Boarding Schools in Pennsylvania

What's Up in Pennsylvania

This page features a list of boarding schools in Pennsylvania (PA), USA.

Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, and Appalachian regions of the United States. The Commonwealth is bordered by Delaware to the southeast, Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, Lake Erie and the Canadian province of Ontario to the northwest, New York to the north, and New Jersey to the east, while the Appalachian Mountains run through its middle.

Education in Pennsylvania (PA), USA

There are many public, private, and boarding schools in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is home to 501 public school districts, numerous private and boarding schools, many publicly funded colleges and universities, and over 100 private education institutions.

Pennsylvania’s public schools and boarding schools are operated and funded under the General Assembly and local school boards’ authority, whose members are elected. There are many types of public schools, including elementary, intermediate, middle school, junior high, high, junior-senior high, vocational-technical, and charter schools. Each school has a school principal, who reports to the superintendent of schools appointed by the school district board.

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education assists boarding schools across Pennsylvania that serve students in K-12. The office works with educators, legislators, government agencies, organizations, and communities across Pennsylvania to ensure students have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their zip code.

Private schools in Pennsylvania provide the parents of school-age children with diverse alternatives to public schools. Private schools are available at all grade levels, including nursery/kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools of every educational philosophy and religious denomination. There are also specialty schools for special education and tutoring and private academies and boarding schools. Parents can choose from among more than approximately 3,000 nonpublic, private, and boarding schools in Pennsylvania.

Students attending boarding schools can access auxiliary services similar to those provided to public school students in the school district in which the boarding school is located. Pennsylvania provides textbooks, instructional materials, and equipment, loaned free of charge, to students who attend private schools and boarding schools in grades K-12.

Pennsylvania’s high school boarding school graduation requirements are more restrictive, requiring most students to pass the Keystone Exams — end-of-course exams in Algebra I, Literature, and Biology. Senate Bill 1095 will expand students’ options to demonstrate postsecondary readiness using four additional pathways that more fully illustrate college, career, and community readiness.

Students attending boarding schools in Pennsylvania receive academic excellence while exploring historic landmarks and attractions throughout the state. Pennsylvania is known for its hard-working citizens and the ability to come out on top time and time again. Its boarding schools also reflect this, giving students the chance to gain a world-class education and lay the foundation for a successful life. To do so, there are many boarding schools that have excellent reputations.

Girard College

Coed for grades 1-12, Girard College is located in Philadelphia and sits on 43 acres. Originally a school for orphans when it first opened in 1848, it became a coed school designed for children whose parents were of limited financial means. In keeping with that tradition, the school offers full scholarships to all who are accepted, opening the doors of education to those who may not have been able to afford it otherwise.

Mercersburg Academy

An elite coed school of 430 students, Mercersburg Academy offers more than 160 different classes from which students can choose, which is one of the largest varieties of any school in the United States. The student body is very diverse, with more than 35 percent of the school’s students coming from foreign nations.

Valley Forge Military Academy View profile »

With such distinguished alumni as J.D. Salinger and General Norman Schwarzkopf, Valley Forge Military Academy has built a long-lasting reputation of academic and military excellence. Coed for grades 7-12, it has more than 600 students and places a strong emphasis on physical fitness and character. To become a cadet, a student must demonstrate good citizenship as well as excellent physical and mental health. Due to its excellent reputation, the school often has a long waiting list of those seeking admission.

The Grier School View profile »

An all-girls school, Grier offers a personalized academic experience for students. Low student-teacher ratios, combined with Advanced Placement programs and an SAT program known for improving test scores, make this school the first choice of many parents. Along with the usual academic courses, students can also take classes in dance, horseback riding, and music.

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