Mercersburg Academy
Overview
Why Mercersburg? Because Mercersburg Academy is a student-centered school that allows young people to define themselves through the establishment of meaningful relationships and exposure to a range of academic, extracurricular, and co-curricular opportunities. Mercersburg students actively and confidently experience the world both on campus and abroad. Mercersburg Academy believes in the value of honoring our past, engaging the present, and preparing for the future. Founded in 1893, Mercersburg Academy is committed to providing students with the opportunity to live and learn in a richly diverse community of 445 boarding and day students from 27 states, the District of Columbia, and 39 countries. Our beautiful 300-acre campus, which is home to state-of-the-art facilities, is 90 minutes from Washington, D.C., and Baltimore and within easy driving distance of Philadelphia and New York City.

Academics
Summary: Mercersburg Academy's education is second to none. You will work hard and be challenged here, but you won't be stuck in run-of-the-mill courses, and you will be surrounded by a uniquely supportive community of faculty, staff, and students. Mercersburg's rigorous curriculum is expansive, with more than 170 courses. You can shape your own academic path to pursue your passions and discover new ones. At Mercersburg Academy—whether in the classroom, in the dorm, on the stage, or on the field—the focus is not on teaching to a test. Challenge-based learning is central to our curriculum. In contrast to traditional pedagogy, we are preparing students for life in a diverse and rapidly changing world with 21st-century skills like critical thinking and problem solving, effective communication, collaboration, and information literacy.
Department Director
Student/Teacher Ratio: 4:1
Average Class Size: 11
Summer Programs: Offered
Full Time Teachers: 74
Number of AP Courses Offered: 30
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 73%
Number of IB Courses Offered: 0
Learning Support
- Evening Study Assistance
- Subject Tutoring
- Technology Center
- Writing Center
English
- Classics
- Creative Writing
- Honors
- Literature
- Playwriting
- Poetry
History
- Classical History
- European History
- Honors
- Medieval History
- United States History
- World History
Foreign Languages
- Chinese-Mandarin
- French
- Latin
- Spanish
Religion / Philosophy
- Ethics
- Philosophy
- The Bible
- World Religions
Humanities / Social Sciences
- Economics
Sciences
- Anatomy
- Astronomy
- Biology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Genetics
- Health
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Physiology
Math
- Algebra
- Calculus
- Geometry
- Honors Math
- Statistics
- Trigonometry
Computer Studies
- Multimedia
- Computer Science
Music
- Band
- Choral Music
- Individual Instructions
- Music History
- Music Theory
- Songwriting
Performing / Visual Arts
- Acting
- Art History
- Ballet
- Ceramics
- Choreography
- Dance
- Drama
- Drawing
- Journalism
- Lighting Design
- Painting
- Photography
- Pottery
- Production
- Publications
- Public Speaking
- Sculpture
- Studio Art
- Theater Arts
- Theater Design
- Woodworking
- Modern Dance
Special Programs
- Study Abroad
- Community Service
- Exchange Programs
- Independent Study
- Leadership
- Outdoor Education
Campus Life
Dorm Life
Number of Dorms: 7
Average Students Per Dorm: 0
Number of Girls Dorms: 4
Number of Boys Dorms: 3
Dorm Amenities
- Game Room
- Laundry Facilities
- Lounge
- Vending Machines
- Wireless Internet
Other Dorm Amenities
Facilities
- All-Weather Track
- Baseball Field
- Basketball Court
- Fitness Center
- Football Field
- Indoor Basketball Court
- Indoor Climbing Wall
- Indoor Pool
- Sand Volleyball Court
- Technology Center
- Volleyball Court
Other Facilities
Field House; Indoor Track; Squash Courts; Tennis Center; Turf Field
Clubs & Organizations
- Amnesty International
- Asian Club
- Chess Club
- Community Service
- Computer Club
- Debate Club
- Diversity Club
- Dorm Proctors
- Drama Club
- Environmental Club
- Foreign Language Clubs
- Gardening Club
- Honor Council
- International Club
- Jewish Student Organization
- Literary Magazine
- Math Club
- Model UN
- Newspaper
- Peer Counseling
- Peer Tutoring
- Photography Club
- Snowboarding Club
- Student Activities
- Student Government
- Student Publications
- Theater Club
- Yearbook
- Yoga Club
Arts & Athletics
Arts Department Director: Kelly Dowling
Athletics Department Director:
Notable Achievements: 2 Academy Award winners; 54 Olympians (including 12 gold medalists)
Arts
- Acting
- Art History
- Ballet
- Ceramics
- Choreography
- Dance
- Drama
- Drawing
- Journalism
- Lighting Design
- Painting
- Photography
- Pottery
- Production
- Publications
- Public Speaking
- Sculpture
- Studio Art
- Theater Arts
- Theater Design
- Woodworking
- Modern Dance
Interscholastic Sports
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country Running
- Diving
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Recreational Sports
- Alpine Skiing
- Alpine Ski Racing
- Bowling
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Dance
- Hiking
- Ice Climbing
- Kayaking
- Martial Arts
- Mountain Biking
- Outdoor Education
- Rafting
- Rock Climbing
- Snowboarding
- Table Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Weight Lifting
Graduates
College Information
Precentage of graduates who attend college: 100%
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores | Reading | Math | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
25th percentile | 600 | 610 | 610 |
75th percentile | 720 | 730 | 730 |
College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:
Notable Alumni
Jimmy Stewart
Class of 1928
Academy Award-winning actor
Walter Farley
Class of 1938
Author of The Black Stallion
Walter Pae
Class of 1967
Inventor of the transplant heart pump
James Perdue
Class of 1969
Chairman of Perdue Farms
Jim Irsay
Class of 1978
Owner of the Indianapolis Colts
Josh Edgin
Class of 2006
Pitcher for the New York Mets
Vincent Rey
Class of 2006
Linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals
Benicio Del Toro
Class of 1985
Academy Award-winning actor
Betsy Mitchell
Class of 1983
Olympic Gold Medalist
Merit
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 14%
Average Merit Scholarship: 12,347
Current Endowment Amount: $397,000,000
Vital Information
Student Body Type: Coed
Total Boarding: 372
Total Day: 70
Total Enrollment: 442
Boys: 217
Girls: 225
Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12
Day Grades Offered: 9-12
School Type: High School
Dress Code: Other
Applications Accepted: SAO
Application Deadline: January 31st
Tuition & Financial Aid
7-Day Boarding: $64,150
5-Day Boarding: N/A
Day Tuition Fee: $38,025
Need-Based Aid: Offered
Payment Plans: Offered
Students Receiving Aid: 50%
Average Awarded: $36,573
School Finances
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 14%
Average Merit Scholarship: $12,347
Current Endowment Amount: $397,000,000
Contact
Director of Admissions: Zach Swope
Admissions Phone: 717-328-6173
Fax: 717-328-6319
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.mercersburg.edu
Nearby Schools
- Saint James School - 19mi / 31 km
- Foxcroft School - 57mi / 92 km
- Grier School - 59mi / 94 km
- Randolph-Macon Academy - 65mi / 104 km
- Sandy Spring Friends School - 67mi / 108 km
- Garrison Forest School - 67mi / 108 km








