The Best Private Schools in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Huntingdon Valley. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Abington Friends School
Independent Quaker School
Abington Friends School is one of the oldest Quaker schools in the United States, offering exceptional education from preschool through 12th grade. The school emphasizes academic excellence within a values-based framework, featuring state-of-the-art facilities including a modern science center, performing arts spaces, and extensive athletic facilities. Known for its rigorous college preparatory curriculum, AFS maintains small class sizes and offers robust arts, athletics, and community service programs. The campus is located just minutes from Huntingdon Valley and serves families throughout Montgomery County and Philadelphia suburbs.
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Germantown Academy
Independent School
Germantown Academy is one of the nation's oldest non-sectarian independent schools, located just 10 minutes from Huntingdon Valley in Fort Washington. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, GA offers a comprehensive college preparatory program with particularly strong STEM, athletics, and arts departments. The 126-acre campus features modern academic buildings, extensive athletic facilities, dedicated science and technology centers, and performing arts spaces. The school maintains a 7:1 student-teacher ratio and offers extensive extracurricular opportunities including championship athletic teams, robotics programs, and community service initiatives serving the greater Philadelphia region.
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The Waldorf School of Philadelphia
Waldorf Education
The Waldorf School of Philadelphia provides a distinctive education based on Rudolf Steiner's educational philosophy, serving students from early childhood through 8th grade. Located approximately 15 minutes from Huntingdon Valley, the school emphasizes holistic development through integrated arts, hands-on learning, and nature-based education. The curriculum balances academic rigor with creative expression and practical skills, featuring dedicated outdoor classrooms, music programs, and foreign language instruction starting in first grade. The school maintains strong parent community involvement and serves families throughout Montgomery County and Northwest Philadelphia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
What are the primary private school options serving families in Huntingdon Valley, PA, and what are their educational philosophies?
While Huntingdon Valley itself is primarily residential, it is served by several prestigious private schools in the surrounding Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Notable options include Abington Friends School (in Jenkintown), known for its Quaker-based, college-preparatory education emphasizing community and inquiry; Germantown Academy (in Fort Washington), a non-sectarian, Pre-K through 12 school with a strong emphasis on academic rigor, athletics, and arts; and The Waldorf School of Philadelphia (in Germantown), which offers a holistic, arts-integrated curriculum based on the Steiner/Waldorf philosophy. Many Huntingdon Valley families also consider schools in nearby Lower Moreland and Bryn Athyn. Transportation via private bus or carpool is common.
How does Pennsylvania's tuition assistance landscape, including programs like OSTC, affect private school affordability for Huntingdon Valley residents?
Pennsylvania offers unique financial aid opportunities that benefit Huntingdon Valley families. The Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program provides scholarships to students residing in low-achieving school districts to attend a participating private school. While Huntingdon Valley is served by the highly-rated Lower Moreland Township School District, making most residents ineligible for OSTC, the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program is widely accessible. EITC provides scholarships based on financial need to Pennsylvania students regardless of their home district. Most major private schools in the area, like Germantown Academy and Abington Friends, participate in EITC and also offer substantial need-based financial aid from their own endowments, making them more accessible than the sticker tuition might suggest.
What specialized academic or extracurricular programs are distinctive to the private schools near Huntingdon Valley, PA?
The private schools in this region offer exceptional specialized programs. Germantown Academy is renowned for its extensive STEM initiatives, including robotics, advanced lab sciences, and partnerships with nearby pharmaceutical and tech companies. Abington Friends School features a nationally recognized Center for Experiential Learning, emphasizing social justice, entrepreneurship, and off-campus study. For arts-focused students, The Waldorf School of Philadelphia integrates music, theater, and handcrafts into daily learning. Furthermore, the proximity to Philadelphia allows schools to leverage the city's cultural and scientific institutions for regular enrichment, a significant advantage for Huntingdon Valley families seeking an education connected to a major metropolitan hub.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for competitive private schools in the Huntingdon Valley area, and how far in advance should we plan?
The admission process for top-tier schools like Abington Friends and Germantown Academy is highly structured and begins well over a year in advance. Prospective families should start researching and attending open houses in the fall, 18-24 months before desired entry (e.g., fall 2023 for fall 2024 kindergarten). Application deadlines are typically in early January for the following academic year. The process includes a completed application, student assessments/visits, parent interviews, teacher recommendations, and transcripts. Due to competitive entry points (Pre-K/K, 6th, and 9th grades), early planning is crucial. Many Huntingdon Valley families apply to multiple schools to keep options open, as waitlists are common.
For families in Huntingdon Valley's excellent public school district, what are the key factors that might justify choosing a local private school?
While the Lower Moreland Township School District is highly rated, families in Huntingdon Valley often choose private schools for specific philosophical alignments or programmatic needs. Key differentiators include: a desire for a particular educational approach (e.g., Quaker values at AFS or Waldorf's developmental model), smaller average class sizes and more individualized attention, a specific religious or ethical framework, or specialized programs in arts, STEM, or experiential learning not available in the public curriculum. Additionally, some seek the continuity of a Pre-K through 12 campus or a different social and extracurricular environment. The decision often hinges on finding the best "fit" for a child's unique learning style and family values, rather than a reflection on the quality of the local public schools.
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