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Phillips Exeter Academy Phillips Exeter Academy | | | Headmaster | Tyler C. Tingley | | School type | Private Boarding School | | Religious affiliation | None | | Founded | 1781 | | Location | Exeter, Rockingham County/NH | | Campus size | 471 acres | | Campus surroundings | Township | | Enrollment | 1052 | | Student Teacher Ratio | 5:1 | | Average Verbal SAT score | 691 | | Average Math SAT score | 699 | | Sports Teams | 62 | | Mascot | Lion Rampant | | School color(s) | Red |
Phillips Exeter Academy (also called Exeter or PEA) is a co-educational independent boarding school located on 471 acres (1.9 km²) in Exeter, New Hampshire, one hour north of Boston. It is widely considered to be among the finest preparatory schools in the United States. Phillips Exeter currently has the largest endowment of any secondary school in the United States at a market value of about $639,000,000 (as of June 30, 2004). In the fall of 2004, Exeter announced a capital-raising program: Exeter Initiatives. Exeter Initiatives is the most ambitious capital-raising program in the history of secondary schools; it is intended to raise $305,000,000. The Exeter Initiatives is also the most ambitious capital-raising program per capita (dollars/number of alumni) in the history of American education. The school was established in 1781 by John and Elizabeth Phillips. It shares a long standing (and friendly) rivalry with its sister school, Phillips Academy, also known as Andover. Like Andover, the Academy's primary Latin motto is Finis Origine Pendet, meaning "the end depends upon the beginning," and it is scrolled across the bottom of the school seal. The school's secondary motto, Non Sibi, located in the sun, means "not for one's self." The Deed of Gift, written by John Phillips at the founding of the school, articulates a second pedagogical philosophy in addition to that of self-sacrifice: "Though goodness without knowledge is weak and feeble, yet knowledge without goodness is dangerous." Every year, the principal is required to speak on this theme at the school's opening assembly. Since a 1930 gift by the oil magnate and philanthropist Edward Harkness, the Academy's principal mode of instruction has been by discussion, "seminar style," around an oval table (known as the "Harkness table.") Classes are restricted to small sizes to encourage participation of all the students. "Harkness" classes are Exeter's trademark, and they are considered the world's finest method of teaching-- so effective, in fact, that schools from around the world have attempted to copy the method. However, Exeter still remains the home of Harkness teaching and education. No where else are Harkness classes taught with such dedication or so central to the identity of the institution. Phillips Exeter has been co-educational since 1970. Prior to that time, it was an all-boys school. Exeter is widely regarded as one of the top boarding schools in the world, along with Eton, St. Paul's School, and Phillips Academy. Exeter is most well known for its unrivaled academic excellence. Most students are accepted to the top colleges in the nation, as the school has sound relationships with the Ivy League colleges and top liberal arts colleges. The Academy greatly values an international perspective which is reflected in the student body and the numerous study abroad programs offered. Currently, 29 different countries are represented in the student body. In addition to the traditional year-long programs offered in China, Spain, Italy and France through the School Year Abroad (SYA) program, the Academy sponsors semester-long programs in Stratford, England, Grenoble, France, Krasnodar, Russia, Gttingen, Germany, and Cuernavaca, Mexico. Athletics are an important part of the school's history. The Exeter/Andover football rivalry is the oldest football rivalry in the country, and is considered to be one of the most important rivalries in all of sports. Exeter's hockey, lacrosse, and crew teams are also a big source of pride at the school. The Academy has produced numerous Olympians and professional athletes. The Academy is also known for its uniquely modern library, designed by Louis Kahn. At present, the library houses 145,000 volumes and has a shelf capacity of 250,000 volumes. It has a quite unique architectural shape, being formed to resemble four books resting against each other. It is the largest secondary school library in the world. Phillips Exeter was the inspiration for the Devon School in John Knowles' novels, A Separate Peace and Peace Breaks Out. As Exeter, NH, was the birthplace of author John Irving, it is said that the town and the school appears in many of his books, most notably, A Prayer for Owen Meany. Notable Alumni Books or movies with portrayals of Exeter alumni, students or staff: - A Separate Peace - This novel by John Knowles is set at "Devon," a thinly-veiled fictionalization of Exeter.
- Tea and Sympathy - This play by Robert Anderson (later a movie as well) treats the inner struggles of an Exeter student.
- Trading Places - Stockbroker Winthrop Louis III, played by Dan Ackroyd, is mentioned to be an Exeter alumnus.
- American Psycho - In the book by Bret Easton Ellis, Patrick Bateman, the main character, is mentioned to be an Exeter alumnus.
- The Birdcage - Calista Flockhart plays an Exeter alumnus.
- Bringing Down the House - Kevin Lewis, the main character is mentioned to be an Exeter alumnus.
- Widow for one Year - In this novel by John Irving, some of the characters are said to be Exeter alumni.
- A Beautiful Mind - John Nash's imagined roommate jokingly asks the future Nobel Laureate if he had not been fortunate enough to go to Exeter or Andover.
- The Skulls - Two of the main characters at Yale are mentioned to have met while at Exeter.
- The Emperor's Club - The school mottos of Exeter are used during the opening assembly.
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