Oldest Private Schools in Pennsylvania

The average private school in Pennsylvania was founded around 1966 (2024).
The oldest private school in Pennsylvania is William Penn Charter School, founded in 1689.
Year Founded Range: 1689 1866 Avg. Year Founded: 1823

Oldest Private Schools in Pennsylvania (2024)

School
Founding Date
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
William Penn Charter School
(Friends)
(1)
Founding Date: 1689
Grades: PK-12
3000 W School House Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 844-3460
Rank: #22.
Abington Friends School
Abington Friends School Photo
(Friends)
(3)
Founding Date: 1697
Grades: PK-12
575 Washington Ln
Jenkintown, PA 19046
(215) 576-3950
Rank: #33.
Founding Date: 1743
Grades: PK-8
668 Pine St
Bally, PA 19503
(610) 845-7364
Rank: #44.
Linden Hall
Linden Hall Photo - Students enjoying a walk around our beautiful campus in the springtime.
All-girls
(3)
Founding Date: 1746
Grades: 6-12
212 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
(717) 626-8512
Rank: #55.
Germantown Academy
Germantown Academy Photo - Second grade students research various species in the Wissahickon Creek, which runs through the heart of GA's campus.
(2)
Founding Date: 1759
Grades: PK-12
340 Morris Rd
Fort Washington, PA 19034
(267) 405-7070
Rank: #66.
Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Plymouth Meeting Friends School Photo
(Friends)
(4)
Founding Date: 1780
Grades: NS-6
2150 Butler Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(610) 828-2288
Rank: #77.
Harrisburg Academy
Harrisburg Academy Photo - Upper School Students take a moment to discuss the period's lecture.
(6)
Founding Date: 1784
Grades: NS-12
10 Erford Road
Lemoyne, PA 17043
(717) 763-7811
Rank: #88.
The Episcopal Academy
(Episcopal)
Founding Date: 1785
Grades: PK-12
1785 Bishop White Drive
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(484) 424-1400
Rank: #99.
Buckingham Friends School
Buckingham Friends School Photo - Lower School Student Ready to Learn - Photo By: Ralph "Ozzie" Oswald
(Friends)
(8)
Founding Date: 1794
Grades: K-8
5684 York Road
Lahaska, PA 18931
(215) 794-7491
Rank: #1010.
Westtown School
Westtown School Photo - The Westtown School campus includes 600 acres of land, a 14-acre lake with a beach and boathouse, and an arboretum and natural forest.
(Friends)
(10)
Founding Date: 1799
Grades: PK-12
975 Westtown Road
West Chester, PA 19382
(610) 399-7900
Rank: #1111.
Pennsylvania School For The Deaf
Pennsylvania School For The Deaf Photo - Best of Friends
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1820
Grades: PK-12
100 W School House Ln
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 951-4711
Rank: #1212.
Frankford Friends School
Frankford Friends School Photo
(Friends)
(1)
Founding Date: 1833
Grades: PK-8
1500 Orthodox Street
Philadelphia, PA 19124
(215) 533-5368
Rank: #1313.
St. Peter's School
St. Peter's School Photo
(4)
Founding Date: 1834
Grades: NS-8
319 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 925-3963
Rank: #1414.
West Chester Friends School
(Friends)
Founding Date: 1836
Grades: PK-5
415 N High Street
West Chester, PA 19380
(610) 696-2615
Rank: #1515.
Sewickley Academy
Sewickley Academy Photo - For Who You Are. For Who You Will Become.
(10)
Founding Date: 1838
Grades: PK-12
315 Academy Avenue
Sewickley, PA 15143
(412) 741-2235
Rank: #1616.
Malvern Preparatory School
Malvern Preparatory School Photo
All-boys (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1842
Grades: 6-12
418 S. Warren Avenue
Malvern, PA 19355
(484) 595-1100
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Wyoming Seminary Lower School
Wyoming Seminary Lower School Photo - Above and beyond regular assemblies and programs, Lower School teachers employ lessons of independence, empathy, teamwork and honor on a daily basis.
(Methodist)
Founding Date: 1844
Grades: NS-8
1560 Wyoming Avenue
Kingston, PA 18704
(570) 718-6611
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Wyoming Seminary Upper School
Wyoming Seminary Upper School Photo - Are you ready for a change? Are you ready to be transformed? As a student at Sem, your life will change in the best possible ways.
(Methodist)
Founding Date: 1844
Grades: 9-12
201 N Sprague Ave
Kingston, PA 18704
(570) 270-2100
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Friends Central School
Friends Central School Photo - Friends' Central School is an independent, coeducational, Quaker, college-preparatory day school for Nursery through grade 12 students. Located on 41 acres across two campuses in Wynnewood, Pa., Friends' Central cultivates the intellectual, spiritual, and ethical promise of students. Since 1845, Friends' Central has been educating for excellence, inspiring tomorrow's leaders, honoring each individual, and encouraging students to peacefully transform the world.
(Friends)
(1)
Founding Date: 1845
Grades: NS-12
1101 City Avenue
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 649-7440
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Germantown Friends School
Germantown Friends School Photo
(Friends)
Founding Date: 1845
Grades: NS-12
31 W Coulter Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 951-2300
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Girard College
Girard College Photo - Field trips take advantage of the numerous and varied museums and historic sites in Philadelphia. These first graders are sketching at PAFA (Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts).
(2)
Founding Date: 1848
Grades: 1-12
2101 S College Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19121
(215) 787-2621
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
St. Peter The Apostle School
St. Peter The Apostle School Photo - PK 3 and 4 year olds enjoy activities together!
(Catholic)
(2)
Founding Date: 1848
Grades: PK-8
1009 N 5th St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 922-5958
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
The Hill School
The Hill School Photo - Students enjoy a beautiful spring day walking to the Alumni Memorial Chapel.
(2)
Founding Date: 1851
Grades: 9-12
860 Beech Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 326-1000
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
St. Joseph's Preparatory School
St. Joseph's Preparatory School Photo - St. Joseph's Prep
All-boys (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1851
Grades: 9-12
1733 W Girard Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(267) 515-5920
Rank: #2525.
Seton Catholic School
Seton Catholic School Photo
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1852
Grades: PK-8
385 Pine Street
Meadville, PA 16335
(814) 336-2320
Rank: #2626.
Grier School
Grier School Photo
All-girls
(1)
Founding Date: 1853
Grades: 7-12
2522 Grier School Road
Tyrone, PA 16686
(814) 684-3000
Rank: #2727.
Greene Street Friends School
Greene Street Friends School Photo - Middle School, grades 5-8, is marked by a rigorous academic program that recognizes that every child is unique and special. Students participate in many hands-on individual and group projects that promote curiosity and understanding. Students are well prepared for the top high schools, both public and private, in the area.
(Friends)
(4)
Founding Date: 1855
Grades: PK-8
5511 Greene St
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 438-7000
Rank: #2828.
St. Boniface PreSchool
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1856
Grades: NS
9363 Wattsburg Road
Erie, PA 16509
(814) 825-4238
Rank: #2929.
St. Malachy
St. Malachy Photo - We are... St. Malachy Proud!
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1860
Grades: PK-8
1012 W. Thompson St
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 232-0696
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School Photo
All-girls (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1861
Grades: 9-12
1345 Sumneytown Pike
Gwynedd Valley, PA 19002
(215) 646-8815
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Gwynedd-mercy Academy Continuation School
Gwynedd-mercy Academy Continuation School Photo - Gwynedd-Mercy Academy has kept pace with developing technology by equipping our classrooms, library and computer lab with interactive whiteboards, wireless Internet and Microsoft Surface tablets, iPads and computer work stations. Technology is integrated across the curriculum and classroom devices are available for all students, enhancing individualized instruction.
(Catholic)
(5)
Founding Date: 1861
Grades: K-8
816 Norristown Rd
Ambler, PA 19002
(215) 646-4916
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Founding Date: 1861
Grades: NS-12
500 W Willow Grove Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
(215) 247-7007
Rank: #3333.
Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr
Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr Photo - Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr is a Catholic, independent college preparatory school for girls K-12, founded in 1865 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Known as SHA, the private girls' school is located in PA outside of Philadelphia with elementary, middle and upper school divisions located on one campus.
All-girls (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1865
Grades: K-12
480 S Bryn Mawr Ave
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 527-3915
Rank: #34 - 3534. - 35.
St. Joseph School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1866
Grades: NS-8
5125 Grandview Road
Hanover, PA 17331
(717) 632-0118
Rank: #34 - 3534. - 35.
St. Luke Lutheran School
Daycare / Preschool (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (formerly AELC, ALC, or LCA))
Founding Date: 1866
Grades: PK-8
330 Hannahstown Road
Cabot, PA 16023
(724) 352-2221
Show 100 more private schools in PA (out of 725 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pennsylvania average Private Schools founding year?
The Pennsylvania average Private Schools founding year is 1966 for 2024.
What are the Private Schools with oldest founding year in Pennsylvania?
The top ranked Private Schools in Pennsylvania include William Penn Charter School, Abington Friends School and Saint Francis Classical Catholic Academy.
What is private high school and private elementary school with the oldest founding year in Pennsylvania?
The private high school with the oldest founding year in Pennsylvania is William Penn Charter School, with a year of 1689. The private elementary school with the oldest founding year is William Penn Charter School, with a year of 1689.

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