Germantown Friends School is undoubtedly one of the finest schools in Philadelphia. This private college preparatory school is all about teaching and training the youth to take on higher education, which also prepares them for the real world. At its core, the school is more than just a scholastic requirement for kids to go through so they can more easily get a job when they grow up. Germantown Friends School challenges its students, helps them realize their full potential, and allows them to learn and explore freely. The school doesn't just prepare its students for college, but also for the rest of their lives.
Source: Germantown Friends School Facebook Page
History of Germantown Friends School
The Germantown Monthly Meeting founded the Germantown Friends School in 1845. It was established as a response to the city's Yearly Meeting that needed a school for their kids. Hence, until the early 20th century, the school only accepted children of Quaker parents. Over time, the school expanded and became more open, growing to include kids of various backgrounds and adopting a more lax academic program that allowed for extracurricular activities. Today, over a thousand students go to school here and it now serves as a college preparatory school in
Philadelphia.
What is Germantown Friends School's Campus Like?
Today, the Germantown Friends School is located on W Coulter St. in the Germantown
neighborhood of Philadelphia. Much like the area it's named after, the school has retained its historic campus and Victorian house aesthetic. It almost doesn't look like a modern-day primary & secondary school, but more like the private college preparatory academy that it is today. Nevertheless, the campus still has all the standard school facilities too, including big classrooms, fully-equipped laboratories, a stocked library, and even well-maintained school grounds. There's ample outdoor space where the kids can play and hang out under the sun.
Source: Germantown Friends School Facebook Page
The Germantown Friends School Student Body
From what started as a small private school that only accepted kids of Quaker parents, the Germantown Friends School is now a fairly big school with a big student body. Today, the school welcomes over 1,000 students per year, including both new enrollees and those returning who have yet to graduate. Though it has remained a Quaker school, it now welcomes students of all backgrounds, resulting in a diverse student body. For one thing, the students are about 50% female, 49% male, and even 1% non-binary. Its racial makeup also includes 30.5% White students, 13.2% Multiracial students, 10.8% Asian students, 10.7% Black students, 3.4% Latino students, 0.1% Native American students, and an additional 0.9% International students.
What is Germantown Friends School's Curriculum?
Germantown Friends School now operates as a college preparatory private school in Philadelphia. As such, it's heavily focused on academics, with over three years of Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, and more. Its relatively rigid structure is designed to ensure that every student has ample opportunity to get good grades which will then help them get into prestigious colleges and universities. At the same time, the school still encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities too, from athletics to the arts. The school still recognized that doing so would also help them in their college applications upon graduation.
Source: Germantown Friends School Facebook Page
How Much Does It Cost to Study at Germantown Friends School?
Unsurprisingly, the Germantown Friends School is pretty expensive. Its preschool alone already costs around $24,500.00 per year, which is considerably higher compared to other similar institutions in Philadelphia. Upon reaching kindergarten, the tuition increases to about $32,150.00 per year. In primary school, from grades 1 to 5, it becomes $38,150.00 per year, and in Middle School, it's around $42,150.00 per year. By senior high school, from grades 9 to 12, the tuition fee is almost $46,750.00 per year. These are all high prices especially if you take into account the
living costs in Philadelphia too.
Where is Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia?
As its name says, Germantown Friends School is in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia. It’s known as one of the more historic parts of the city, which is saying something since Philadelphia is practically a full-blown history textbook turned into a bustling metropolis. Unlike other districts, Germantown has retained its old-world appeal, complete with cobbled streets and Victorian homes. It's also a largely residential neighborhood, filled with several
luxury homes to rent in Philadelphia. Thanks to this, it's not that hard to get a place to stay near the school.
Source: Germantown Friends School Facebook Page
What makes the Germantown Friends School one of the top schools in Philadelphia is how it challenges its students to go above and beyond what they think are their skills and abilities. It's here where kids will realize their full potential and discover what they're truly capable of.