kindergarten and Grade 1, to $38,205 for Grade 12.

Notable alumni

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