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When we think about water sports, swimming and diving are usually the first to come to mind. However, water polo is an aquatic sport with a rich history of more than 170 years that deserves more attention. Often called “water football,” water polo combines the physical intensity of land-based ball games with the unique challenges of playing in water. It requires teamwork, strength, speed, skill, and endurance, making it one of the most physically demanding sports.
In water polo, players are not allowed to touch the bottom or sides of the pool. During a match, each athlete typically swims over five kilometers while handling tasks such as holding, passing, and wrestling for the ball. This demands outstanding physical fitness and stamina.
As competition for admission to top schools becomes tougher worldwide, many students are turning to sports as a way to strengthen their applications. This trend is especially common among Chinese families, who often prioritize athletics to boost their children’s chances. While popular sports can be highly competitive, water polo offers a valuable opportunity for students to stand out.
Although still relatively unknown in China, water polo is very popular in American high schools and is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. For students applying to U.S. boarding schools, strong skills in water polo can significantly improve their chances of acceptance, particularly at schools with well-established programs.
For those looking to use their water polo talent in the application process, it is important to choose a school that truly values the sport. Below is a list of 18 U.S. boarding schools known for their strong water polo traditions, excellent academics, and outstanding athletic programs.
1. Phillips Academy Andover
Location: Massachusetts (MA)
Founded: 1778
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12
Student Population: 1,149
Boarding Rate: 74%
International Students: 16%
Phillips Academy Andover welcomes talented students from diverse backgrounds. As one of the country’s top private schools and a member of the Ten Schools Alliance, Andover creates a supportive environment where students can be themselves and take risks with confidence.
The school is currently building a new 70,000-square-foot athletic center that will include a swimming and diving facility with a six-lane pool. With 67 interscholastic teams competing in 21 different sports, Andover focuses on teamwork, dedication, and having fun as the foundation for success.
2. Phillips Exeter Academy
Location: New Hampshire (NH)
Founded: 1781
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12
Student Population: 1,080
Boarding Rate: 80%
International Students: 8%
Phillip Exeter Academy is known for its rigorous academics and a strong athletic culture. The school offers an indoor pool and an outdoor eight-lane track, supporting over 80 interscholastic teams and more than 20 intramural sports. Exeter promotes sportsmanship and teamwork, producing many USA National Team athletes, NCAA champions, MLB draft picks, and Olympic gold medalists.
3. Choate Rosemary Hall
Location: Connecticut (CT)
Founded: 1890
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12
Student Population: 867
Boarding Rate: 75%
International Students: 18%
Choate Rosemary Hall is one of Connecticut’s top private boarding schools and a member of the Ten Schools Admissions Organization. It boasts an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor eight-lane track. With over 80 intercollegiate teams and 20 intramural sports, Choate encourages a healthy lifestyle and teamwork, producing elite athletes across various disciplines.
4. Lawrenceville School
Location: New Jersey (NJ)
Founded: 1810
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12
Student Population: 815
Boarding Rate: 70%
International Students: 16%
Located close to New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., Lawrenceville provides a well-rounded academic and extracurricular experience. The school features a pool with six 25-yard lanes and a diving area, used for water polo, swimming, and diving. With more than 70 teams across 21 sports, students have plenty of options to pursue their athletic interests.
5. Deerfield Academy
Location: Massachusetts (MA)
Founded: 1797
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12
Student Population: 656
Boarding Rate: 88%
International Students: 15%
Deerfield is dedicated to academic excellence and helping students grow into responsible individuals. Known as a sports powerhouse in New England, the school excels in water polo, field hockey, baseball, and golf. Deerfield offers an eight-lane swimming pool, a separate diving pool, and 21 sports teams, with 69 teams competing in over 800 events each year. The school regularly competes at the highest level in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference.
6. Cate School
Location: California (CA)
Founded: 1910
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12
Student Population: 304
Boarding Rate: 78%
International Students: 18%
Cate School is ranked among the top 20 private high schools in the U.S. and is located on a beautiful hilltop with views of the Pacific Ocean. The school offers 18 varsity and 12 junior varsity teams and is a member of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).
Cate’s water polo program focuses on building teamwork, leadership, and technical skills through regular practice and competitive play, including league games and regional tournaments. The school’s excellent aquatic facilities support both daily training and larger competitions.
7. The Hill School
Location: Pennsylvania (PA)
Founded: 1851
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12, PG
Student Population: 545
Boarding Rate: 77%
International Students: 21%
The Hill School, a member of the Ten Schools Association Organization (TSAO), combines a proud history with a dynamic future. Its indoor facilities include a six-lane swimming pool, basketball court, ice rink, and squash center. Outdoors, students enjoy football and baseball fields, tennis courts, and a golf course. The school offers 32 varsity sports and regularly competes against schools like Lawrenceville.
8. The Webb Schools
Location: California (CA)
Founded: 1922
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12
Student Population: 403
Boarding Rate: 62%
International Students: 32%
The Webb Schools are home to the nation’s only accredited paleontology museum and focus on team sports, outdoor adventures, and the arts. With 42 teams competing in 15 sports, Webb regularly qualifies for postseason tournaments. The school has won 131 league championships and three CIF championships.
9. Blair Academy
Location: New Jersey (NJ)
Founded: 1848
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12
Student Population: 465
Boarding Rate: 82%
International Students: 17%
Blair Academy focuses on personalized education with its dual-advisor program. The school offers extensive athletic facilities, including eight fields, 10 tennis courts, seven racquetball courts, a six-lane swimming pool, a golf course, and winter sports centers. The school supports 30 varsity teams along with many junior varsity teams, promoting both student health and athletic development. The school’s Athletic Hall of Fame honors exceptional alumni and coaches.
10. Loomis Chaffee School
Location: Connecticut (CT)
Founded: 1874
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12, PG
Student Population: 741
Boarding Rate: 70%
International Students: 14%
Loomis Chaffee is a founding member of the Independent Schools College Advisors Association and belongs to the Founders League. The school offers 32 sports with more than 60 varsity, junior varsity, and club teams to suit every student’s skill level. Its water polo team has a proud history, winning New England Prep Championships in the 1990s and placing in the top three several times in the early 2000s.
11. St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
Location: Texas (TX)
Founded: 1950
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 6-12
Student Population: 700
Boarding Rate: 33%
International Students: 19%
St. Stephen’s was the first coeducational Episcopal boarding school in the South to integrate. It features six swimming pools, 14 tennis courts, and five sports fields, providing excellent support for a strong athletic program.
12. Westminster School
Location: Connecticut (CT)
Founded: 1888
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12, PG
Student Population: 425
Boarding Rate: 75%
International Students: 15%
Westminster is recognized as one of the top college preparatory schools and a leading small boarding school. The campus includes 35 acres of athletic fields and a modern aquatic center with an eight-lane pool. Its strength and conditioning programs emphasize safe and effective training to prevent injuries and improve performance.
13. The Williston Northampton School
Location: Massachusetts (MA)
Founded: 1841
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 7-12, PG
Student Population: 511
Boarding Rate: 61%
International Students: 26%
Williston is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The school offers excellent athletic facilities, including basketball courts, squash courts, a six-lane swimming pool, a fitness center, and a wrestling room. Coaches emphasize mentorship and use athletics to teach valuable life lessons. More than 30% of graduates are recruited to college for their athletic achievements.
14. Suffield Academy
Location: Connecticut (CT)
Founded: 1833
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12, PG
Student Population: 417
Boarding Rate: 75%
International Students: 20%
Suffield Academy combines academic rigor with athletic excellence. Its 30,000-square-foot gymnasium includes two multipurpose courts and a swimming pool. The men’s water polo team has qualified for the New England Prep School Championships eight times in the past decade, including a championship season in 2009. The women’s team won four consecutive titles from 2002 to 2005.
15. Stevenson School
Location: California (CA)
Founded: 1952
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: K-12
Student Population: 523
Boarding Rate: 54%
International Students: 20%
Located on the Monterey Peninsula, Stevenson School offers stunning surroundings and top facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, golf course, and rugby fields. The school emphasizes professional development for coaches and supports 25 varsity teams.
16. Saint Andrew’s School
Location: Florida (FL)
Founded: 1961
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: PK-12 (boarding 9-12)
Student Population: 1,250
Boarding Rate: 17%
International Students: 14%
Saint Andrew’s welcomes students from more than 40 countries and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1. It was named the best private boarding high school in Florida by Niche and has been recognized several times by the Palm Beach Post. The school offers 19 sports across 65 teams and has won numerous state championships.
17. Woodside Priory School
Location: California (CA)
Founded: 1957
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 6-12
Student Population: 427
Boarding Rate: 15%
International Students: 6%
Woodside Priory is the only coeducational Benedictine college preparatory school in California. It’s located near San Jose and Stanford University. The athletic program encourages a healthy, active lifestyle, focusing on sportsmanship and dedication.
18. Iolani School
Location: Hawaii (HI)
Founded: 1863
Type: Boarding, co-educational
Grades: 9-12
Student Population: 2,169
Boarding Rate: 10%
International Students: 5%
With a history spanning over 150 years, Iolani is culturally diverse and has excellent university admission records. The school features the 40,000-square-foot Sullivan Center for Innovation and Leadership, Kozuki Stadium, an Olympic swimming pool, multiple gymnasiums, and large outdoor sports facilities. Over 70% of upper school students participate in sports, with 105 varsity teams and a consistent record of state championships since 1986.
Summary of Water Polo Boarding Schools in the U.S.
- Phillips Academy Andover
- Phillips Exeter Academy
- Choate Rosemary Hall
- Lawrenceville School
- Deerfield Academy
- Cate School
- The Hill School
- The Webb Schools
- Blair Academy
- Loomis Chaffee School
- St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
- Westminster School
- The Williston Northampton School
- Suffield Academy
- Stevenson School
- Saint Andrew’s School
- Woodside Priory School
- Iolani School
- Wilbraham & Monson Academy
- Villanova Preparatory School
- The Village School
- Santa Catalina School
Water polo is a sport that combines speed, strength, and intelligence, offering both challenge and excitement. For students in China who are passionate about water polo or already play the sport, applying to U.S. boarding schools with a focus on water polo provides a promising and unique pathway to higher education. Contact us to learn more about water polo programs and admissions at U.S. high schools. Our experienced consultants will develop a personalized application strategy to help you reach your ideal school.