The Hill School

860 Beech Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
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The Hill School Photo #1 - The Hill School sets a high standard for students in their dress and appearance to express pride in themselves and their respect for one another. Academic Dress is worn throughout the academic day whenever students are in an academic or public area, chapel services, sit-down meals, required evening performance, or any other designated occasion.
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The Hill School Photo #1 - The Hill School sets a high standard for students in their dress and appearance to express pride in themselves and their respect for one another. Academic Dress is worn throughout the academic day whenever students are in an academic or public area, chapel services, sit-down meals, required evening performance, or any other designated occasion.
The Hill School Photo #2 - All students are required to attend sit-down family-style meals together in the Dining Room for lunch, and boarding students attend seated dinners several nights a week. Faculty members and their families join the students in a relaxed, yet formal atmosphere, where they enjoy interaction with one another outside of the classroom.
The Hill School Photo #3 - Boarding students reside on campus in one of six dormitory complexes. Faculty members and their families live in apartments in each dorm.
The Hill School Photo #4 - The Hill School's beautiful campus includes two new artificial turf fields (for lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer), a new 8-lane track, and a new pavilion (with snack bar, team rooms, rest rooms, and viewing area).
The Hill School Photo #5 - The Hill School sets a high standard for students in their dress and appearance to express pride in themselves and their respect for one another. Academic Dress is worn throughout the academic day whenever students are in an academic or public area, chapel services, sit-down meals, required evening performance, or any other designated occasion.
The Hill School Photo #6 - Boarding students reside on campus in one of six dormitory complexes. Faculty members and their families live in apartments in each dorm.
The Hill School Photo #7 - Boarding students reside on campus in one of six dormitory complexes. Faculty members and their families live in apartments in each dorm.
The Hill School Photo #8 - Boarding students reside on campus in one of six dormitory complexes. Faculty members and their families live in apartments in each dorm.
Founded in 1851, The Hill School is a purposefully small and close learning community - a place where our academic excellence is based upon a challenging liberal arts curriculum; a faculty of highly qualified, dedicated teachers; a noteworthy breadth of advanced and honors course offerings; and a structured atmosphere that blends high expectations with meaningful support.

Quick Stats (2023)

  • Grades: (Boarding) 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 525 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $59,050
  • Acceptance rate: 32%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 31 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

The Hill School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 296 schools) for:

Category
Attribute
Student Test Scores

School Overview

Definition of Terms | 2022 School Data
The Hill School
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12, PG
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Supports Learning Differences (LD)
Yes
Religious Affiliation
Non-denominational
Year Founded
1851
1906
Campus Size
300 acres
125 acres

Student Body

Enrollment
525 students
315 students
% Students of Color
37%
25%
% International Students
20%
20%
% Students Boarding
79%
69%
Average SAT Score
1340
* National Avg. »View
Average ACT score
26
*National Avg. »View
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No

Academics and Faculty

Saturday Classes
No
No
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Average Class Size
12 students
12
* National Avg. »18
Student : Teacher Ratio
7:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
27
17
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
71%
71%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes

Tuition Cost

Endowment Size
$153 million
$25 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
$59,050
$62,000
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
n/a
$35,070
% Students on Financial Aid
40%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$34,500
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No

Acceptance Rate

Application Deadline
Jan. 31 / rolling
Jan. 15
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Average Percentile SSAT
80%
-
Acceptance Rate
32%
58%
Director of Admissions
Tom Eccleston
Associate Director of Admissions
Amanda Dougherty

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations
11
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Honor Council, Student Government Association, Student Prefects, The Dial (yearbook), The Hill News (newspaper), The Record (literary journal)

Arts and Music Programs:
A Capella, Chamber Choir, Chorus, Theatre, Theatre Tech

College Matriculation

Year:
10 Most Popular College Choices  (# Enrolled)

School Notes

  • Founded in 1851, The Hill School is a purposefully small and close learning community -- a place where our academic excellence is based upon a challenging liberal arts curriculum, a faculty of highly qualified, dedicated teachers; a noteworthy breadth of advanced and honors course offerings; and a structured atmosphere that blends high expectations with meaningful support. Headmaster Zachary G. Lehman is passionate about seeing Hill described as "both the most traditional and the most innovative secondary school in the country simultaneously."  To that end, The Hill School complements its traditions with an energetic level of innovation.  The School is evaluating and implementing educational technologies that allow its students to access, synthesize, and apply knowledge in new ways: quickly, collaboratively, and creatively. Over the coming years, The Hill will affirm what it already does very well while considering new curricular and co-curricular programs, finding improved ways to teach all Hill students 21st century success skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and leading, agility and adaptability, initiative and entrepreneurship, effective oral and written communication, accessing and analyzing data, and curiosity and imagination.  
  • The Hill School accreditations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • James Baker III '48 - Former Secretary of State
    • Norman Pearlstine '60 - Editor-in-chief of Time, Inc
    • Tobias Wolff '64 - Stanford University professor and critically acclaimed author of Old School
    • Oliver Stone '64 - Academy Award-winning producer/director
    • Peter S. Rummell '63 - Chairman and CEO of the Florida real estate and development firm the St. Joe Co.
    • Clark Hoyt '60 - Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Washington editor of Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services
    • Lamar Hunt '51 - Businessman, owner and founder of the Kansas City Chiefs and a creator of the American Football League
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does The Hill School cost?
The Hill School's tuition is approximately $59,050 for boarding students.
What is the acceptance rate of The Hill School?
The acceptance rate of The Hill School is 32%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 58%.
Who are famous alumni from The Hill School?
The Hill School famous alumni include: James Baker III '48, Norman Pearlstine '60, Tobias Wolff '64, Oliver Stone '64, Peter S. Rummell '63, Clark Hoyt '60 and Lamar Hunt '51.
What sports does The Hill School offer?
The Hill School offers 22 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Water Polo, Winter Track and Wrestling.
What is The Hill School's ranking?
The Hill School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High # of AP/advanced courses offered and High SSAT scores.
When is the application deadline for The Hill School?
The application deadline for The Hill School is Jan. 31 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 31 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review
Description

Class of 2016
5.00
Colorado Mesa University
A smaller number of students attend the Hill School than most other boarding schools that I know of. This allows a more personal approach to be taken by the teachers and dorm parents, the. . .

Class of 2002
5.00
Pepperdine University
The two aspects of The Hill School that make it unique are the professors' relationship with the students and the traditions at The Hill. First off, professors are involved in all aspects of school life. . .

Class of 1980
5.00
College of William and Mary (B.A., MBA)
It's been 50 years but the school has developed a partnership with the town of Pottstown which is unique across the country. Several alumni (in my class of '67, including the Governor of Pennsylvania). . .
Show more reviews (5 reviews)
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Quick Stats (2023)

  • Grades: (Boarding) 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 525 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $59,050
  • Acceptance rate: 32%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 31 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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