The average private school in Pennsylvania was founded around 1962 (2025).
The oldest private school in Pennsylvania is Friends Select School, founded in 1689.
Year Founded Range: 1689
1845
Avg. Year Founded: 1799
Oldest Private Schools in Pennsylvania (2025)
School
Founding Date
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Friends Select School
(Friends)
Founding Date: 1689
Grades: PK-12
17th St & Benjamin Franklin
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 561-5900
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 561-5900
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Founding Date: 1689
Grades: PK-12
3000 W School House Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 844-3460
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 844-3460
Rank: #33.
Founding Date: 1697
Grades: PK-12
575 Washington Ln
Jenkintown, PA 19046
(215) 576-3950
Jenkintown, PA 19046
(215) 576-3950
Rank: #44.
Salford Mennonite Child Care Center
Daycare / Preschool (Mennonite)
Founding Date: 1717
Grades: PK-K
480 Groff Mill Rd
Harleysville, PA 19438
(215) 256-6421
Harleysville, PA 19438
(215) 256-6421
Rank: #55.
Fairview School
(Amish)
Founding Date: 1738
Grades: 1-8
12 S Ronks Road
Ronks, PA 17572
(717) 661-7955
Ronks, PA 17572
(717) 661-7955
Rank: #66.
Moravian Academy Lower School
(Brethren)
Founding Date: 1742
Grades: PK-5
422 Heckewelder Pl
Bethlehem, PA 18018
(610) 868-8571
Bethlehem, PA 18018
(610) 868-8571
Rank: #77.
Saint Francis Classical Catholic Academy
Daycare / Preschool (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1743
Grades: PK-8
668 Pine St
Bally, PA 19503
(610) 845-7364
Bally, PA 19503
(610) 845-7364
Rank: #88.
Founding Date: 1746
Grades: 6-12
212 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
(717) 626-8512
Lititz, PA 17543
(717) 626-8512
Rank: #99.
Founding Date: 1759
Grades: PK-12
340 Morris Rd
Fort Washington, PA 19034
(267) 405-7070
Fort Washington, PA 19034
(267) 405-7070
Rank: #1010.
Founding Date: 1780
Grades: NS-6
2150 Butler Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(610) 828-2288
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(610) 828-2288
Rank: #1111.
St. Mary Interparochial School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1782
Grades: K-8
5th & Locust Sts
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(267) 752-5519
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(267) 752-5519
Rank: #1212.
Founding Date: 1784
Grades: NS-12
10 Erford Road
Lemoyne, PA 17043
(717) 763-7811
Lemoyne, PA 17043
(717) 763-7811
Rank: #1313.
The Episcopal Academy
(Episcopal)
Founding Date: 1785
Grades: PK-12
1785 Bishop White Drive
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(484) 424-1400
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(484) 424-1400
Rank: #1414.
Founding Date: 1794
Grades: K-8
5684 York Road
Lahaska, PA 18931
(215) 794-7491
Lahaska, PA 18931
(215) 794-7491
Rank: #1515.
Founding Date: 1799
Grades: PK-12
975 Westtown Road
West Chester, PA 19382
(610) 399-7900
West Chester, PA 19382
(610) 399-7900
Rank: #1616.
Pennsylvania School For The Deaf![Pennsylvania School For The Deaf Photo - Best of Friends 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) 951-4733
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 951-4733
Rank: #1717.
Coffee Run School
(Amish)
Founding Date: 1823
Grades: 1-8
820 Coffee Run Rd
Reedsville, PA 17084
(717) 994-5480
Reedsville, PA 17084
(717) 994-5480
Rank: #1818.
St. John The Baptist School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1831
Grades: 1-8
119 Rector Street
Philadelphia, PA 19127
(215) 482-0449
Philadelphia, PA 19127
(215) 482-0449
Rank: #19 - 2319. - 23.
(412) 246-0412Pressley Ridge Career Development Center
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1832
Grades: K-12
1450 Ingham St
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(412) 246-0412
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(412) 246-0412
Rank: #19 - 2319. - 23.
Overbrook School For The Blind![Overbrook School For The Blind Photo Overbrook School For The Blind Photo]()

Special Education School
Founding Date: 1832
Grades: PK
6333 Malvern Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19151
(215) 877-0313
Philadelphia, PA 19151
(215) 877-0313
Rank: #19 - 2319. - 23.
Pressley Ridge Day School - Greensburg
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1832
Grades: 4-12
1729 Poplar St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 552-2085
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 552-2085
Rank: #19 - 2319. - 23.
Pressley Ridge Day School - Pittsburgh
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1832
Grades: 2-12
530 Marshall Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15214
(412) 321-6995
Pittsburgh, PA 15214
(412) 321-6995
Rank: #19 - 2319. - 23.
Pressley Ridge School For Autism
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1832
Grades: 1-12
514 Marshall Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15214
(412) 322-0140
Pittsburgh, PA 15214
(412) 322-0140
Rank: #2424.
Founding Date: 1833
Grades: NS-8
1500 Orthodox Street
Philadelphia, PA 19124
(215) 533-5368
Philadelphia, PA 19124
(215) 533-5368
Rank: #2525.
Founding Date: 1834
Grades: NS-8
319 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 925-3963
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 925-3963
Rank: #2626.
West Chester Friends School
(Friends)
Founding Date: 1836
Grades: PK-5
415 N High Street
West Chester, PA 19380
(610) 696-2615
West Chester, PA 19380
(610) 696-2615
Rank: #2727.
Founding Date: 1838
Grades: PK-12
315 Academy Avenue
Sewickley, PA 15143
(412) 741-2230
Sewickley, PA 15143
(412) 741-2230
Rank: #2828.
St. Pauls United Church Of Christ School
Alternative School (Church of Christ)
Founding Date: 1840
Grades: PK-K
5 W Arch St
Fleetwood, PA 19522
(610) 944-5808
Fleetwood, PA 19522
(610) 944-5808
Rank: #2929.
Malvern Preparatory School![Malvern Preparatory School Photo Malvern Preparatory School Photo]()

All-boys (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1842
Grades: 6-12
418 S. Warren Avenue
Malvern, PA 19355
(484) 595-1100
Malvern, PA 19355
(484) 595-1100
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Hilltop Baptist School
(Baptist)
Founding Date: 1844
Grades: 2-5
280 Stone Church Rd
Hunker, PA 15639
(724) 925-7100
Hunker, PA 15639
(724) 925-7100
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
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. 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
Kingston, PA 18704
(570) 718-6611
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Founding Date: 1844
Grades: PK-12
201 N Sprague Ave
Kingston, PA 18704
(570) 270-2100
Kingston, PA 18704
(570) 270-2100
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
Founding Date: 1845
Grades: NS-12
1101 City Avenue
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 649-7440
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 649-7440
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
Friends' Central Lower School
(Friends)
Founding Date: 1845
Grades: NS-5
228 Old Gulph Rd
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7575
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7575
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
Germantown Friends School![Germantown Friends School Photo Germantown Friends School Photo]()

(Friends)
Founding Date: 1845
Grades: NS-12
31 W Coulter Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 951-2300
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 951-2300
Show 100 more private schools in PA (out of 1,177 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 1962 for 2025.
What are the private schools with oldest founding year in Pennsylvania?
The top ranked private schools in Pennsylvania include Friends Select School, William Penn Charter School and Abington Friends School.
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 Friends Select School, with a year of 1689. The private elementary school with the oldest founding year is Friends Select School, with a year of 1689.
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