The average private high school in Pennsylvania was founded around 1956 (2025).
The oldest private high school in Pennsylvania is Friends Select School, founded in 1689.
Year Founded Range: 1689
1876
Avg. Year Founded: 1827
Oldest Private High 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.
Founding Date: 1746
Grades: 6-12
212 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
(717) 626-8512
Lititz, PA 17543
(717) 626-8512
Rank: #55.
Founding Date: 1759
Grades: PK-12
340 Morris Rd
Fort Washington, PA 19034
(267) 405-7070
Fort Washington, PA 19034
(267) 405-7070
Rank: #66.
Founding Date: 1784
Grades: NS-12
10 Erford Road
Lemoyne, PA 17043
(717) 763-7811
Lemoyne, PA 17043
(717) 763-7811
Rank: #77.
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: #88.
Founding Date: 1799
Grades: PK-12
975 Westtown Road
West Chester, PA 19382
(610) 399-7900
West Chester, PA 19382
(610) 399-7900
Rank: #99.
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: #10 - 1310. - 13.
(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: #10 - 1310. - 13.
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: #10 - 1310. - 13.
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: #10 - 1310. - 13.
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: #1414.
Founding Date: 1838
Grades: PK-12
315 Academy Avenue
Sewickley, PA 15143
(412) 741-2230
Sewickley, PA 15143
(412) 741-2230
Rank: #1515.
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: #1616.
Founding Date: 1844
Grades: PK-12
201 N Sprague Ave
Kingston, PA 18704
(570) 270-2100
Kingston, PA 18704
(570) 270-2100
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Founding Date: 1845
Grades: NS-12
1101 City Avenue
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 649-7440
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 649-7440
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
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
Rank: #1919.
Founding Date: 1848
Grades: 1-12
2101 S College Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19121
(215) 787-2621
Philadelphia, PA 19121
(215) 787-2621
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Founding Date: 1851
Grades: 9-12
860 Beech Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 762-9989
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 762-9989
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
St. Joseph's Preparatory School![St. Joseph's Preparatory School Photo - St. Joseph's Prep]( "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
(215) 978-1958
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 978-1958
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Davidson School
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1852
Grades: PK-12
111 Elwyn Rd.
Media, PA 19063
(610) 891-2000
Media, PA 19063
(610) 891-2000
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Founding Date: 1852
Grades: NS-12
111 Elwyn Road
Media, PA 19063
(610) 891-2201
Media, PA 19063
(610) 891-2201
Rank: #2424.
Founding Date: 1853
Grades: 7-12
2522 Grier School Road
Tyrone, PA 16686
(814) 684-3000
Tyrone, PA 16686
(814) 684-3000
Rank: #2525.
Academy-notre Dame De Namur
All-girls (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1856
Grades: 6-12
560 Sproul Rd
Villanova, PA 19085
(610) 687-0650
Villanova, PA 19085
(610) 687-0650
Rank: #2626.
Founding Date: 1858
Grades: 9-12
120 W Wissahickon Avenue
Flourtown, PA 19031
(215) 233-3177
Flourtown, PA 19031
(215) 233-3177
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School![Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School Photo]( "Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School Photo")
All-girls (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1861
Grades: 9-12
1345 Sumneytown Pike
Ambler, PA 19002
(215) 646-8815
Ambler, PA 19002
(215) 646-8815
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Founding Date: 1861
Grades: NS-12
500 W Willow Grove Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
(215) 247-7007
Philadelphia, PA 19118
(215) 247-7007
Rank: #2929.
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.]( "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
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 527-3915
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Founding Date: 1869
Grades: NS-12
275 S Ithan Ave
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 801-1869
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 801-1869
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Western Pennsylvania School For The Deaf
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1869
Grades: PK-12
300 East Swissvale Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
(412) 244-4214
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
(412) 244-4214
Rank: #3232.
Friendship House
Alternative School
Founding Date: 1871
Grades: PK-10
1615 E Gibson St
Scranton, PA 18510
(570) 342-8305
Scranton, PA 18510
(570) 342-8305
Rank: #3333.
Founding Date: 1872
Grades: 9-12
370 Central Ave
Malvern, PA 19355
(610) 644-2551
Malvern, PA 19355
(610) 644-2551
Rank: #3434.
Founding Date: 1875
Grades: 6-12
200 Seminary Street
Pennsburg, PA 18073
(215) 679-9511
Pennsburg, PA 18073
(215) 679-9511
Rank: #35 - 3635. - 36.
Founding Date: 1876
Grades: 9-12
Po Box 707
Bryn Athyn, PA 19009
(267) 502-2615
Bryn Athyn, PA 19009
(267) 502-2615
Show 100 more private schools in PA (out of 400 total schools)
Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pennsylvania average private high schools founding year?
The Pennsylvania average private high schools founding year is 1956 for 2025.
What are the private high schools with oldest founding year in Pennsylvania?
The top ranked private high schools in Pennsylvania include Friends Select School, William Penn Charter School and Abington Friends School.
Recent Articles
Podcasts That Will Change the Way You Think About Education
This article highlights a curated selection of podcasts that offer thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and innovative ideas on various aspects of education. From exploring new teaching methods and technologies to discussing policy changes and social issues, these podcasts provide a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for anyone interested in education. Each podcast is briefly described, highlighting its unique focus and tone.
For-profit vs. Not-for-profit Schools
This comprehensive guide explores the differences between for-profit and not-for-profit private schools, discussing their organizational structures, advantages, and key considerations for parents. It emphasizes that a school's success is determined by its educational quality and management rather than its profit status.
2023-24 Best SSAT Prep Courses Reviewed
This article reviews the top SSAT prep courses, including Test Innovators, Enrollment Management Association (EMA), Princeton Review, Ivy Global, and Kaplan. Each course is evaluated based on its price, in-person and online services, officially licensed materials, instant normative scoring, and free trial options. We'll dive into the features and benefits of each course, helping you understand which one best fits your student's needs and learning style.
