The Harry Potter books and movies introduced us to the magical wizarding world hidden within our own. While most of the story takes place in Britain and revolves around Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, there are wizarding schools located across the globe.
Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The main wizarding school located in North America is Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ilvermorny was founded in the 17th century by Irish immigrant Isolt Sayre and her No-Maj (Muggle) husband James Steward. It is located on top of Mount Greylock in Massachusetts, which is enchanted to appear as a misty mountain to No-Majs.
Ilvermorny was originally a small cottage school with just two teachers and two students. Over time it grew into a large institution modeled after Hogwarts. Ilvermorny has four houses, named after magical creatures native to North America:
- Thunderbird – adventurers
- Wampus – warriors
- Horned Serpent – scholars
- Pukwudgie – healers
Students sleep in large dormitories and take classes like Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, and Potions. Ilvermorny does not have a House Cup or Quidditch teams like Hogwarts.
Applying to Ilvermorny
Admission to Ilvermorny is similar to Hogwarts – students receive their acceptance letters around age 11 and shopping lists for required supplies. However, there is no Book of Admittance like at Hogwarts. Students are chosen based on their magical abilities.
Upon arriving at Ilvermorny, first year students take part in a ceremony where they stand on a Gordian Knot on the floor. Carvings of the school’s houses react to them, indicating their best fit:
- Thunderbird – the carving beats its wings
- Wampus – the carving roars
- Horned Serpent – the carving raises its head
- Pukwudgie – the carving raises its arrow
The house whose carving reacts most enthusiastically becomes the student’s house. If more than one carving reacts, the student can choose their house.
Daily Life at Ilvermorny
A typical day at Ilvermorny involves:
- Breakfast in the Great Hall
- Morning classes like Transfiguration, Herbology, and Charms
- Lunch in the Great Hall
- Afternoon classes like Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Potions
- Free time to study and socialize
- Dinner in the Great Hall
- Evening in house common rooms
Weekends are free time to explore the school, relax by the lake, visit the local wizarding village, and complete homework. Ilvermorny has a no-boarding policy so students return home during winter and summer breaks.
Other American Wizarding Schools
While Ilvermorny is the largest, there are about a dozen smaller wizarding schools scattered across North America:
| School Name | Location |
|---|---|
| The Salem Witches Institute | Salem, Massachusetts |
| Miss Robichaux’s Academy of Exceptional Young Ladies | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| The Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts | Hollywood, California |
| Northern Virginia School for Magic | Richmond, Virginia |
| Golden Gate School of Magical Arts | San Francisco, California |
Most of these schools only serve a couple hundred students and have a specific focus, like drama or witchcraft. Their remoteness helps maintain the Statute of Secrecy in America.
Conclusion
While Ilvermorny is no Hogwarts, it serves as a prestigious school for witches and wizards across North America. Along with the smaller regional schools, it helps train new generations of American wizards in the magical arts. The variety of schools allows students to find the best fit for their talents and interests.