The Philadelphia area has an incredible variety of great schools--both public and private--so it…read moreoften comes down to "fit"--for your child/children and for your family. My husband and I toured and researched many schools in the area when our kids were first starting school and in the end, we decided Shipley was the perfect fit for us and for our children. I'll also add that as they have grown & evolved as learners (and they are very different kids), the fit still feels right for both. We were looking for a strong academic program, but our family believes that education is not just about test scores. Preparing our children for success in life is about values, self-confidence, friendships, and respect ....as well as excellent academics. We found that educational mission at Shipley. Also, as our kids have gotten older (now in middle & high school), I appreciate the "positive peer culture" that exists at Shipley. As they begin to look more to their classmates & teammates for cues about how to behave and what choices to make, I am grateful that their circles of friends take school seriously and care about the community they are part of. It is truly the teachers and coaches and other adults in the community that make Shipley so special. Yes, there are great facilities (as there are at most of the schools in this area) but it is the faculty that sets Shipley apart. They truly know my kids--their strengths, their weaknesses, ways to motivate them, where to support them, and when to push them outside of their comfort zone... They also embrace and celebrate the many different ways children learn. The teachers are just fabulous--they are proactive and engaged in student life and they respond to each child's needs--at whatever point they are in their academic and social development. The curriculum is responsive to the needs of the students while the academic vision is always pushing the envelope. Shipley does not have one model of a "successful graduate" that they are teaching towards - rather the teachers strive to find each student's unique gifts and talents and then help them become the best versions of themselves, in a holistic way. I really like that about Shipley, and I see my kids (who are so different from each other) developing along their own tracks and finding success and confidence in doing so.

I graduated from The Shipley School in 2013 and my four years there as a student were the most…read morememorable and growth stimulating years of my life. When people think of Shipley they have assumptions of the demographics of the community. I admit I did. I myself come from the inner-city and a middle class income, and was nervous entering. Nevertheless, I never felt different. Shipley is a welcoming community, one that accepts everyone, that grants chances to those chances aren't usually given, Shipley is a community here to help prepare its students for the future. There is support beyond measure from the teachers, administration, students, families, everyone, because we are one. Before Shipley I didn't know what it meant to be selfless, however once put into the community I learned the meaning and I begin to embody it in everyday life. Growing up in the city and going to school there it was like a being a crab in the barrel, no matter how close you were to the top, someone pulled you down. I was never taught to uplift others. Instead I focused on myself and my own success. Shipley showed me to be successful I need a team and to uplift others because their success is just as important as mine. As I finish college and begin to truly embark on this journey of life I am nothing but grateful for Shipley building the foundation of the young woman I am today. I have defied statistics and because of the risks they encouraged me to take. I have gained a confidence that can never be broken. I will never again think of myself as a crab in the barrel. I am an individual who matters. Most importantly I know I am never alone in this world and I will forever use the teams I build over time to create success of everyone involved.

Better off going to Merion - constant switching of head of school and seem to only care about money.read more

I went to school there a year and immediately left. The kids were not nice at all, the classes…read moreweren't academically challenging, and the environment was not healthy.

This review is regarding the campus only and how it shares its space. Harrison High School is a…read morelarge well maintained campus with several buildings and separated field for various sporting events or practice. Inside the building for the students education it is bright, organized and spotless. Beautifully art made by the students line the pristine hallways, the art is really impressive! The auditorium is large with fairly comfortable seats. My one concern is the close proximity of the male and female restrooms. But that's a small matter. Thanks to the school district and Harriton High School for sharing your space with the Lower Merion Symphony Orchestra.

It is large school and library is nice. Very good environment to learn.read more

Out of all of the excellent area schools, both private and public, we chose Friends School…read moreHaverford (FSH). Initially, we were drawn to the play-centered learning approach for the younger children, however, there was so much more from which to benefit. The teachers and staff consider the whole child, their social, emotional, and intellectual development. Guided by Quaker principles, the community is at the heart of its mission. The children are taught to discover and appreciate the uniqueness of themselves and others. I always feel informed with weekly updates, class newsletters, and monthly breakfast meetings with the principal. Lower student-teacher ratios increase children's engagement and allow for individual needs to be more easily met at FSH. Hearing my child say he loves school is the way it should be for all kids!

We have been apart of the Friends School Haverford Community since 2018. Our son joined FSH in the…read more2nd grade. Over the last four years we have witnessed his growth both academically and socially. The relationships that he has developed with the teachers, staff and his classmates has help to mold him into a kind, intelligent funny kid. As parents we too have developed long standing friendships with the parents of FSH. FSH not only poured into our sons life but ours as well. The Griers

The Haverford School is one of the premier educational organizations anywhere, providing its…read morestudents with a top notch education and emphasizing the importance of being a strong writer.

Class of '95 here…read more What can I say about this place? A decade plus removed from it, I don't keep in touch with many of the people, though not for their own fault or mine. I value the education I got here tremendously - from Mr Duffany's excruciating but valuable sentence diagram the the late Señor Laserna's Spanish, which lasts with me still. I loved rowing crew and Doc Kinney's art class/introspective therapy sessions, could have done without some of the cookie-cutter jackasses and senses of entitlement. But all in all it was a good school for the area, one I think of with mostly fond memories, and I wish only the best for this place.

After evaluating many schools, we found MLCA to be the right fit for our child. With a focus on…read moreFrench fluency, classical literature, music (piano and violin), and hands on nature and science skills - the school can be a great fit for certain children. Note the school is relatively small and does not have sports outside of gym class. If you think a "liberal arts college for kids" makes sense, this could be the place for your child.

We feel truly blessed to have found MLCA! When researching…read moreschools, what stood out right away was the clarity of its priorities: real content, meaningful learning, and a rigorous, rich curriculum delivered in a way that's age-appropriate and joyful. For years, we've happily driven our daughter all the way from the city so she could attend, because it felt too important not to make it work.MLCA students' mastery across diverse subjects such as history, math, French, art history, and piano is truly impressive for children of their age. But just as striking is the wholesome, grounded atmosphere in which kids can be kids, treat one another with kindness, and learn without unhealthy competition. "Classical" at MLCA feels welcoming rather than stiff, with families bringing different perspectives while sharing a commitment to serious learning. I especially think MLCA can be a great fit for expat families who are looking for a curriculum more similar to that of European schools and who would like their kids to be challenge without any of the unhealthy competition an obsession over test scores.

If you have a child with a learning disability, they will get you all excited about the school with…read moreattending their open house where you're told how much they could help your child. Then you pay their expensive $100 application fee and later told that they can't accept your child. Their application process is such a scam and a total waste of time! I would not recommend! Think about it, for every $100 application fee, how much are they pocketing just to reject students without providing even a partial refund? We pay bills out here! So taking advantage of parents who are on a desperate search to find the best school for their special needs student is unacceptable!

This is a great school but the staff is more forgiving you the girls. I've experienced that the…read moremales are suspended for things the girls get off a warning for.

Families are looking to find schools that their child think it's best for them and for their safety…read moretoo. Parents should definitely do what's best for their children by attending them to one of the best schools in the state, not only is Lower Merion High School one of the best, but also the best at welcoming new students who move or transferred from a different school. Here at Lower Merion High school, kids and teens should be welcomed and not come in nervous or feeling like they don't belong here at all. Lower Merion High School is not all about that, but to make your children feel like they belong here and that they should have the confidence to waking up knowing it's going to be a great day at their new school!

I've called the high school several times this year just to find out information for my current 8th…read moregrader soon going into high school for 2022. No one at the school had any real customer service demeanor. The front desk lady never said her name, nor was she inviting or nice. I was then transferred to the guidance counselor and she had no customer service either. I understand that people have a bad day, but as a customer service person, you have to put those things aside and treat people accordingly. I really have to consider whether Lower Merion High School will be my son's choice of school.