Guide to Private and Independent Schools & Education Services

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Pennsylvania

Bryn Mawr

The Agnes Irwin School
275 S. Ithan Ave.
610-801-1869; AgnesIrwin.org
No one knows girls like Agnes Irwin. Which means no one does girls’ education like Agnes Irwin. It’s been the school’s focus for 155 years—building challenges intended just for girls. You’ll see it in the curriculum and in the way each girl is seen and heard. Because when girls feel heard, they speak up. And when Agnes Irwin girls speak up, it’s in the world’s best interest to listen. Visit to learn why Niche ranks Agnes Irwin the #1 Best All-Girls High School in the Philadelphia area and the #10 Best Private High School in Pennsylvania.
All School Open House: Oct. 17, 6 pm
Athletics Open House: Oct. 29, 7 pm

St. Aloysius Academy
401 S. Bryn Mawr Ave.
610-525-1670; StAloysiusAcademy.org
Founded in 1895 by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Aloysius Academy is the only private, Catholic, all-boys, K–8 school in the Philadelphia five-county area. St. Aloysius Academy provides an engaging and challenging learning environment for boys that recognizes their needs and develops their gifts and talents. Within a faith-based setting, relational learning permeates the caring and formative atmosphere where each student can grow to be the best version of himself.
Open House: Oct. 16, Jan. 29, Mar. 12, 9 am
Schedule a private tour, [email protected]

Exton

Church Farm School
1001 E. Lincoln Hwy.; GoCFS.net
Church Farm School is an all-boys boarding and day private high school in Exton. Since 1918, CFS’s mission has been to ensure young men of character and academic ability receive a world-class education at an affordable price. Located on 150 bucolic acres in the heart of Chester County, the school emphasizes core values of respect, responsibility, integrity and brotherhood. Graduates go on to the nation’s leading colleges and universities.
Fall Open House: Oct. 26
Winter Open House (Virtual): Dec. 7
Spring Open House: Apr. 12
Register at GoCFS.net/Events

Haverford

Friends School Haverford
851 Buck Ln.
610-642-2334; FriendsHaverford.org
At Friends School Haverford, even the very youngest children grow their math and reading skills. Project-based learning guides students through studies about historical heroes, growing food, local ecosystems and more. Children become confident, critical thinkers who are prepared for the next step in their educational journey. Quaker values impart a sense of stewardship, integrity and community. Financial aid is available.
Open House: Oct. 19, Nov. 7, Dec. 6, Apr. 24, 9:30 to 11
Register: FriendsHaverford.org/Visit

Malvern

Malvern Preparatory School
418 S. Warren Ave.
484-595-1100; MalvernPrep.org
Malvern Preparatory School is an independent Augustinian school for young men in grades 6–12, offering its students a nurturing, Catholic community in which they can grow and become the best possible version of themselves. The curriculum balances rigorous academics, extracurricular commitment, spiritual development and Christian service, providing an experience that places students at the center of learning.
Open House: Oct. 26, 9 am
Entrance Exams: Nov. 2, Nov. 17, Dec. 7, Jan. 12
Register: MalvernPrep.org/Visit

Villa Maria Academy High School
370 Central Ave.
610-644-2551; VMAHS.org
An independent, all-girls, Catholic high school located on a beautiful, 45-acre campus. Villa Maria’s warm and inviting environment features three instructional buildings, the newly-constructed Theresa Maxis Student Union, the Parsons Chapel and state-of-the- art athletic fields and facilities. The curriculum incorporates innovative classes with the traditional topics inherent to the highest- quality secondary education. College attendance rate is 100 percent, and graduates leave with the skills to make their mark on the world. For a visit, register at VMAHS.org/Events.
Fall Open House: Oct. 6, register online
8th Grade Entrance-Scholarship Exams: Sept. 28 and Oct. 20
Register at VMAHS.org/Events

Villa Maria Academy Lower School
280 IHM Dr.
610-644-4864; VillaMaria.org
With a legacy of over 150 years of empowering young women through leadership and service, at Villa Maria Academy Lower School, they strive to maintain a culture rooted in the charism of the IHM Sisters, which is love, creative hope and fidelity. Villa is designed to meet the educational needs and unique learning style of each girl. The unrivaled academics, fine arts, athletics, student activities and service programs provide a foundation to discover individual passion and prepare for a lifetime of learning and leading.
Open House: (Preschool–8 Gr.): Oct. 10, Nov. 6, Jan. 30, Mar. 12
Private Tours available. Register at VillaMaria.org

Media

Media-Providence Friends School
125 W. 3rd St.
610-565-1960; MPFS.org
A Quaker school for students age 2 through grade 8 that awakens the passion and potential of all individuals within a welcoming, diverse community led by Quaker values. A close-knit learning community, MPFS offers students big views of the world ahead. In small classes, under the caring tutelage of early childhood, elementary school and adolescent experts who are passionate about teaching, students from diverse backgrounds and faiths grow up together.
Virtual Open House: Sept. 20, Dec. 13, Mar. 21
RSVP to a Virtual Open House at MPFS.org/RSVP

The Walden School
901 N. Providence Rd.
610-892-8000; TheWaldenSchool.org
The Walden School welcomes children ages 2½ through 5th grade. Teachers are the heart of their students’ success, cultivating even the youngest learners’ intellectual curiosity. Montessori-based learning lets children thrive in a nurturing environment, fostering independence, collaboration, and peaceful and respectful communication. Students explore their interests and excel at their own pace to become self-motivated, empathetic decision-makers prepared for lifelong learning and community engagement.
Fall Open House: Nov. 3, 1 to 3 pm
Winter Open House: Jan. 11, 10 to noon
Spring Open House: Feb. 9, 1 to 3 pm

Newtown Square

Episcopal Academy
1785 Bishop White Dr.
484-424-1400; EpiscopalAcademy.org
Episcopal Academy, a Pre-K–12, coeducational, independent day school, offers a classical yet innovative academic program, renowned for excellence in the humanities and sciences and focused on social responsibility and ethical leadership. Episcopal’s commitment to individual attention and to building an engaging, supportive school experience builds self-confidence and fosters a love of learning in all students.
Lower School Open House: Oct. 26
Middle & Upper School Open House: Oct. 27
Register at EpiscopalAcademy.org/Events

Villanova

Academy of Notre Dame de Namur
560 Sproul Rd.
610-971-0498; NDAPA.org
Located on 39 acres in Villanova, the Academy of Notre Dame is a premier independent, Catholic, college-preparatory school for girls in grades 6–12. Students thrive in a robust learning environment, featuring global learning opportunities and trips abroad, a student well-being program and state-of-the-art centers for the arts and STEM. At Notre Dame, they teach students to speak up for what they believe in and help them become the leaders they were destined to be.
Fall Open House: Oct. 6
Athletics Open House: Oct. 23
Walk-in Wednesdays: Oct. 9, Nov. 13, Dec. 4
Entrance Exams: Oct. 19, 20 & 26

Delaware

Wilmington

The Tatnall School
1501 Barley Mill Rd.
302-998-2292; Tatnall.org
At Tatnall, students from age 2 through grade 12 experience an exceptional education that unlocks their passion for learning. Every student has opportunities to explore endless possibilities through challenging academic, artistic and athletic programs. The devoted teachers, coaches and community members are the driving force behind the school’s success. The strong bonds formed at Tatnall between students and educators foster devotion to learning, enabling students to unleash their full potential and nurture their great minds.
Open House (Grades 6–12): Nov. 2, 9 am
(Age 2 – Pre-K): Nov. 9, 10:30 am
(Grades K – 5): Nov. 21, 8:15 am

Wilmington Friends School
101 School Rd. (Rts. 202 & 95)
302-576-2900; WilmingtonFriends.org
A great place to grow up, offering an unsurpassed academic program with depth, asking students to question, collaborate, be creative and take risks, all within a caring community that balances focus on the individual with responsibility to the common good. 1:1 laptop/iPad program for kindergarten–12th grade, STEM labs and programming, International Baccalaureate program and competitive athletics.
Open House (Gr. PS–12): Oct. 29, 5 pm

Learning Differences and Special Education

Abington

Center School
2450 Hamilton Ave.
215-657-2200; CenterSchoolPA.org
Your child is more than a diagnosis to Center School. Your family is more than an enrollment number. Welcome to Center School — a school that is focused on supporting the whole child. Center School is the only school of its kind that offers almost three hours of literacy per day, leading to over 500 literacy hours per school year, supporting students who may need early literacy support and those with language- based learning differences in grades 1–8.
Open House: Oct. 15, 9:30 am
Visit website for Zoom Information Sessions

Conshohocken

AIM Academy
1200 River Rd.
215-483-2461; AIMPA.org
AIM provides extraordinary, educational opportunities through a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum to children in grades 1–12. AIM is the Philadelphia area’s largest school for children with language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. Students experience an innovative, research-based curriculum and a range of elective and extracurricular arts, music, club and athletic opportunities. Discover AIM for Innovative Teaching and Fearless Learning.
Virtual Information Sessions: Sept. 25, Oct. 9, Oct. 25, Nov. 6, Nov. 15, Dec. 6, Dec. 11, 9 am

Malvern

The Reach Group
484-202-0322; TheReachGroup.net
Introducing The REACH Group, LLC: your trusted partner in navigating the special education journey. Co-founded by Kristin K. Meyer, Ed.D., and Dana Emery, M.Ed., they provide personalized support from diagnosis through graduation, bridging gaps between families and schools. Committed to inclusive education, they empower parents with the knowledge and tools to advocate for their child’s needs, ensuring tailored support for children with disabilities throughout their educational experience.
Visit their website to learn more

Multiple Locations

Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services
484-798-5752; [email protected]
Enrolling students at all locations: Downingtown, West Chester, Landenberg, Audubon, Malvern.
Accepting Kindergarten students at multiple schools. Since 1912, Devereux has offered outstanding and innovative educational programming, offering five PDE Approved Private Schools in Chester County and one PDE Approved Private School in Montgomery County. Small classroom ratios allow for individualized instruction/support in a safe and therapeutic setting for students with a variety of learning differences. Devereux nurtures students’ potential by implementing school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and offering community-based instruction, school-based mental health services and a continuum of related services. PDE 4010 funding available.
Schedule a tour today

LifeWorks Schools
215-489-3028; LifeWorksSchools.com
Three campuses: Media, Doylestown and Levittown
LifeWorks Schools are nationally accredited, private licensed academic institutions serving students in grades 1–12+. They offer autistic support and emotional support classrooms designed to maximize the potential of the students they serve by providing innovative, compassionate, skills-based programming that is personalized to meet each student’s specific needs in a trauma-informed environment.
To schedule a tour, email [email protected] or call 215-489-3028, ext. 158

Centreville, DE

Centreville Layton School
6201 Kennett Pk.
302-571-0230; CentrevilleLayton.org
Centreville Layton School offers a robust educational and cultural experience for students who learn differently. The program identifies the academic and social needs of the individual and provides a curriculum that focuses on problem solving and critical thinking. Through intervention and strengthening learning strategies, the school empowers each student to reach his or her potential. Pre-K–12th grade.
Open House: First Wed. of the month, 9 to 11 am
Virtual Open House: Options available

Education Services

Mathnasium
Mathnasium.com; Phoenixville (coming soon), 484-971-4452
Collegeville, 484-973-6889; Paoli, 610-644-2306; West Chester, 484-971-4452
Glen Mills, 610-358-5555; Wilmington, 302-475-4444
Mathnasium is a math-only learning center for students of all ages, dedicated to changing lives through math. Whether your student has fallen behind and needs help, or is on grade-level and wants to go well beyond the classroom, Mathnasium can help. They are much more than math tutoring; they start with a free assessment, which allows them to build a customized learning plan catered towards your student’s specific wants and needs. Contact them to get your student started today.