374 Voices (Part Two): What We Heard - A Community That Believes in The Mountain School
by Chris Lauricella, Director of Development
The second in a series sharing results from The Mountain School’s 2026 Listening Survey. Read Part One here.
This summer, we asked alumni, families, students, and friends of The Mountain School to tell us what the School has meant to them, what should never change, and where we should focus as we look ahead.
We are deeply grateful to the 374 people who responded.
These responses came mostly from alumni, offering substantial, thoughtful reflections from people who experienced The Mountain School and care deeply about its future.
A remarkable expression of confidence
“The Mountain School was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It challenged me academically and personally, gave me confidence and independence, and continues to shape how I live and relate to others.”
Perhaps the clearest finding from the survey is respondents’ strong belief in The Mountain School. When asked how likely they were to recommend the School on a scale from one to ten, 80 percent said 9 or 10, while 91 percent selected an 8, 9, or 10.* Using the standard Net Promoter Score methodology, The Mountain School earned an NPS of +74.** Scores above 70 are commonly described as “world-class,” although reliable independent-school-specific benchmarks are limited.***
A single numerical score cannot capture the full depth of a Mountain School semester, but this one affirms what the written responses made vivid: people see the experience as distinctive, meaningful, and worth preserving for future students.
What people value most
“What makes The Mountain School special is the way rigorous academics, the farm and land, shared work, close relationships, and responsibility for the community come together in one transformative experience.”
Across more than a thousand open-ended comments, several ideas surfaced again and again. Respondents described serious academics and different ways of learning; the farm, land, and sense of place; faculty mentorship and care; community and belonging; purposeful work; and the personal growth that follows when young people accept real responsibility.
These themes do not exist separately at The Mountain School. They reinforce one another. A demanding class carries into a dinner conversation. Work on the farm deepens an understanding of interdependence. Living closely with peers asks students to know themselves more fully and to contribute to something larger.
Listening is only the beginning
The survey also offered constructive ideas about access, affordability, enrollment, faculty continuity, and ways for alumni to remain involved. Some of these findings will guide internal work. Others will shape the stories and invitations we share with the wider community.
Over the coming weeks, we will explore what you told us about the essential Mountain School experience, the relationships that endure long after a semester ends, and the opportunity to make this education accessible to more students.
Thank you for trusting us with your reflections.
Your affection for TMS is unmistakable. So is your hope for what comes next.
In the next post in this series, we will explore what lies behind that confidence: the essential combination of learning, place, work, and community that respondents believe must always endure.
About the survey
The Listening Survey combined quantifiable questions with qualitative opportunities for respondents to describe their experiences, concerns, and aspirations in their own words.
Responses were voluntary and came predominantly from alumni, so they do not represent a scientific measure of every constituency. They offer something different and deeply valuable: substantial, thoughtful reflections from people who know The Mountain School and care deeply about its future.
This distinction matters. The results should not be read as a vote or a definitive statement from every community member. They provide substantial evidence that can help us identify recurring experiences, ask better questions, and guide planning and communication.
* The Mountain School 2026 Listening Survey, likelihood-to-recommend responses.
** Net Promoter Score is calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors (respondents selecting 0–6) from the percentage of promoters (respondents selecting 9–10). See Bain & Company, “Measuring Your Net Promoter Score”.
*** Independent School Management describes 70–100 as the generally accepted “world class” range while cautioning that benchmarks vary by industry. See ISM, “Net Promoter Score Surveys: Is My School’s Score ‘Good’?”.
