is anyone familiar with philly area privates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:stay away from Chestnut Hill..sorry typing too fast

Why?

[Anonymous]

Didn't they merge with Springside, the girl's school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't they merge with Springside, the girl's school?

Yes, one of the two schools (CHA I think?) was having financial troubles so Chestnut Hill Academy and Springside are officially one now, although they still operate as separate single-sex schools.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks for all of this information. It is too premature for me to visit any schools, but I would like to start getting a handle on my lists of where to look. Without outing myself, I would like schools similar to Sidwell and GDS. No single sex, please.

[Anonymous]

I'm on the Main Line with kids at private. If you like progressive, you should look first on the Friends schools. There are a lot - Friends Central and Friends School Haverford on the main line, Friends Select, Germantown Friends, Greene Street Friends, and more, in the city.

Haverford School and Agnes Irwin (or Baldwin) are a different feel - single sex, preppy, athletic. Kids do go back and forth between those schools and Friends school, but there's stuff about them that turns me off personally.

Shipley seems to fall more in the middle and is coed. I know a couple families there - mixed reviews - good school, materialistic culture.

Ardmore's nice, but most people there will send to public.

[Anonymous]

If you move to Ardmore, I would concentrate on suburban schools. The city schools are commutable, but unless you have a compelling reason I can't see doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd say Penn Charter and Germantown Friends are Sidwell-esque, or so I gather. They're right next to one another and both really great options. There are several other Friends schools in the area as well, such as Greene Street (which is a small K-8), Miquon, Abington Friends, Friends Central. I'm less familiar w/ the privates on the Main Line. Main Line is very keeping-up-with-the Joneses and that's fine if it's your cup of tea. If not, check out Chestnut Hill. It's in the city - technically speaking - so the only drawback is the Philly school system - but if you're thinking private, you obviously don't have to worry about that. GL!

Of these, only Friends Central makes any sense if she moves to Ardmore. Ardmore (Lower Merion side) also has excellent public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say Penn Charter and Germantown Friends are Sidwell-esque, or so I gather. They're right next to one another and both really great options. There are several other Friends schools in the area as well, such as Greene Street (which is a small K-8), Miquon, Abington Friends, Friends Central. I'm less familiar w/ the privates on the Main Line. Main Line is very keeping-up-with-the Joneses and that's fine if it's your cup of tea. If not, check out Chestnut Hill. It's in the city - technically speaking - so the only drawback is the Philly school system - but if you're thinking private, you obviously don't have to worry about that. GL!

Of these, only Friends Central makes any sense if she moves to Ardmore. Ardmore (Lower Merion side) also has excellent public schools.

Agreed; Germantown Friends and Penn Charter aren't terribly far from Ardmore, but it's a beast to get down City Ave or 1 during rush hour. I mentioned those two in particular because they're the ones I'm most familiar with. I know several families whose kids attend or recently graduated from those two and rave about them. More mixed reviews about CHA/Springside (from those I happen to know although I'm sure many are very happy there). It's why I mentioned Chestnut Hill (the area, not the school) for a place to live: you have the city wage tax but lower property taxes. Of course, any option outside of the city itself - really any of the western suburbs as far as I can tell - will have great public schools and private schools aren't really necessary.

[Anonymous]

GFS is a really good school - but I live near Ardmore and I can't see sending my kids there when there are many good choices nearer.

[Anonymous]

I have had friends with kids who have gone to Shipley and liked it. That area has good public school options. Not so much overcrowding like we have here.

[Anonymous]

How old are your kids? Gladwyne Montessori goes through 6th or 8th, I believe.

[Anonymous]

What is Penn Charter like?

[Anonymous]

PC is on the other side of Philly. It's Quaker. Philly has a ton of Quaker schools.

[Anonymous]

Some of the Quaker schools are associated with Quaker meetings and some aren't. Germantown Friends has always been coed and is associated with Germantown Meeting. PC is close by but isn't under a Quaker meeting. Different feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:stay away from Chestnut Hill..sorry typing too fast

Why?

Chestnut Hill is right next to one of the roughest areas of the city..walk the direction and you have a problem...a large problem. Too many nice areas to have to deal with this. Sad but true. Ardmore also has some crime issues but nowhere near what you would see close to Chestnut Hill area. I would stick to Haverford esp if you are looking at private school because a lot people will send their kids to privates. If you want to consider not sending to Private, then consider Radnor--beautiful and most people send their kids to public. I also feel like staying sw of the city gives you easier access to DC and 95--the northern burbs are just not as ideal.