TL:DR If you want your child to hate and resent you for the rest of their life and suffer lifelong…read moremental health issues then send them here. If you love your child and want them healthy and happy then run, do not walk from the BS artists trying to sell you on sending your kid this place. I went to VFMA back in the late 80s for my junior year (11th grade) and I can only describe this place as a torture chamber. From bullying and physical abuse to mental abuse it was all the norm there. This place was a hair away from Lord of the Flies. Any parent who decides to send their kid here should have their head examined, if you have read Lord of the Flies that really demonstrates how this place was. The bullying was off the charts, some of the stuff I witnessed there still haunts me to this day. While this is based on my experiences a very long time ago I can see from the more recent reviews and the article in Mother Jones in 2022 called "Hazing, Fighting, Sexual Assaults: How Valley Forge Military Academy Devolved Into 'Lord of the Flies'" that absolutely nothing has changed. To this day in my 50s I still have horrible feelings about this place and to add insult to injury the quality of education was absolutely terrible. I went from gifted classes in public schools to VFMA where the curriculum was so incredibly dumbed down that my year there was a complete waste of my education. As a junior I remember doing work in 11th grade that I had done in 7-9th grade. I

I attended Valley Forge Military Academy and College with high hopes, expecting a transformative…read moreexperience that would shape me into a better individual. However, my time there turned out to be deeply disheartening and had a lasting negative impact on my life. First and foremost, let's talk about the food. Despite their promises of delicious and satisfying meals, the reality was quite different. The food at Valley Forge Military Academy and College fell far short of what was portrayed. Not only was it unappetizing, but it often lacked nutritional value, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and lethargic, I ended up losing all the muscle I came with. And when cadets didn't want to eat the food, they would ask to order food instead but yet most of the time we're rejected of that request and we're left starving that whole night. Asking around other cadets for snacks. So they didn't have to goto sleep with a starving stomach. and I am speaking from experience. Most of my nights were like that. Moreover, the water fountains were consistently in a deplorable state. It was evident that they were dirty and contaminated, yet the authorities seemed to be fully aware of this issue. This blatant disregard for basic hygiene standards is unacceptable, especially in an educational institution. The living environment at the academy was mentally and physically exhausting, even after completing the Plebe system. It's true that the purpose of such institutions is to challenge individuals and foster personal growth, but Valley Forge Military Academy and College took it to an extreme level. Unfortunately, instead of empowering and building me up, the environment seemed to break me down even further. I struggled to communicate, find joy, and regain the happiness I had before attending the academy. Adding to my woes, the presence of water cockroaches in the Younghusband barracks was an ongoing issue. It was distressing and unhygienic to encounter these pests throughout my stay. This not only impacted my physical well-being but also added to the overall sense of discomfort and dissatisfaction. Worst of all, the negative experiences at Valley Forge Military Academy and College left me feeling isolated and disconnected. Returning home with nobody to talk to, I found it difficult to share my struggles and adjust to a "normal" life again. Instead of emerging from the academy as a better version of myself, I came out worse, with no discernible benefits or positive changes to show for my time there. Overall, Valley Forge Military Academy and College failed to live up to its promises and left me deeply disappointed. The subpar food, contaminated water fountains, mentally and physically exhausting living environment, and the presence of water cockroaches all contributed to an overall negative experience. Regrettably, instead of benefiting and changing me in a positive way, the academy left me broken and unable to regain the same level of happiness and contentment I had before attending. Think before you send your children here. I wouldn't want anyone to experience what I went through. The school is falling apart.

Great school, my younger son attended for 1 year. Teachers are excellent and facilities are clean.read more

This school is full of dedicated teachers and administrators.read more

It is increasingly getting the bad reputation that it deserves. High pressures, bad teachers, and…read morean uncaring atmosphere make this place a nightmare. It doesn't prepare you for anything. It was great to get out of there!

From the owner: Devon Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, college prep school, grades six to twelve focused…read moreon the holistic education of young men for life.

Great school, amazing academics, sports and extracurricular activities. my son got into every…read morecollege he applied to out of Carroll.

Check the reviews on the site. This was a terrible school in the 80's and from the reviews,…read morethings have not changed much. As with all things Catholic, money money money . The more you have the better your experience. Even that only buys you some perks. The sad thing is that some of the teachers I had are still in the system somewhere ie O'Hara, Shanahan, and other parochial schools. Don't kid your self into thinking they will be safer or get a better education than in a public school. The only difference is the uniforms.

US News & World Report ranked Conestoga High School as #3 in PA as of September 2011…read more(http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/pennsylvania). 'Nuff said....

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.

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

What a beautiful setting. This would be a dream to send my future grandchildren here. Hope for…read morescholarships I have never seen a more clean beautiful and well organized middle school

This is a great establishment creating Greta young men and women. It challenges but also nurtures…read morethem into growing to their full potential. Whether it is through athletics or academics it not only allows but helps them succeed: