Who We Are:
Ranked the #1 college prep boarding school in Ohio, Western Reserve Academy offers a truly unique experience. Our students are three times as likely to gain admission to a top 25 college or university. They’re also ten times as likely to hold the door open for someone, invite a classmate to sit with them, or try something new — like playing lacrosse and joining the dance program.
We’re an independent boarding and day school for grades 9–12, with a postgraduate program to boot. We’ve been around since 1826, which means this year, we celebrate our 200th birthday!
Our mission is to prepare students to blaze trails in learning and in life. With $9 million in financial aid and merit awards distributed each year, we bring top-level education well within reach.
The Reserve Difference
What makes Reserve so special? It’s the blend of personalized academic pathways, unrivaled programs and Midwestern values of kindness and empathy — all set on a beautiful 190-acre campus in Hudson, Ohio. When you live and learn at Reserve, you’re part of a community that nurtures and challenges, one that once uncovered imprints itself on a person’s heart for life.
65% of our faculty live on campus — which sometimes means homework help is literally right around the corner. Teachers host study sessions, coach teams, direct programs, and even open their homes for dinners (invitations to Ms. Chen’s dumpling night are legendary). When you live where you learn, you’re learning around the clock.
The Boarding School Advantage
Ask anyone on our campus, and they’ll tell you why they chose a boarding school — including our day students. Or, you can ask our friends at The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). Their 2024 School Life in Focus Survey, with feedback from nearly 11,000 students and alums, confirmed what we know to be true: a boarding school education offers far more than academics. It prepares students for the world ahead, ready to navigate challenges and seize opportunities.
Our Location
With its coffee shops, bookstores, green spaces and welcoming feel, Hudson is the kind of small town where students feel both inspired and grounded. Century homes and oak trees line the streets while boutiques, coffee shops, and eateries keep Main Street buzzing. Small herds of students in green blazers can be spotted carrying bubble tea, frozen yogurt, or iced lavender lattes before heading back to class.
The Middle of Nowhere
The Middle of Somewhere
When your state has a reputation for being in the “middle of nowhere,” it’s fun to surprise people with the truth — we’re in the middle of somewhere! We’re happy to tell you all about the Hudson Advantage, and to give you even better news: we’re pretty easy to get to.
Our Promise: Light. Truth. Joy. ForeverGreen:
Light expresses our steadfast commitment to intellectual growth and the pursuit of knowledge — a beacon guiding students toward a brighter future.
Truth represents the importance of finding personal understanding and a sense of belonging as students seek their own truth in all aspects of life.
Joy epitomizes the idea that learning, curiosity and passion can unlock one’s best self. Reserve is deeply rooted, bustling with life, an interconnected community made magical through the spirit of discovery. This is the power of a remarkable and transformative place — one that makes all who experience it feel FOREVERGREEN.
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Explore Western Reserve Academy
If your family is seeking a school that opens doors (and teaches kids to hold them), explore Western Reserve Academy.
Fast Facts About WRA
6:1
Student-teacher ratio
85%
Faculty Have Advanced Degrees
427
Student body
62%
Boarders
38%
Day students
41
Countries
33
States
55%
Boys
45%
Girls
21%
International students
12
Average student class size
150+
Courses (and 35+ College Level Courses!)
45+
Student Clubs & Organizations
65%
Faculty Live on Campus