Emma Willard School

285 Pawling Avenue

Troy, NY 12180

6 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 07, 2023

I cannot say enough good things about what this school is doing for my kid. She is learning, growing, stretching, and thriving at Emma. There is so much support and encouragement, and she has made friends from all over the world. There are many opportunities to try new things. I highly recommend Emma for smart, curious students.
Submitted by other on August 17, 2017

I mean our school teachers are nice and friendly but some of them in terms of quality is pretty irresponsible. I have my best friend here so we both help each other to survive. The school has high ranking thanks to all self-study students. They study day in and day out to get good scores! Thanks to depression and anxiety. The grading system is hideous. There is no curve in normal classes. If you take math classes, 2-3 wrong answers would make you a B+ already.
Submitted by other on May 26, 2015

When I attended Emma, I never felt a sense of belonging there. It is true that most of the girls were from upper middle class families that had given them many more opportunities than my family could for me, and I generally felt like there was an Emma club to which I didn't belong. I found it very hard to connect and was lonely much of the time. I see now that it was just the wrong place for me. This was a long time ago - I hope it has changed now.
Submitted by student on February 20, 2015

I must disagree with the student who feels there's a certain type of Emma student. I found it diverse in every way, including socio-economically, although perhaps what's even better is that I wasn't aware when I was there of the socio-economic diversity-- meaning I didn't find divisive cliques. I think different students will walk away with different opinions of their experience. But certainly the administration, the faculty & the network of alumnae care deeply about this school. They aim for academic excellence AND a nurturing environment. As an alumna, I have to say it's rare to find a school that feels like a sisterhood. And the school's history is a bonus: it's the oldest girls' school in the country. It's special to be a part of that.
Submitted by student on May 02, 2013

Attending Emma Willard was one of the best decisions I ever could have made. Originally I was absolutely against the idea of attending an all girls boarding school. It sounded like the worst possible thing on earth to a city-bred teen. However, over the next four years Emma opened my eyes to who I could be as a woman. She allowed me to develop not only my academic mind but also my character. I have created life long friendships of which I am so grateful to have made. The teachers at Emma have created a lasting impression on me. Not only are they extremely knowledgeable and have a deep rooted care about the girls, they are also often more educated and better all around teachers than my professors in college (I attend one of the prestigious "40 Colleges That Change Lives"). Now in college I often look back on my times at Emma and think of how I would give up almost anything to go back. Emma is not just a high school. Emma is an experience. I truly grateful for my days there and I could not imagine my life without Emma.
Submitted by student on January 18, 2013

As a former student of Emma Willard I would like to give, what I feel, is a more honest review of the school. I was at Emma for two years before transferring to public school. My years there were stress filled, and most of my peers were battling some level of depression. Don't get me wrong, I do think that Emma is the right place for a certain type of person, the "emma girl". But if you are not the super peppy, smart, and sporty type, you will probably end up miserable and desperate to leave. Recently, there were some unpleasant political issues that reflected major student dissatisfaction and discrepancies in the faculty. Most of the teachers I had were subpar, but the quality of the education you receive there is undeniable, and I have no worries about being prepared for college. The student body, despite being ethnically diverse, is really more or less homogeneous in terms of socioeconomic status. My parents were fed up with the lack of faculty support, and did not feel that it was worth the 29000. In public school the education is not equal to Emma, but I feel the workload is far more appropriate for someone my age and teachers are far more supportive.