Academic Profile

Maine Coast Semester is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, approved by the State of Maine Department of Education, a member of The Association of Boarding Schools, a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, and a member of the Independent Schools Association of Northern New England.

Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki offers a select number of 11^th and 12^th-grade students the chance to live and work on a 400-acre saltwater peninsula, with the goal of exploring the natural world through rigorous courses in natural science, environmental issues, literature, history, mathematics, languages, and studio art.

Each semester we create an intentional and highly engaged community – comprised of 45 exceptional students and 15 faculty members. In our college-preparatory semester school, we push students to produce top-quality academic work as well as to think broadly about the value, importance, and meaning of their education.

Maine Coast Semester students return to their sending schools with increased self-confidence, an appreciation for the rewards and responsibilities of community living, a strong sense of ownership for their education, and enhanced skills.

At its heart, Maine Coast Semester is an academic program that challenges students’ thinking, asking them to go deeper into learning. We also ask students to participate in an intentional community of peers and teachers in a natural setting, so our graduates come away with more than just an incredible education. The characteristics described in our Goals for Graduates reflect the faculty’s goals for each of our students.