Mercersburg Academy
100 Academy Drive, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania 17236
(717) 328-6173
At Mercersburg Academy we embrace the values of hard work, character, and community while learning to balance independence with interdependence and individual humility with collective pride. Our students commit to a life of learning, seek to understand the spiritual nature of human existence, and develop a determination to lead and serve the world.
Founded in 1893 in southern Pennsylvania, Mercersburg Academy provides young people with the opportunity to live and learn in a vibrant and diverse community of boarding and day students from across the country and around the world. Our 300-acre campus is a place of exploration and discovery where students are embraced for who they are and empowered to define themselves and imagine their future. Mercersburg pairs top-tier academic offerings with extracurricular activities and a robust residential life program to create a transformative education.
FAST FACTS
Head of School:
Quentin McDowell
Director of Admissions:
Michael Conklin
Gender:
Co-ed
Religious Affiliation:
Nondenominational
Total Enrollment:
452
Percent Boarders:
82%
Percent International:
21%
Application Platorm(s):
Gateway and SAO
Testing Plan:
Preferred
Curriculum
Mercersburg’s curriculum offers 145 courses from its eight academic departments. Students may also pursue their passion through individualized projects. 9th and 10th grades focus on skill development so that students establish a significant foundation in all disciplines, preparing them for more independent and in-depth work in 11th and 12th grade. With most graduation requirements finished by the end of the 11th-grade year, students can explore their interests and passions during their senior year; and all students must successfully complete one of Mercersburg’s capstone experiences for upper-class students.
Programming
Our programming is extensive and quite hard to capture in a few sentences as I'm sure you can imagine! I'd like to center you on our Portrait of a Graduate, a shared community vision for our students. This allows us to thoughtfully streamline each student's Mercersburg journey without forcing a child into a particular narrative, but rather encourage them to define their own path.
Activity/Sports Requirements
We come to every game ready to play. Each year, approximately 75 percent of Mercersburg students participate in at least one sport, filling 26 varsity teams and additional junior varsity and third levels.
Dress Code
Our standard dress code is intended to foster a positive and focused learning environment, while allowing self-expression. The following is the basic foundation to our dress code. Our students are expected to be clothed from mid-thigh to armpit, may not have facial hair, headgear must be removed when inside buildings, screen-printed clothing is not allowed, and sweatpants/athletic gear is not in line with standard dress.
Seated Meals
A cherished tradition at our school is the practice of family-style dining. Weekday lunches and Monday evening semiformal dinners are shared at assigned tables, where students and faculty come together for a meal. These table groups rotate every few weeks, encouraging community building and giving students the chance to connect with a broad mix of classmates and teachers.
Study Hall
No structured study hall. In addition to the Office of Learning Services, help centers are available on campus and have open hours throughout the week during evening study hours. These include the Writing Center, Language Media Center, and Math and Science Center—all staffed by faculty members along with friendly, helpful students who have strong academic skills in that particular discipline.
Saturday Programming
We do not have classes on Saturday. Our students must partake in an afternoon PGA (performance group activity). These range from Athletics, Outdoor Education, Arts, Model UN, etc. Therefore, on Saturday, students may have a competition, event, practice, or they may have free-time. Every weekend there are scheduled student activities, which range from on-campus events to off-campus trips.
Residential Life
Dormitory living at Mercersburg Academy offers a wide range of living experiences, from Culbertson House (run by one family and housing 10 students) to Fowle Hall (which houses approximately 96 students and includes up to 14 faculty members). Each dormitory is led by a dormitory dean. The faculty and prefects who work in each dormitory set the tone for their community and are people to whom students should go with questions, concerns, and ideas about life in the dormitory. If there are general concerns about residential life, students should first see their dorm dean, then the dean of students for community life.