300 East Seminary Street, Mercersburg, PA 17236 - 
Map
Map
tel: (717)328-6173
Located on a 300-acre campus 90 minutes from Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Mercersburg Academy offers a rigorous curriculum of 156 academic courses to 430 boarding and day students from 30 states and 34 nations. Distinctive features: $182 million endowment; $4.8 million in financial aid; more than 70 percent of faculty hold advanced degrees; 5:1 student-faculty ratio; 41 AP/Honors courses; study abroad opportunities in Chile, China, and Germany; 26 competitive varsity athletic teams; 45,000 volume Lenfest Library; 10-court Davenport Squash Center; 14-court Smoyer Tennis Center; 65,000 sq ft. Burgin Center for the Arts; newly renovated Nolde Gymnasium. Graduates go on to the nation’s top colleges and universities. Alumni include 7 Rhodes Scholars, 12 Olympic gold medalists, 2 Academy Award Winners, and a Nobel laureate.
Watch School Video:
Click image below to play video
Top 20 Placements: All Schools, Similar Size Schools
Listed among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 301 schools) for:
Overview: |
Mercersburg Academy
|
Boarding School Avg.
|
| Definition of Terms | ||
| School Focus | College Preparatory | College Preparatory |
| Grades Offered. | 9-12, PG | 9-12 |
| School Type | Co-ed | Co-ed |
| Support for ADD/ADHD Students | No | No |
| Religious Affiliation | Non-denominational | Non-denominational |
| Year Founded | 1893 | 1906 |
| Campus Size | 300 acres | 125 acres |
| Student Body | ||
| Enrollment | 430 students | 296 students |
| Percent Students of Color | 18% | 18% |
| Percent International Students | 22% | 18% |
| Percent Students Boarding | 85% | 69% |
| Average SAT Score | 1830 | * National Avg. »View |
| SAT range (25th-75th percentile) | 1650 - 1980 | - |
| Offers Post-Grad Year | Yes | No |
| Academics and Faculty | ||
| Saturday Classes | No | No |
| Classroom Dress Code | Casual | Casual |
| Average Class Size | 12 students | 12 *National School Avg. » 20 |
| Teacher : Student Ratio | 8:1 | 1:7 |
| # of AP/Advanced Courses Offered | 41 | 14 |
| ESL Courses Offered | No | Yes |
| % Faculty with Advanced Degree | 71% | 64% |
| Summer Program Offered | Yes | Yes |
| Finances | ||
| Endowment Size | $193 million | $14 million |
| Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students) | $46,950 | $42,800 |
| Yearly Tuition (Day Students) | $35,150 | $23,900 |
| Percent Students on Financial Aid | 49% | 34% |
| Average Financial Aid Grant | $24,950 | $18,500 |
| Merit Scholarships Offered | Yes | No |
| Admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan. 31 | Jan. 15 |
| SSAT Required | Yes | Yes |
| Acceptance Rate | 34% | 60% |
| Director of Admissions | Tommy Adams | |
| Associate Director of Admissions | Amy Mohr | |
Course Listings: |
||
| List of Courses Offered | Link to List of Courses | |
AP / Advanced Courses: |
||
| # of AP/Advanced Courses Offered | 41 | 14 |
AP/Advanced Courses
|
||
| http://www.mercersburg.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=125052 | ||
Sports: |
||
| Total Interscholastic Sports Offered | 18 | 13 |
Interscholastic Sports
|
||
| Baseball | Basketball | |
| Cross Country | Dance | |
| Diving | Field Hockey | |
| Football | Golf | |
| Lacrosse | Soccer | |
| Softball | Squash | |
| Swimming | Tennis | |
| Track and Field | Volleyball | |
| Winter Track | Wrestling | |
College Matriculation: |
||
| Year: 2007-2010 | 10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
|
|
| New York University | 12 | |
| University of Richmond | 10 | |
| Dickinson College | 9 | |
| College of Charleston | 8 | |
| Pennsylvania State University | 8 | |
| Bucknell University | 6 | |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 6 | |
| University of Pennsylvania | 6 | |
| Duke University | 4 | |
| Georgetown University | 4 | |
| Link to Matriculation Data | ||
School Notes:
- Mercersburg’s academic program provides students with knowledge and skills to serve the larger community, to succeed in higher education, and to engage in learning as a life-long occupation. To that end, the curriculum offers a breadth of preparation within the framework of eight basic disciplines: English, fine arts, history, language, mathematics, physical education, religion, and science. Academic competencies stressed across all departments include rational thinking; organizing information; writing; oral expression; evaluating and discerning relationships among ideas; and reading, listening and observing with understanding and a critical attitude. Mercersburg Academy prepares young men and women from diverse backgrounds for college and for life in a global community. Students at Mercersburg pursue a rigorous and dynamic curriculum while learning to live together harmoniously in a supportive residential environment. Mercersburg's talented faculty instill in students the value of hard work and the importance of character and community as they teach students to think for themselves, to approach life thoughtfully and creatively, to thrive physically, to act morally, to value the spiritual dimension of human existence, and to serve others. To learn more about Mercersburg Academy please visit www.mercersburg.edu
- School accreditations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Jimmy Stewart '28 - Actor, Academy Award winner
- Benicio Del Toro '85 - Actor, Academy Award and Golden Globe winner
- Melvin Stewart, Jr. '88 - Olympic Gold Medalist, 200-meter Butterfly (Olympic Record), Barcelona, 1992; Olympic Gold Medalist, 400-meter Medley Relay and 800-meter Freestyle Relay, Barcelona, 1992
- Michael Davies '85 - Emmy Winning Producer, ABC's Who wants to be a Millionaire?
- Mark Talbott '78 - Top-ranked professional squash player in the world from 1983-1995; one of the 15 inaugural inductees into the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame.
- Dr. Lucian Leape '48 - Harvard professor and father of the modern patient safety movement in the United States
- Profile last updated: 11/01/2011
School Map:
Get:driving directions 
Weather: 10-day forecast or monthly climate averages.
Nearby Boarding Schools:
- Saint James School - 215 students - 19.4 mi. away - view location
- Foxcroft School - 157 students - 60.0 mi. away - view location
Tip: Zoom in/out using the slider below. View aerial photos using the Satellite or Hybrid buttons.
- Co-ed school
- Boys school
- Girls school
Note: Data has been gathered from schools, government and commercial data sources.
Quick Links:
- Request:
Info / application from Mercersburg Academy - Go:
Visit school website, 
Add to my saved schools - List: More boarding schools in Pennsylvania
- Use: Search schools tool, Compare schools tool, More research tools
- Return to: Boarding school directory
- Get help: Find an educational consultant & get expert advice
Recent Boarding School Articles:
-
How To Pay for Boarding School
Because paying for boarding school involves so much money, let's look at the options available to you. -
How Private Schools Evolved in the United States
Private schools came first. Then public education took root. -
Boarding Schools in a Minute
Boarding Schools in a Minute gives an overview of independent high schools in North America. -
The Boarding School Application Process
Applying to boarding school requires completing a sheaf of forms. We look at how to accomplish this important task. -
5 More Schools and Their Founders
A private school in its infancy is quite different from the mature community it becomes over time. I wonder what the founders of these five schools would think about them today. I bet they would be very proud of their creations.
