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The Hill School: Boarding School Profile, Background & Important Details

The Hill School

The Hill School

Pottstown, Pennsylvania, USA

Co-Ed, No Religious Affiliation

Founded in 1851, The Hill School is a coeducational independent boarding and day high school for young men and women from around the world. Hailing from 32 states and 29 countries, Hill students live and learn in a close-knit community with peers who are diverse, talented, and driven to excel.

When families visit campus, they often ask, “What makes The Hill School different from other schools?” Simply put, we are The Family Boarding School. To us that means enjoying meals together in our Dining Room, having fun and sharing laughs with friends in the dormitories, and gathering as a community for Chapel services twice per week. These traditions – fused with rigorous academics, international diversity, and real-world learning opportunities – create a transformative high school experience for every student.

SSAT Average Scores for the Hill School

According to Boarding School Review, the requirements for entrance are between 75%-85%:

SSAT scores - the Hill Image

For even more details and specifics, check out our the Hill Average SSAT scores post.

860 Beech Street
Pottstown, Pennsylvania, USA 19464
(610) 326-1000

Director of Admissions: Tom Eccleston IV ’87, P’19 ’21
Admissions Phone:(610) 326-1000Fax:610-705-1753
Email: admission@thehill.org Website: www.thehill.org

  • Application Deadline: January 31
  • Application Fee: $50
  • International Application Fee: $100
  • Accepts SSAT Standard Application Online (SAO): Yes
  • Accepts Gateway to Prep Schools Application: Yes

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Highlights of The Hill School:

Highlights - The Hill School

The Hill: At a glance

  • Founded: 1851
  • Campus Size: 200 acres
  • Grades Offered: 9th-12th
  • Accredited by: MSA
STUDENT BODY
Boarding 
Grades 9th-post-grad
Day 
Grades 9th-12th
Total
Girls18862250
Boys21065275
Total398127525

TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
SCHOOL FINANCES
  • 7-Day Boarding: $61,410
  • 5-Day Boarding: N/A
  • Day Tuition Fee: $42,370
  • Payment Plans: Offered
  • Need-Based Aid: Offered
  • Students Receiving Aid: 38.00%
  • Average Awarded: $42,450
  • Merit Scholarships: Not Offered
  • Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 0.00%
  • Average Merit Scholarship: $0
  • Current Endowment: $168,000,000
  • Per Student Endowment: $320,000

The Hill: Academics

Academic Overview by the Hill:

Academic Overview - The Hill School

Summary: Rooted in a legacy of liberal arts, our curriculum challenges students with authentic and transformative learning experiences to ensure they are prepared for the next step in their academic journey. In a nurturing yet rigorous environment, our teachers will push you outside of your comfort zone both to explore existing interests more deeply and to discover new passions. At The Hill, education continues outside of the classroom through place-based and experiential learning where students are asked to contemplate and address real-world problems.

Department Director: Mrs. Katy Hudak

Average Class Size: 12

Full Time Teachers: 61

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 69.00%

Student/Teacher Ratio: 8:1

Academic Schedule: Semester

Number of Advanced Placement Courses Offered: 28

Course Offerings (2018):

Course Offerings - The Hill School

ADVANCED/ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
SUPPORT PROGRAMS
  • AP Courses
  • Post Graduate Year
  • 37 Honors-Level Courses
  • 11 College-Level Courses
  • College Counseling
  • Evening Study Assistance
  • Peer Tutoring
  • Subject Tutoring
  • Technology Center
  • Writing Center
  • Extra Help Sessions Offered by Teachers
ENGLISH:
  • Classics
  • Creative Writing
  • Honors
  • Literature
  • Literature and Religion (Honors)
  • Journalism
HISTORY:
  • Classical History
  • European History
  • Honors
  • United States History
  • World History
  • 20th Century History
  • Comparative Government and Politics AP (College Level)
  • War Series
FOREIGN LANGUAGES:
  • Chinese-Mandarin
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Greek
  • Latin
  • Arabic
RELIGION/PHILOSOPHY:
  • Mythology
  • Philosophy
  • Religious Studies
  • Theology
  • World Religions
  • Arabic 3 (Honors)
  • Philosophy Seminar: Can Virtue Be Taught? (Honors option)
  • Advanced Latin Seminar: Religion and Philosophy (College Level)
  • Greek 3 (Honors)
  • Worldviews and World Religions (Honors option)
  • English 4 (Honors): Literature and Religion
  • Philosophy and Religion in China and Beyond (Honors option)
  • Religion and Film in Contemporary Society
HUMANITIES/SOCIAL SCIENCES:
  • Economics
  • Psychology
  • Humanities 3 AP English Language (College Level)
  • Humanities 4 AP English Literature (College Level)
  • Economics AP (College Level)
  • Advanced Economics (College Level)
  • Psychology
  • Psychology AP (College Level)
SCIENCES:
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental Science
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Integrated Science (Honors)
  • Biology AP (College Level)
  • Environmental Science AP (College Level)
  • Physics 1 AP (College Level)
  • Chemistry AP (College Level)
  • Physics C AP Mechanics (College Level)
  • Physics C AP E & M (College Level)
MATH:
  • Algebra
  • Calculus
  • Functions
  • Honors Math
  • Geometry
  • Probability
  • Statistics
  • Trigonometry
  • Integrated Math
  • Statistics AP (College Level)
  • Calculus AB AP (College Level)
  • BC/Multivariable Calculus AP (College Level)
  • Graph Theory and Proof Honors (College Level)
  • Advanced Math Seminar
  • Calculus (Honors)
  • Statistics
  • Personal Finance
COMPUTER STUDIES:
  • Multimedia
  • Introduction to Web Development
  • Computer Science Principles AP (College Level)
  • Computer Science A AP (College Level)
  • Data Structures and Algorithms Honors (College Level)
  • Underwater Robotics and Physical Computing (Honors)
MUSIC:
  • Choral Music
  • History of Music
  • Music Appreciation
  • Music Theory
  • Orchestra
  • Recording
  • Voice
  • Jazz Band
  • Class Piano
  • Digital Music
  • Introduction to Singing
  • Advanced Music Tech: Principles of Sound and Recording
  • A Cappella Groups
PERFORMING/VISUAL ARTS:
  • 3-D Design
  • Acting
  • Animation
  • Art
  • Dance
  • Debate
  • Design
  • Drama
  • Drawing
  • Fiber Arts
  • Film and Video
  • Graphic Design
  • Journalism
  • Lighting Design
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Public Speaking
  • Publications
  • Stagecraft
  • Studio Art
  • Television Production
  • Theater Arts
  • Theater Design
  • Woodworking
  • Design Thinking for Social Impact
  • Introduction to Musical Theater
  • Acting for TV and Film
SPECIAL PROGRAMS:
  • Community Service
  • Exchange Programs
  • Independent Study
  • Semester/Year Off-Campus
  • Study Abroad:
  • Placed-Based Education
DISTINCTIVE OR NEW PROGRAMS:
  • Engineering (4-year program)
    Arabic (4 levels, including a College-Level seminar)
AP COURSES AVAILABLE:
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science A
  • English Language
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • French Language
  • Comparative Government & Politics
  • US Government & Politics
  • Latin: Vergil
  • Psychology
  • Spanish Language
  • Spanish Literature
  • Statistics
  • US History
  • Economics
  • Humanities: English Language
  • Humanities: English Literature
  • Chinese
  • Studio Art: 2-D Design
  • Studio Art: 3-D Design
  • Studio Art: Drawing
  • Physics C Mechanics
  • Physics C E and M

The Hill: Campus Life

Summary: Physical health and teamwork, exposure to and appreciation for creativity and the arts, and community service are also key aspects of a Hill education. While other schools would refer to these activities as extra-curricular, at Hill these experiences are co-curricular and weaved into the academic day. Students participate in an activity of their choice each term – fall, winter, spring. Equally important is the mental and emotional well-being of every student. Hill’s Eudemonia and Flourishing programs introduce students to strategies for maintaining healthy habits, meditation, and managing stress.

Hill students and faculty know how to have fun. When the weekend comes, some students look forward to having fun with friends on campus at pep rallies, concerts, dances, dorm competitions, and student club meetings. Others choose to head off campus with friends to see a movie, shop, travel, and so much more. There is definitely something for everyone.

Department Director: John Giannikas P’20

DORM LIFE

Number of Dorms: 13

Average Students Per Dorm: 2

No. of Girls Dorms: 6

No. of Boys Dorms: 7

Dorm Amenities:

  • Laundry Facilities
  • Lounge
  • Wireless Internet
  • Vending Machines

Dress Code: Formal

STUDENT LIFE

Summary: At The Hill, a dormitory is more than a place where students sleep at the end of a busy day. Students learn by living with peers from across the United States and around the world. Whether through the weekly dorm meetings, lively “Family Nights” on Tuesday evenings, or daily interaction with peers and adults, boarding students make lifelong friends and learn important life skills in the process. Best of all, some of the most memorable, positive, and fun experiences happen within the dormitories!

As the family boarding school, The Hill provides a true second home for our students who reside on campus. Most Hill faculty members and their families reside in the dorms as dorm parents, and those who live in other faculty residences serve as affiliates to a dormitory. These faculty members support students as they learn to be independent young adults. Through caring guidance, boarding students learn the importance of respecting themselves and others, while at the same time learning to manage their time and study effectively during evening study hall.

Facilities

  • All-weather track
  • Baseball field(s)
  • Basketball court(s)
  • Fitness Center
  • Technology Center
  • Football field
  • Indoor basketball court(s)
  • Pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Squash Courts
  • Indoor Hockey Rink
  • Student Center
  • Turf Fields

Clubs and Organizations

  • Amnesty International
  • Asian Club
  • Chess Club
  • Community Service
  • Computer Club
  • Debate Club
  • Diversity Club
  • Dorm Proctors
  • Drama Club
  • Environmental Club
  • Fencing
  • Food Council
  • Foreign Language Clubs
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Honor Council
  • International Clubs
  • Investment Club
  • Jewish Student Org
  • Literary Magazine
  • Math Club
  • Mock Trial
  • Model UN
  • National Honor Society
  • Newspaper
  • Peer Counseling
  • Peer Tutoring
  • Photography
  • Snowboarding
  • Student Activities
  • Student Government
  • Student Publications
  • Theater
  • Weightlifting
  • Yearbook
  • Yoga
  • Young Democrats
  • Young Republicans
  • Operation Smile

The Hill: Arts & Athletics

Summary: AWE-INSPIRING ARTS:
The Hill offers in-depth study in visual and performing arts which allows students to showcase their talents during art exhibitions, musical festivals, vocal concerts, Broadway-like productions, and dance recitals.

ACTION-PACKED ATHLETICS:
With 31 varsity sports programs, athletics plays a vital role in every Hill student’s development. We are committed to providing an experience that develops character, emphasizes teamwork, and encourages healthy, lifelong habits.

Arts Department Director: Mr. Andy Skitko P’08 ’10

Athletics Department Director: Mr. Seth Eilberg P’22

Notable Achievements: Multiple teams won PAISAA and MAPL championships

ARTS
INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS
  • A Cappella Group
  • Art Club
  • Chamber Choir
  • Chamber Ensemble
  • Chamber Orchestra
  • Choral Music
  • Dance
  • Drama Club
  • Glee Club
  • Improvisation Group
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Stage Band
  • String Ensemble
  • Tech Crew
  • Theater
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Crew
  • Cross-Country Running
  • Diving
  • Field Hockey
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Ice Hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Water Polo
  • Wrestling
RECREATIONAL SPORTS
  • Dance
  • Equestrian
  • Fencing
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball
  • Weight Lifting
  • Yoga

The Hill: College Info

Summary: The Hill’s college counselors are committed to helping each student find the college or university best suited to the student’s aspirations, needs, and abilities. The college search and application process is a vital piece of the educational experience offered to each Hill student. Not only does this process serve as the culmination to all of the academic preparation embraced during one’s time at Hill, but, perhaps more importantly, the process also serves as a journey, a journey into an independent adulthood and further academic career for which one’s Hill experience provides the bedrock foundation. The College Counseling Office staff are eager and ready to help all students navigate that journey in a way best suited to their individual abilities and talents.

Department Director: Ellen Deitrich

COLLEGE INFORMATION

Percentage of Graduates Who Attend College: 100.00%

SAT/ACT Student Averages and Details (Class of 2018):

SAT ACT Summary - Class of 2018

Colleges attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

American University12 graduates
Babson College5 graduates
Boston College7 graduates
Boston University23 graduates
Bowdoin College3 graduates
Brown University9 graduates
Bucknell University12 graduates
Carnegie Mellon University8 graduates
Case Western Reserve University3 graduates
Catholic University of America3 graduates
Colgate University6 graduates
College of Charleston5 graduates
College of the Holy Cross3 graduates
Colorado College5 graduates
Columbia University3 graduates
Connecticut College6 graduates
Cornell University11 graduates
Dartmouth College5 graduates
Davidson College4 graduates
Dickinson College9 graduates
Drexel University8 graduates
Elon University12 graduates
Emory University8 graduates
Franklin & Marshall College13 graduates
George Washington University22 graduates
Georgetown University7 graduates
Georgia Institute of Technology5 graduates
Gettysburg College6 graduates
Hamilton College4 graduates
Hobart and William Smith Colleges10 graduates
Ithaca College3 graduates
Johns Hopkins University5 graduates
Kenyon College5 graduates
Lafayette College5 graduates
Lehigh University14 graduates
Loyola University Maryland3 graduates
Northeastern University6 graduates
Ohio Wesleyan University3 graduates
Pennsylvania State University19 graduates
Princeton University4 graduates
Purdue University5 graduates
Queen’s University (Canada)3 graduates
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute6 graduates
Rochester Institute of Technology3 graduates
Rollins College3 graduates
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology3 graduates
Saint Joseph’s University4 graduates
Sewanee: The University of the South3 graduates
Southern Methodist University3 graduates
St. Lawrence University4 graduates
Stonehill College4 graduates
Susquehanna University3 graduates
Syracuse University4 graduates
Temple University3 graduates
Trinity College7 graduates
Tulane University6 graduates
United States Military Academy4 graduates
United States Naval Academy13 graduates
University of California, Berkeley3 graduates
University of California, San Diebo4 graduates
University of Colorado at Boulder7 graduates
University of Delaware6 graduates
University of Florida5 graduates
University of Illinois/U-C6 graduates
University of Miami4 graduates
University of Michigan3 graduates
University of North Carolina/CH4 graduates
University of Pennsylvania11 graduates
University of Pittsburgh6 graduates
University of Richmond12 graduates
University of Rochester4 graduates
University of Southern California5 graduates
Ursinus College5 graduates
Vanderbilt University4 graduates
Villanova University11 graduates
Virginia Tech4 graduates
Wake Forest University7 graduates
Washington and Jefferson College4 graduates
Wesleyan University3 graduates
Williams College4 graduates
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores

25th percentile75th percentile
Critical Reading560670
Mathematics570710
Writing550690
NOTABLE ALUMNI

Tom Wolf (Class of 1967) Governor of Pennsylvania

James Baker III (Class of 1948) Former Secretary of State

Clark Hoyt (Class of 1960) Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, public editor of the “New York Times”, and former Washington editor of Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services

Norman Pearlstein (Class of 1960) Former top editor of Time, Inc. and “The Wall Street Journal,” current chief content officer of Bloomberg L.P

Tobias Wolff (Class of 1964) Stanford University professor and critically acclaimed author of “Old School” and “This Boy’s Life”

Lamar Hunt (Class of 1951) Businessman, owner and founder of the Kansas City Chiefs and a creator of the American Football League

John Backus (Class of 1942) An influential computer scientist and lead developer of the first high-level programming language (FORTRAN)

Edmund Wilson (Class of 1912) Accomplished editor, book reviewer, and author.

Juan Trippe (Class of 1917) Founder of Pan American Airlines

The Hill: Summer Programs

Department Director: Steve Notebaert

Sources: TABS, The Hill School

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