Tilton School

Tilton School is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory school in Tilton, New Hampshire, serving students from 9th to 12th grade and postgraduate students. Founded in 1845, Tilton's student body in the 2021-22 academic year consisted of 61 day students and 129 boarding students. The typical student enrollment includes representation from 15-20 states and 10-15 countries. History Tilton School, a boarding school in New Hampshire, was founded in 1845 by a group of local leaders and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their goal was to promote literary and scientific knowledge among the youth. The school was originally named the New Hampshire Conference Seminary of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was located in the town of Northfield. In the first year of the school, the seminary's enrollment consisted of 130 students, (74 males, 56 females). Most students were from neighboring towns, but some traveled from as far as Vermont and Boston to attend the new Methodist school. After a number of setbacks, including a fire that destroyed the first school building, the school moved across the Winnipesaukee River to its current location in Tilton.Like many town academies in New England, Tilton School was a coeducational college preparatory boarding school with students from all over the world. It also served as the public high school for the towns of Northfield, Tilton and Sanbornton until 1939. During this time, students were able to choose a college preparatory or a general course of study. In addition to granting high school degrees, Tilton School awarded a number of other degrees, including college diplomas when the seminary included a women's college from 1852 to 1903. Tilton School also functioned as a junior college which awarded men their Associate Degree from 1936 until 1958. Tilton School had a lower and a middle school at different times in its early history. The biggest change in the school's history occurred in 1939: a local school district formed, and Tilton School no longer served as the towns' high school. Tilton also stopped accepting female students at this time. Tilton School was then an all-boys preparatory boarding school until 1970. During this period, the school underwent major changes, including the addition of a new gymnasium, library, chapel, dormitory, and the purchase of of land adjacent to campus.