The Academy at Penguin Hall
General Information
About
The Academy at Penguin Hall was an independent, all‑girls college preparatory high school located in Wenham, Massachusetts. Founded in 2015 by Molly and Albert Martins, the school was built on a historic 50‑acre estate known as Penguin Hall. The estate’s stone manor house, built in 1929, provided a rich, atmospheric setting for a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum. The school’s mission centered on educating, enlightening, and empowering young women to live and lead exemplary lives.
With small class sizes (around 10 students per class) and a student‑teacher ratio of roughly 7–8:1, Penguin Hall emphasized personalized learning and intellectual risk‑taking. Students engaged deeply in real‑world inquiry, collaboration, and service learning, supported by a program that balanced academics, arts, athletics, community, spiritual life, and service. Despite its strong community and mission-driven program, the school closed permanently on June 30, 2025, after filing for bankruptcy earlier that month.
Contact Information
Address: 36 Essex Street, Wenham, Massachusetts, 01984, USA
Phone Number: +1 978‑468‑6200
Email Address: (Former) main contact via the school’s general inquiry – publicly listed email tied to admissions or administration (e.g., via press release)
School Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founding Year | 2015 (opened 2016) |
| Closing Year | 2025 (closed June 30, 2025) |
| Motto | “To educate, enlighten and empower young women to live and to lead exemplary lives.” |
| Type | Private, independent, day and (limited) boarding school for grades 9–12 |
| Campus Size | 50 acres |
| Accreditation | New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) |
| Mascot / Nickname | Emperor Penguin; “Penguin Hall,” “APH” |
| School Colors | Maroon and White |
The Academy at Penguin Hall Rankings
Since The Academy at Penguin Hall was a private high school rather than a traditional university, standardized global or national rankings like those for colleges or universities were not common. Therefore, formal country or global ranking tables do not really apply in the same way. However, for the sake of context, here is a simplified representation:
| Ranking Scope | Status |
|---|---|
| National (USA) | Not ranked among universities; considered a well-regarded independent preparatory school in Massachusetts. |
| Global | Not applicable (secondary school) |
The Academy at Penguin Hall Academics
Faculties / Departments
- Humanities (English, History)
- Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- Mathematics
- Foreign Languages (including Latin)
- Fine and Performing Arts (Drama, Music, Visual Arts)
- Computer Science
- Religious / Ethical Studies
- Community and Service Learning
Courses and Programs / Majors
Because The Academy at Penguin Hall was a high school, it did not offer “majors,” but it offered a broad and deep curriculum, including:
- English (World Literature, Creative Writing)
- Mathematics (Algebra, Geometry, Precalculus, Calculus)
- Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, with lab)
- History (U.S. History, European History, Russian History)
- Foreign Language (Latin, other languages)
- Interdisciplinary Electives (e.g., Art and Politics, Women in History)
- Computer Science (foundational and advanced)
- Fine Arts (Choir, Drama, Rock Band, Visual Art)
- Religious Studies (Catholic tradition, ethics)
- Service Learning / Community Engagement
Online Learning
During its operation, The Academy at Penguin Hall primarily focused on in-person education. There is no publicly documented robust online learning platform for its core academic program; its model was deeply rooted in face-to-face, experiential, interdisciplinary learning.
Average Test Scores
Because the Academy was a high school, it did not publicly publish aggregated SAT, ACT, or GRE scores in the same way colleges do. No reliable, publicly reported table for average SAT or ACT was available in its public profile.
Retention and Graduation Rates
Retention and graduation rates for The Academy at Penguin Hall were not widely published as standard school‑reporting metrics in the same way as many colleges. However, as a 9–12 school, one might infer that students typically stayed through graduation, and the small community likely supported a close-knit environment. Unfortunately, given the school’s closure in 2025, detailed longitudinal retention data was not widely maintained or published for public consumption.
The Academy at Penguin Hall Admissions
GPA Range and SAT / ACT Range
- The Academy at Penguin Hall did not publicly specify a strict GPA range or minimum SAT/ACT requirement in its public admissions materials that were widely available.
- Given its selective nature and acceptance rate (discussed below), admissions likely emphasized holistic review (academics, leadership, character) rather than rigid standardized score cutoffs.
Acceptance Rate
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | ~70% |
Application Requirements
Applicants to The Academy at Penguin Hall needed to submit a completed application form, likely including academic transcripts, recommendations, and a personal statement or essay. The school emphasized character, leadership, and community, so admissions may have also looked for involvement in extracurriculars, service, and demonstration of alignment with the school’s mission. As a small, independent all‑girls preparatory school, the admissions process was designed to evaluate more than just academic metrics, assessing applicants for their potential to contribute to and benefit from Penguin Hall’s close-knit, holistic learning environment.
Application Process
- Complete and submit application form by the school’s deadlines.
- Provide academic transcripts from previous schools.
- Submit teacher recommendations (usually from core subject teachers).
- Write and submit an admissions essay or personal statement.
- Possibly attend an interview (with admissions staff or current students/faculty).
- Provide additional materials (e.g., standardized test scores, if requested).
- Receive admissions decision.
Application Deadlines / Important Dates
| Deadline Type | Typical Date for Penguin Hall (Based on Historical Data) |
|---|---|
| Early / First Deadline | November 15 |
| Regular / Second Deadline | January 15 |
| Rolling Admissions | Yes (accepts applications beyond deadlines if spaces are available) |
Essay Prompt
While a standardized, publicly posted essay prompt was not widely archived, The Academy at Penguin Hall likely asked applicants to reflect on their personal values, experiences, leadership, service, and how they see themselves contributing to an all-girls, mission-driven community. The school’s book‑and-reflection‑oriented curriculum suggests that essay prompts emphasized critical thinking, self-awareness, and values alignment.
Scholarships
The Academy at Penguin Hall offered financial aid to about 50% of students, according to its profile. Aid likely came in the form of need-based grants. The average grant amount was modest (around US$2,500 per year, per the profile).
Tuition and Fees
| Category | Cost (as of last reporting) |
|---|---|
| Tuition (day students) | US$42,800 / year for academic program |
| Boarding Fee | Approximately US$10,300 / year for five‑day boarding (single rooms) |
Student Profile and Demographics
Student Demographics
Detailed breakdowns of students by gender, age, and race/ethnicity were not broadly published in publicly available sources. However:
- Gender: All students were female (all-girls school)
- Age: Students ranged from approximately 14–18, covering grades 9–12, though specific age distribution was not publicly detailed.
- Race / Ethnicity: No comprehensive recent racial or ethnic demographic data was published in available public sources; given its small size and independent nature, diversity data may have been limited or not widely reported.
Low‑Income Students / Students with Disabilities
- Low‑Income Students: While The Academy offered financial aid to about half of its students (about 50%), detailed socioeconomic breakdowns were not publicly reported (e.g., percentage qualifying for federal need-based aid).
- Students with Disabilities: There is no publicly available detailed data on the percentage of students with disabilities. As a small private school, support for students with learning differences or disabilities would likely have been handled on a case-by-case basis, but detailed publicly reported prevalence was not found in the sources.
Student Body Size
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Enrollment | ~ 64 in its final year per Wikipedia (other sources report ~70 in prior years |
| International Students | No reliable data publicly available (likely few or none documented) |
University Diversity
The Academy at Penguin Hall, though small and independent, aimed to build a diverse and inclusive community grounded in its mission of holistic development. As a college-preparatory, all-girls institution, it attracted young women from a variety of communities—reportedly over 40 different towns in the region. The school’s interdisciplinary curriculum, service learning, and community engagement fostered empathy, character, and ethical leadership. However, publicly disclosed data on racial or socioeconomic diversity was limited.
Given its tuition cost, the school was not broadly accessible to all families, but its financial aid program (covering around 50% of students) showed a commitment to supporting students from different financial backgrounds. The limited scale of the school may have constrained how demographically representative it could be, but the culture emphasized belonging, mutual respect, and shared values over mere demographic metrics.
Average Earnings
Since The Academy at Penguin Hall was a high school rather than a college or university, publicly available data on “average earnings” post-graduation (such as salary data) does not apply in the same way as for higher education institutions. There is no widely available dataset reporting alumni earnings or income over time. The school’s focus was to prepare students for college and leadership roles rather than directly influencing their immediate earnings after high school.
The Academy at Penguin Hall Faculty and Staff
Teachers and Staff
The Academy at Penguin Hall employed around 25 faculty members according to its profile. The school maintained a low student-to-teacher ratio (around 7–8:1), which allowed for close mentorship, personalized attention, and strong relationships between students and their teachers.
Faculty Profiles
The faculty at Penguin Hall were deeply committed to interdisciplinary, inquiry-based education. Many teachers held advanced degrees, as indicated in the school profile. Their expertise spanned core academic disciplines as well as more specialized interdisciplinary subjects, such as Russian history, women’s studies, art & politics, and global literature. The staff emphasized intellectual curiosity and real-world application, guiding students through deep projects, service work, and reflective learning. Additionally, in its picturesque historic library, students discovered rare and antique volumes (including nineteenth-century literature), creating a rich literary culture under the guidance of faculty. Despite its small size, the school’s faculty built a rigorous, high-touch academic environment centered on empathy, leadership, and ethical engagement.
The Academy at Penguin Hall Campus and Student Life
Campus Life / Housing
Penguin Hall was situated on a historic 50-acre estate in Wenham, Massachusetts, offering a tranquil, scenic campus with woodlands, lawns, and the majestic stone manor house. The campus architecture included wings such as the Manor House, Abbey Walk, and Ruby Lane. Students enjoyed a close-knit, community-oriented living and learning environment infused with tradition and charm. As for housing, the school offered five-day boarding, with single rooms priced around US$10,300 per year. The campus life emphasized more than academics: students participated in rituals (e.g., all-school BBQ, convocation), community traditions, student leadership, and a shared sense of belonging built around respect, resilience, courage, and integrity.
Transportation
Access to Penguin Hall’s campus was relatively straightforward given its suburban location in Wenham, MA. The school likely catered to day students from many nearby North Shore communities, and transportation services were offered as part of the school’s logistics While specific public transport details are not deeply documented in public sources, the suburban estate setting and available day student enrollment suggest that many students commuted from nearby towns. On-campus mobility was naturally walkable given the relatively compact and historic campus grounds, allowing students to move easily between academic wings, communal spaces, and the manor house.