Waynflete School is a private, coeducational, college preparatory

day school A day school — as opposed to a boarding school — is an educational institution where children and adolescents are given instructions during the day, after which the students return to their homes. A day school has full-day programs when compa ...

established in 1898 for early childhood education (from age 3) to twelfth grade, in

Portland, Maine Portland is the largest city in the U.S. state of Maine and the seat of Cumberland County. Portland's population was 68,408 in April 2020. The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, the 104th-largest metropo ...

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 William Waynflete (11 August 1486), born William Patten, was Provost of Eton College (1442–1447), Bishop of Winchester (1447–1486) and Lord Chancellor of England (1456–1460). He founded Magdalen College, Oxford and three subsidiary scho ...

, after whom the school is named. The school opened with forty-nine students, admitting small numbers of boys even from its early days. In the early twentieth century, Waynflete adopted a

progressive education Progressive education, or protractivism, is a pedagogical movement that began in the late 19th century and has persisted in various forms to the present. In Europe, progressive education took the form of the New Education Movement. The term ''pr ...

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.

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 13 students, and a student to adult ratio of 9:1. Cocurricular activities such as student government and community service are offered in Middle and Upper School. Waynflete School won the state Science Olympiad 8 times, most recently in 2013-2019.

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 The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1962, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boa ...

(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 The Cum Laude Society is an organization that honors scholastic achievement at secondary institutions, similar to the Phi Beta Kappa Society, which honors scholastic achievements at the university level. It was founded at The Tome School in 19 ...

Recognition

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

Campus

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,

LEED Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction ...

certified Arts Center designed by Scott Simons Architects consisting of a 276-seat theater and exhibition gallery, two gymnasiums, 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 off-campus scenic athletic complex named Fore River Fields.

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 The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) is the governing body for sports competitions among all public and some private high schools in the state of Maine. It is a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations. The MPA of ...

(MPA). The school athletic teams are called Flyers, with the school colors being green and white.

Notable alumni

* Christopher Fitzgerald (1991) – actor *

Linda Lavin Linda Lavin (born October 15, 1937) is an American actress and singer. She is known for playing the title character in the sitcom ''Alice'' and for her stage performances, both on and off-Broadway. After acting as a child, Lavin joined the C ...

, actress *

Nicole Maines Nicole Amber Maines is an American actress and transgender rights activist. Prior to her acting career, she was the anonymous plaintiff in the Maine Supreme Judicial Court case '' Doe v. Regional School Unit 26'', in which she argued her schoo ...

(2015) - transgender activist and actress *

Judd Nelson Judd Asher Nelson (born November 28, 1959) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as John Bender in ''The Breakfast Club'', Alec Newbury in ''St. Elmo's Fire'', Joe Hunt in '' Billionaire Boys Club'', Nick Peretti in ''New Jack Cit ...

– actor * Michael Odokara-Okigbo (2008) – member of

the Dartmouth Aires The Dartmouth Aires is an Ivy League a cappella group from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. The group rose to fame in the third season of the NBC musical competition ''The Sing-Off'', placing runner-up behind international a cappell ...

* Jane Spencer (1994) – writer *

Liv Tyler Liv Rundgren Tyler (born Liv Rundgren; July 1, 1977) is an American actress, producer, singer and former model. She began a modeling career at age 14. She later decided to focus on acting and made her film debut in ''Silent Fall'' (1994); she ...

(transferred out) – actress

References

External links

* {{authority control Educational institutions established in 1898 Education in Portland, Maine Schools in Portland, Maine Education in Cumberland County, Maine Schools in Cumberland County, Maine Preparatory schools in Maine Private elementary schools in Maine Private middle schools in Maine Private high schools in Maine 1898 establishments in Maine West End (Portland, Maine)