What is Bridgton Academy?
Bridgton Academy is the nation's only all-male, postgraduate only school. Founded in 1808 and located in North Bridgton, Maine, the school's mission is simple: to provide a program for young men in a unique, one-year postgraduate environment to prepare for the competitive rigors of college and beyond.
Academics
Each student is enrolled in four (4) classes during each of the two semesters of the academic year - English, math and two (2) electives (science, social science of computer science). Per NCAA rule, all students can replace one (1) class from their high school transcript to improve their core GPA.
All students take their math and science classes in the Cyrus T. Hamlin STEM Center on the north side of campus. Humanities classes take place in the Humanities Center on the south side of campus.
Academic Support
The Academic Support Center, located in the Humanities Center, empowers students to become confident, capable and independent learners equipped for post-secondary success. Through a variety of resources, we support students with learning strategies and academic instruction in an encouraging learning environment. Additional programs within the Academic Support center include Focus Academic Coaching, the Goepel Writing Center and the Math Lab.
Football
Bridgton Academy has had a competitive football team for over a century and has exclusively competed as a postgraduate football team since 1965. The primary purpose of our football program, much like Bridgton Academy as a school, is to prepare our young men for the challenge of collegiate football. Our team consists entirely of 18 and 19-year old student-athletes who are committed to playing the game at the collegiate level. Due to the make-up of our team, we compete almost exclusively against collegiate JV teams from the Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 levels to best prepare our young men.
Black and Gray Showcase
At the culmination of our season, the Bridgton Academy football program hosts our Black and Gray Showcase - a football-filled recruiting event that attracts nearly 50 football programs each December for one purpose: to recruit the Bridgton Academy football student-athletes.
College Counseling
During a postgraduate year at Bridgton Academy, each student has a dedicated college counselor to help guide them through the college search and application process. The goal for each student is to find the best fit for them academically, athletically, socially, geographically and financially. Over 97% of Bridgton Academy students head to 4-year colleges and universities after their year at Bridgton Academy.
Football Placement
Over the last two years, Bridgton Academy football has helped 55+ student-athletes earn scholarships and/or roster spots at 27 schools from the Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 levels across the country.
Division 1 - Maine (3), New Hampshire (2), Sacred Heart (2), Wagner (2), Tennessee Tech (1), Merrimack (1)
Division 2 - Franklin Pierce (4), AIC (3), New Haven (2), Post (2), Southern Connecticut (1)
Division 3 - Massachusetts Maritime (2), Western Connecticut (2), Husson (2), Bridgewater State (2) Colby (1), Endicott (1) Washington and Jefferson (1), UMass Dartmouth (1), Curry College (1), Worcester State (1), Nichols (1), Norwich (1), La Verne (1) Framingham State (1), Plymouth State (1)
Year-round Sport Specific Training
Most student-athletes come to Bridgton Academy to focus on their chosen sport to get ready for their 4-year collegiate career. In the second semester, after the football season has finished, the football team spends most of their time in the weight room with our strength staff. All workouts are catered to the sport of football to best prepare all athletes for the rigors of college football.
In the spring, the team gets back onto the field in a limited fashion for individual skill work and competition.
Campus + Residential Life
Nearly all students live on campus during their postgraduate year at Bridgton Academy. There are six (6) residence halls on campus - Cleaves, Holt, Sylvester, Walker, Jillson, Massachusetts. Each residence hall houses somewhere between 25-35 students. While nearly all students share a room with a teammate from their athletic team, the dorms are mixed, with most dorms housing students from all athletic teams on campus.
All rooms are furnished with desks, chairs, dressers, bed frames with mattresses and waste baskets.
To assist in the transition of living away from home for the first time and, for some, living with a roommate for the first time, each residence hall has a dorm parent that resides in a private apartment in each residence hall. The dorm parents are staff members at Bridgton Academy and are there to guide and support each student during their time as part of our community.
Goldsmith Dining Hall
Nearly all meals are provided in Goldsmith Dining Hall, which was recently renovated in 2019. Open from 7 AM - 7 PM on weekdays and 10:30 AM - 7 PM on weekends, the dining hall is the hub of campus. Bridgton Academy does not hire outside contractors, but rather employs its own culinary staff to provide all meals to the campus community.
The Wolverine Den
Located at the entrance of campus, the Wolverine Den is a student center where students can gather to watch sporting events on a 100+ inch television screen, play ping-pong or pool, bubble hockey, pinball, Golden Tee and video games. The Wolverine Den also serves as the location for late-night food, as students can place orders for pick-up after study hall.
Explore Maine!
For many students, their postgraduate year at Bridgton Academy is the most time they have spent in the beautiful state of Maine. Students are encouraged to get involved in many of the local outdoor offerings in the Bridgton area.
- Bridgton Academy Beach on Long Lake (5 minute walk from campus) - students can enjoy our cove beach on the northern tip of Long Lake for swimming, kayaking, fishing and more.
- Pleasant Mountain (10 minute drive from campus) - students receive seasonal passes at no additional charge as part of their tuition to Bridgton Academy.
- Hawk Mountain (15 minute drive from campus) - a 20 minute hike with break-taking views of Long Lake and Pleasant Mountain
- Fryeburg Fair (20 minute drive from campus) - the second biggest agricultural fair in New England
- Sunday River (45 minute drive from campus) - the largest ski resort in Maine and the 6th largest ski resort in New England