The Philadelphia area has an incredible variety of great schools--both public and private--so it…read moreoften comes down to "fit"--for your child/children and for your family. My husband and I toured and researched many schools in the area when our kids were first starting school and in the end, we decided Shipley was the perfect fit for us and for our children. I'll also add that as they have grown & evolved as learners (and they are very different kids), the fit still feels right for both. We were looking for a strong academic program, but our family believes that education is not just about test scores. Preparing our children for success in life is about values, self-confidence, friendships, and respect ....as well as excellent academics. We found that educational mission at Shipley. Also, as our kids have gotten older (now in middle & high school), I appreciate the "positive peer culture" that exists at Shipley. As they begin to look more to their classmates & teammates for cues about how to behave and what choices to make, I am grateful that their circles of friends take school seriously and care about the community they are part of. It is truly the teachers and coaches and other adults in the community that make Shipley so special. Yes, there are great facilities (as there are at most of the schools in this area) but it is the faculty that sets Shipley apart. They truly know my kids--their strengths, their weaknesses, ways to motivate them, where to support them, and when to push them outside of their comfort zone... They also embrace and celebrate the many different ways children learn. The teachers are just fabulous--they are proactive and engaged in student life and they respond to each child's needs--at whatever point they are in their academic and social development. The curriculum is responsive to the needs of the students while the academic vision is always pushing the envelope. Shipley does not have one model of a "successful graduate" that they are teaching towards - rather the teachers strive to find each student's unique gifts and talents and then help them become the best versions of themselves, in a holistic way. I really like that about Shipley, and I see my kids (who are so different from each other) developing along their own tracks and finding success and confidence in doing so.

I graduated from The Shipley School in 2013 and my four years there as a student were the most…read morememorable and growth stimulating years of my life. When people think of Shipley they have assumptions of the demographics of the community. I admit I did. I myself come from the inner-city and a middle class income, and was nervous entering. Nevertheless, I never felt different. Shipley is a welcoming community, one that accepts everyone, that grants chances to those chances aren't usually given, Shipley is a community here to help prepare its students for the future. There is support beyond measure from the teachers, administration, students, families, everyone, because we are one. Before Shipley I didn't know what it meant to be selfless, however once put into the community I learned the meaning and I begin to embody it in everyday life. Growing up in the city and going to school there it was like a being a crab in the barrel, no matter how close you were to the top, someone pulled you down. I was never taught to uplift others. Instead I focused on myself and my own success. Shipley showed me to be successful I need a team and to uplift others because their success is just as important as mine. As I finish college and begin to truly embark on this journey of life I am nothing but grateful for Shipley building the foundation of the young woman I am today. I have defied statistics and because of the risks they encouraged me to take. I have gained a confidence that can never be broken. I will never again think of myself as a crab in the barrel. I am an individual who matters. Most importantly I know I am never alone in this world and I will forever use the teams I build over time to create success of everyone involved.

Better off going to Merion - constant switching of head of school and seem to only care about money.read more

I went to school there a year and immediately left. The kids were not nice at all, the classes…read moreweren't academically challenging, and the environment was not healthy.

The girls r mean and cheaters. They have no sense of humor and they are really rude. They are also…read morerude to the teachers.

Baldwin is a school where the faculty consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty for their…read morestudents. Students here are more than classmates, they are sisters. This school changed my mind about private education, these students continuously impress, push boundaries, and excel in every facet of life. Long live Baldwin.

The Haverford School is one of the premier educational organizations anywhere, providing its…read morestudents with a top notch education and emphasizing the importance of being a strong writer.

Class of '95 here…read more What can I say about this place? A decade plus removed from it, I don't keep in touch with many of the people, though not for their own fault or mine. I value the education I got here tremendously - from Mr Duffany's excruciating but valuable sentence diagram the the late Señor Laserna's Spanish, which lasts with me still. I loved rowing crew and Doc Kinney's art class/introspective therapy sessions, could have done without some of the cookie-cutter jackasses and senses of entitlement. But all in all it was a good school for the area, one I think of with mostly fond memories, and I wish only the best for this place.

Absolutely love being a part of the Coopertown community. The entire staff from principal, to…read moreoffice workers, to janitors, bus drivers and teachers, everyone has been super supportive and goal oriented while solving problems. Thanks to the care and attention of everyone there my young daughter absolutely loves school and learning and that is a big deal when starting our educational journey through the Haverford school system. 5 stars isn't enough, everyone working there deserves the greatest gratitude. For goodness sakes, pay these people a fair wage!

when I was a 5th grader. the teacher wasn't in class so I had to awnser the phone. I picked it up…read moreand it was the principal saying she wanted to talk to my teacher. There was a teacher in the hall and she told me to hang up or put her on hold I don't specifically remember. But I hanged up the phone. I wasn't a joking type kid since I was quiet. So I wouldn't do this type thing on purpose. The next part is the part is about this principal with curly blond hair. She stormed down to the classroom very angry. And asked the class who picked up the phone. I can't remember if my classmates said me or I said me. By this time the teacher in the hall was gone. So she took me outside or in the classroom and humiliated me and yelled at me. Told me I had lunch detention and I was crying cuz I felt bad but I really didn't do anything wrong. This was this ladies issue she decided to vent on a little kid. I was a really good kid I made a small mistake but the princepal with blonde curly hair and an ego decided to take it to a whole other level and ruin my day. Made me take a slip home to get signed by my parents. Anyways shoutout to the really cool teachers that use to work there in the early 2010's ive never really had a problem with any of the teachers all are quite nice when I went there. Shoutout ms Bennet, ms Kennedy ik there was other cool teachers there but those were the kindest souls and I hope there doing well.

Out of all of the excellent area schools, both private and public, we chose Friends School…read moreHaverford (FSH). Initially, we were drawn to the play-centered learning approach for the younger children, however, there was so much more from which to benefit. The teachers and staff consider the whole child, their social, emotional, and intellectual development. Guided by Quaker principles, the community is at the heart of its mission. The children are taught to discover and appreciate the uniqueness of themselves and others. I always feel informed with weekly updates, class newsletters, and monthly breakfast meetings with the principal. Lower student-teacher ratios increase children's engagement and allow for individual needs to be more easily met at FSH. Hearing my child say he loves school is the way it should be for all kids!

We have been apart of the Friends School Haverford Community since 2018. Our son joined FSH in the…read more2nd grade. Over the last four years we have witnessed his growth both academically and socially. The relationships that he has developed with the teachers, staff and his classmates has help to mold him into a kind, intelligent funny kid. As parents we too have developed long standing friendships with the parents of FSH. FSH not only poured into our sons life but ours as well. The Griers

My children have attended the center. I cannot say enough good things about the program. Most…read moreimportantly, I know that my child is safe and loved. The bonus is that they come home every day having learned something new. Thanks

Figured I'd post a review since I wish there were reviews when I was looking for them. Bottom line…read moreis, among other centers in Bryn Mawr, this is probably a better one just because of large rooms and fairly small number of children in those rooms (as compared to Cambridge school in Baldwin where those kids are like sardines in a can). But that's about it. The teachers were not engaging, every time I dropped my kid off, sometimes as late as 9.15am, they were yapping with each other. Every time I came to pick up, again even as early as 4.30-5, the kids were playing on their own while the girls were chatting. When they actually did circle time, I'm not sure. Apparently there was a time because my child learned Apples and bananas song in one year! And in comparison to our new daycare, the kid has mastered sooooo much: songs, letters, numbers, games, space, anatomy - you name it. I believe the 3 year olds had a nice teacher, we would always peek in their room and get jealous of the kids that actually do something. And I think the infants teacher knows what she's doing, but 1 and 2 year olds - you'd be better of to keep looking, preferably outside of a Bryn Mawr if logistics allow. Unless they switched up the teachers and got some that actually care about kids.

After evaluating many schools, we found MLCA to be the right fit for our child. With a focus on…read moreFrench fluency, classical literature, music (piano and violin), and hands on nature and science skills - the school can be a great fit for certain children. Note the school is relatively small and does not have sports outside of gym class. If you think a "liberal arts college for kids" makes sense, this could be the place for your child.

We feel truly blessed to have found MLCA! When researching…read moreschools, what stood out right away was the clarity of its priorities: real content, meaningful learning, and a rigorous, rich curriculum delivered in a way that's age-appropriate and joyful. For years, we've happily driven our daughter all the way from the city so she could attend, because it felt too important not to make it work.MLCA students' mastery across diverse subjects such as history, math, French, art history, and piano is truly impressive for children of their age. But just as striking is the wholesome, grounded atmosphere in which kids can be kids, treat one another with kindness, and learn without unhealthy competition. "Classical" at MLCA feels welcoming rather than stiff, with families bringing different perspectives while sharing a commitment to serious learning. I especially think MLCA can be a great fit for expat families who are looking for a curriculum more similar to that of European schools and who would like their kids to be challenge without any of the unhealthy competition an obsession over test scores.