Learning New Tricks
Private high schools embrace nimbleness and creativity in a year unlike any other.
by Bill Donahue

A new school year is underway, and students have returned to their respective campuses … some of them, anyway. In 2020, the word unprecedented has been used more times than most of us care to remember, and it certainly applies to a school year in which many students remain ensconced at home, learning by the soft glow of a computer screen. Others are back on campus, though with some noticeable changes—masks, social distancing, adjusted class schedules—with well-thought-out contingency plans in the event that conditions change.
 
Philadelphia and its suburbs have long been home to some of the nation’s finest educational institutions, including too many prestigious private high schools to list here. Known for their inspiring educators, rigorous academic curricula, and smaller class sizes, these schools offer a comprehensive educational experience designed to help students become lifelong learners and begin finding out who they wish to be. These campuses also have vast athletic facilities and other extracurricular resources that might make some college campuses blush.
 
Given the threat posed by COVID-19, private schools had embraced an abundance of new tools designed to foster connection between student and teacher, whether the learning happens in person or remotely. Also, now more than ever, educators are working together to identify best practices for teaching students in the safest and most effective manner possible.
 
“There’s more collaboration in education than has happened in the past, both in schools and between schools,” says Kevin P. Burke, principal of Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem. “All of us are doing things differently, and we can learn from each other. Through this disruption, we’re proving that we’re a vital, nimble, and caring industry.”
 
To his point, each of the schools listed herein deserve high praise—high marks, as it were—not only for their commitment to teaching the whole student, but also for their creativity and flexibility during a school year unlike any other. In fact, schools are already using lessons from the past six or seven months to help students learn a thing or two about overcoming adversity, staying agile, and preparing for the challenges to come. 
 
2020 Private High Schools
BUCKS COUNTY
Archbishop Wood High School 
Warminster
archwood.org
 
Conwell-Egan Catholic High School
Fairless Hills
conwell-egan.org
 
Faith Christian Academy
Quakertown
my-fca.com
 
George School
Newtown
georgeschool.org
 
Holy Ghost Preparatory School 
Bensalem
holyghostprep.org
 
Plumstead Christian School
Plumsteadville
plumsteadchristian.org
 
Solebury School
New Hope
solebury.org
 
Villa Joseph Marie High School
Holland
vjmhs.org
 
CHESTER COUNTY
Bishop Shanahan High School 
Downingtown
shanahan.org
 
Church Farm School
Exton
gocfs.net
 
Delaware Valley Friends School
Paoli
dvfs.org 
 
Devon Preparatory School 
Devon
devonprep.com
 
Malvern Preparatory School 
Malvern
malvernprep.org
 
The Phelps School
Malvern
thephelpsschool.org
 
Villa Maria Academy High School
Malvern
vmahs.org 
 
Westtown School
West Chester
westtown.edu
 
DELAWARE COUNTY
Academy of Notre Dame de Namur 
Villanova
ndapa.org
 
Archbishop John Carroll High School
Radnor
jcarroll.org
 
Delaware County Christian School
Newtown Square
dccs.org
 
Episcopal Academy
Newtown Square
episcopalacademy.org
 
Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School
Drexel Hill
bonnerprendie.com

Sacred Heart Academy of Bryn Mawr
Bryn Mawr
shabrynmawr.org
 
The Shipley School 
Bryn Mawr
shipleyschool.org
 
Valley Forge Military Academy & College
Valley Forge
vfmac.edu
 
Woodlynde School
Strafford
woodlynde.org
 
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Abington Friends School
Jenkintown
abingtonfriends.net
 
The Agnes Irwin School 
Rosemont
agnesirwin.org
 
AIM Academy 
Conshohocken
aimpa.org
 
The Baldwin School 
Bryn Mawr
baldwinschool.org  
 
Bishop McDevitt High School
Wyncote
mcdevitths.org 
       
Dock Mennonite Academy
Lansdale
dock.org 
 
Friends’ Central School
Wynnewood
friendscentral.org
 
Germantown Academy
Fort Washington
germantownacademy.net
 
Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
Gwynedd Valley
gmahs.org
 
The Haverford School
Haverford
haverford.org
 
The Hill School
Pottstown
thehill.org
 
Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy
Bryn Mawr
jbha.org
 
La Salle College High School 
Wyndmoor
lschs.org
 
Merion Mercy Academy 
Merion Station
merion-mercy.com
 
Mount Saint Joseph Academy 
Flourtown
msjacad.org
 
Perkiomen School
Pennsburg
perkiomen.org
 
St. Basil Academy 
Jenkintown
stbasilacademy.org
 
West-Mont Christian Academy 
Pottstown
west-mont.org
 
PHILADELPHIA
The Crefeld School
Chestnut Hill
crefeld.org
 
Friends Select School
Center City
friends-select.org
 
Germantown Friends School
Germantown
germantownfriends.org
 
Nazareth Academy High School
Northeast Philadelphia
nazarethacademyhs.org
 
Roman Catholic High School
Center City
romancatholichs.com
 
St. Joseph’s Preparatory School
North Philadelphia
sjprep.org
 
West Catholic Preparatory High School
West Philadelphia
westcatholic.org
 
DELAWARE
Archmere Academy
Claymont
archmereacademy.com
 
Salesianum School
Wilmington
salesianum.org
 
The Tatnall School
Wilmington
tatnall.org
 
Ursuline Academy
Wilmington
ursuline.org
 
NEW JERSEY
The Hun School 
Princeton
hunschool.org
 
The Lawrenceville School
Lawrenceville
lawrenceville.org
 
Notre Dame High School
Lawrenceville
ndnj.org
 
The Pennington School
pennington.org
 
Princeton Day School
Princeton
pds.org
 
Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart
Princeton
stuartschool.org
 
The Wilberforce School
Princeton
wilberforceschool.org
 
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life magazine, September 2020.