Located on a beautiful campus spotted with shady trees and wide open common areas, the Walnut Hill School for the Arts is a boarding high school for students with talents in ballet, writing, music, theater and visual arts. Students also take a variety of math, science, language and humanities courses throughout their stay. Those who excel academically may be allowed into one of several honors societies that Walnut Hill has to offer. Many of the students who have attended WHS have gone on to attend prestigious music and arts colleges such as the New England Conservatory of Music, the Julliard School and the Boston Conservatory. Students receive the attention they need to nurture their artistic talents from the 25 teachers on staff. Eight dormitories divided by gender with about 15 students each are overseen by an adult "dormitory parent." Founded in 1893, numerous well-known artists have stepped through Walnut Hill's doors, including prize winning poet Elizabeth Bishop and artist Marion Pooke.