Pinkerton Academy, located in Derry, New Hampshire, is the largest independent high school in the United States. The primary source of funding for the Academy is public tuition. Via contracts with area school districts, Pinkerton serves as the high school of record for the neighboring towns of Auburn, Candia, Chester, Derry, Hampstead and Hooksett, NH. The Academy also accepts a limited number of students from other local communities on an application-based, privately-tuitioned basis, bringing the total number of towns represented (NH and MA) over 20. Approximately 3,100 students attend the Academy. The school's staff includes 530 employees.
Pinkerton is a private, non-profit corporation. A head of school governs the school under the direction of an eighteen-member Board of Trustees. Board members are elected for life and serve without pay. By contract, each sending town has representation on the Board.