Founded in 1977, Falmouth Academy is an independent college-preparatory school serving students in grades 7–12 on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Harnessing the power of inspired learning in a world-renowned scientific and vibrant artistic community, Falmouth Academy emboldens each student to take creative and intellectual risks to confidently engage the challenges of our times.
With an average class size of 12 students and a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, Falmouth Academy offers a highly personalized educational experience. Students engage in rigorous coursework across the humanities, sciences, mathematics, world languages, and the arts while developing critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. Signature programs include Science in the Real World, which connects students with leading researchers at nearby scientific institutions, and interdisciplinary courses that encourage students to explore complex global issues.
Located in the coastal town of Falmouth, the school benefits from its proximity to world-renowned research organizations, including the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Marine Biological Laboratory. Students also participate in a wide range of athletic, artistic, leadership, and community engagement opportunities.
Falmouth Academy is offering a Five-Day Boarding Program for students in grades 9–12. Designed for students seeking the benefits of a boarding school experience while returning home on weekends, the program combines academic rigor, structured support, and a welcoming residential community. Five-day boarding students live together during the school week, participate fully in campus life, and enjoy easy access to the cultural, recreational, and scientific resources of Cape Cod.
What Makes Us Unique
Two defining characteristics of Falmouth Academy are its Arts Across the Curriculum program and opportunities for authentic scientific research.
At Falmouth Academy, every student participates in Arts Across the Curriculum, a distinctive program that brings academic classes into the art studio three to four times each year. Working alongside art faculty, students explore concepts from their academic courses through creative expression and artistic practice. These experiences deepen understanding, encourage intellectual risk-taking, and help students make meaningful connections across disciplines. For example, eighth-grade students create detailed self-portraits while simultaneously engaging in reflective writing about identity and self-discovery. Similar interdisciplinary projects occur across the humanities, sciences, mathematics, and world languages, ensuring that every student develops both analytical and creative ways of thinking. Beyond these experiences, students can pursue their artistic interests through a wide range of electives in visual arts, ceramics, photography, digital media, theater, music, and more, with frequent opportunities to exhibit, perform, and share their work with the community.
Equally distinctive is Science in the Real World, which takes advantage of Falmouth Academy's proximity to internationally renowned research institutions in Woods Hole. Students engage in hands-on scientific inquiry through mentorships, internships, independent research projects, and collaborations with working scientists. Opportunities extend beyond the classroom through participation in science fairs, field research, and student-led organizations such as the Women in Science and Engineering Club. Students regularly present original research, tackle real-world scientific challenges, and gain experience that is uncommon at the secondary-school level.