Episcopal Academy
Episcopal Academy is a private college-preparatory school in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, founded in 1785 as one of the oldest Episcopal schools in the nation. The school serves approximately 1,200 students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade on a 123-acre campus in Delaware County. Episcopal Academy's combination of rigorous academics, extensive athletics, and character education in the Episcopal tradition has made it one of the premier independent schools in the Philadelphia region.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]Episcopal Academy was founded in 1785 by Bishop William White, the first Episcopal bishop of Pennsylvania, to provide education grounded in Episcopal values for young men in the new nation. The school operated in Center City Philadelphia for most of its history, educating generations of Philadelphia families. The move to Newtown Square in 2008 provided modern facilities on an expansive campus while generating controversy among alumni attached to the school's urban character.[1]
The school became coeducational in 1974, joining a nationwide movement among historically all-male schools. This transformation expanded the student body while changing institutional culture. Today's Episcopal Academy serves boys and girls from across the Philadelphia region, with the Newtown Square location drawing students from multiple counties while requiring most families to commute.[1]
Academic Programs
[edit | edit source]Episcopal Academy offers rigorous college-preparatory curriculum across lower, middle, and upper school divisions. The upper school program includes extensive Advanced Placement offerings, with students frequently earning college credit through AP examinations. The STEAM program integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics in ways that prepare students for contemporary challenges. College placement reflects academic quality, with graduates attending selective institutions nationwide.[1]
The school's character education program, grounded in Episcopal values, emphasizes integrity, respect, and service alongside academic achievement. Chapel services, community service requirements, and advisory programs address development beyond academics. This integration of character and academic education reflects the school's founding mission while adapting to contemporary understandings of whole-person education.[1]
Campus
[edit | edit source]The Newtown Square campus, opened in 2008, provides purpose-built facilities serving all aspects of the educational program. Academic buildings, arts centers, athletic facilities, and outdoor spaces occupy the 123-acre site. The campus's design enables programs that the school's former Center City location could not accommodate, including extensive outdoor athletics and environmental education.[1]
Athletic facilities include multiple fields, gymnasium, aquatic center, and fitness facilities serving the school's extensive athletic program. The arts center provides spaces for visual arts, music, and theater. The campus's scale and facilities distinguish Episcopal Academy from urban independent schools operating in more constrained settings.[1]
Athletics
[edit | edit source]Episcopal Academy competes in the Inter-Academic League against other Philadelphia-area independent schools. The school fields teams in numerous sports across three seasons, with high participation rates and competitive success. Football, lacrosse, basketball, soccer, swimming, and other sports provide opportunities for students across ability levels while championship teams compete for league and state titles.[1]
The athletic program emphasizes participation alongside competition, with most students playing at least one sport. This broad participation reflects understanding that athletics contribute to development beyond physical fitness, teaching teamwork, perseverance, and other qualities that academics alone may not develop.[1]