Everything You Want is Here

AN INTRODUCTION FOR PARENTS

EVERYTHING YOU WANT IS HERE MERCERSBURG AC ADEMY

A BOARDING SCHOOL LIKE NO OTHER Put down the smartphone. Mercersburg is first about friendships and relationships. Your child will be challenged to develop his or her best self, set and reach goals, and take risks. Leading a classroom conversation, speaking to a full auditorium,and writing an op-ed for the school newspaper all come more easily when you’re surrounded by friends and feel confident and supported.

“Mercersburg gave me the gift of being able to take risks. I reinforce those lessons with my own students. If they fail the first time, they learn to fix it and do it better the next time.”

—Dr. Julia Stojak Maurer ’90, Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs “You can explore what you’re interested in as deeply as you want. I feel really centered and connected. If I want to focus on something, I can do that without being distracted.”

—Eli, student, Ligonier, Pennsylvania “People told me it would be difficult to drop off Eli. The truth is, I was so happy for him. I could tell this was the right place, and I drove away feeling very confident.”

—Donna Wenzel, parent, Ligonier, Pennsylvania Mercersburg, PA | Founded in 1893 | Grades 9–12 | 430 students 170+ courses | 40+ Honors/AP/post-AP courses | 26 varsity sports 90 minutes from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore and an easy drive from New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Coming to a one-of-a-kind school is a life-changing adventure— for both your child and you. I know the feeling. I recently moved my family from the shores of Rhode Island to the mountains of Pennsylvania to join the Mercersburg community.

Mercersburg is our new home, and I hope it will become your child’s second home.

I love this place. The town of Mercersburg resembles the small Vermont town of my childhood, and our school reflects the ideals of small community living. Here we celebrate rich traditions, some dating to 1893, while embracing an innovative and unique curriculum. As an educator, I appreciate the sheer breadth of our academics, arts, and athletics. Few schools rival the opportunities available to your child here, and our residential and social experiences embody a culture of genuine caring.

Call us and arrange a campus tour. Visiting Mercersburg is important. You’ll have the chance to talk to students and teachers, explore our 300-acre campus, and begin seeing that Mercersburg is one of the finest proving grounds for college and life.

Katherine M. Titus, Head of School

Call us: 717.328.6173

A C ADE MICS DEFINED

BY FRIENDLY RIGOR With more than 170 courses—a quarter of them geared to advanced learning (Honors, AP, post-AP)—your child can accelerate at his or her own pace as gifted teachers nurture, support, and inspire. Our academics provide a solid foundation during critical developmental years. Four years of college counseling, built-in SAT/ACT prep, and senior capstone courses are advantages for all students.

“At a school like Mercersburg, we have the freedom—and the privilege—to make many extraordinary learning moments possible each day.”

—John David Bennett, English Department Chair “One quality unique to Mercersburg is humility. This is not a school for families concerned about their place in the social pecking order. We are families for whom education is a huge priority.”

—Steve Morris ’83, parent, Hickory, North Carolina

A CULTURE OF INCLUSION Your child will make friends and feel comfortable and accepted from day one. Mercersburg’s community relies on everyone— students, faculty, families—making positive contributions and embracing a shared purpose rooted in trust and respect. From the Harkness table and playing field to the dorm hall and familystyle meals, our distinctive culture shines through.

“It’s amazing to know your students so well, to sit down and share meals together. That’s the kind of connection an excellent boarding school makes possible.”

—Emily Howley, Director of Springboard and History Faculty “Here it’s always a firm hi, hello, or wave. You acknowledge everyone.

We go beyond just being friends. There’s a deep sense of caring.”

—Michaela, student, Woodmore, Maryland

N E W YO RK 240 miles P I T TSBU RGH 150 miles P H I L A DE L P H I A 180 miles

G E T T YS B U RG 50 miles

MERCERSBURG ACADEMY

www.mercersburg.edu 717.328.6173

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WA S H IN GTO N , D.C. 90 miles BA LT I M O R E 96 miles

Mercersburg Academy abides by both the spirit and the letter of the law in all its employment and admission policies. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or national or ethnic origin.