List of the oldest private schools in the United States

Last updated

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

The following are the oldest private schools in the United States that are still in operation. The list does not include schools that have closed or consolidated with another school to form a new institution. The list is ordered by date of creation, and currently includes schools founded before 1800.

Current School NameFounding YearCity/LocationStateStudent BodyGrades ServedResidential TypeReligious AffiliationNotesReferences
Collegiate School 1628New York CityNew YorkBoys OnlyK-12DayNon-SectarianChartered in 1638 [1]
Roxbury Latin School 1645West RoxburyMassachusettsBoys Only7-12DayNon-Sectarian [2]
Hopkins School 1660New HavenConnecticutCoeducational7-12DayNon-Sectarian [3]
Friends Select School 1689PhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaCoeducationalPK-12DayQuaker [4]
William Penn Charter School 1689PhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaCoeducationalPK-12DayQuaker [5]
Abington Friends School 1697JenkintownPennsylvaniaCoeducationalPK-12DayQuaker [6]
Trinity School 1709New York CityNew YorkCoeducationalK-12DayNon-Sectarian [7]
Ursuline Academy 1727New OrleansLouisianaGirls OnlyPK-12DayCatholic [8]
Norfolk Academy 1728NorfolkVirginiaCoeducational1-12DayNon-Sectarian [9]
Moravian Academy 1742BethlehemPennsylvaniaCoeducationalPK-12DayMoravian Church [10]
St. Francis Academy1743BallyPennsylvaniaCoeducationalK-8DayCatholic [11]
West Nottingham Academy 1744ColoraMarylandCoeducational9-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [12]
Linden Hall 1746LititzPennsylvaniaGirls Only6-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [13]
Wilmington Friends School 1748WilmingtonDelawareCoeducationalPK-12DayQuaker [14]
Germantown Academy 1759Fort WashingtonPennsylvaniaCoeducationalPK-12DayNon-Sectarian [15]
The Governor's Academy 1763ByfieldMassachusettsCoeducational9-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [16]
Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School 1764New York CityNew YorkCoeducationalPK-12DayNon-Sectarian [17]
Rutgers Preparatory School 1766SomersetNew JerseyCoeducationalPK-12DayNon-Sectarian [18]
Salem Academy 1772Winston-SalemNorth CarolinaGirls Only9-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [19]
Newark Academy 1774LivingstonNew JerseyCoeducational6-12DayNon-Sectarian [20]
Phillips Academy Andover 1778AndoverMassachusettsCoeducational9-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [21]
Plymouth Meeting Friends School1780Plymouth MeetingPennsylvaniaCoeducationalPK-6DayQuaker [22]
Phillips Exeter Academy 1781ExeterNew HampshireCoeducational9-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [23]
Derby Academy 1784HinghamMassachusettsCoeducationalPK-8DayNon-Sectarian [24]
Friends School of Baltimore 1784BaltimoreMarylandCoeducationalPK-12DayQuaker [25]
Harrisburg Academy 1784WormleysburgPennsylvaniaCoeducationalPK-12DayNon-Sectarian [26]
Moses Brown School 1784ProvidenceRhode IslandCoeducationalPK-12DayQuaker [27]
Moorestown Friends School 1785MoorestownNew JerseyCoeducationalPK-12DayQuaker [28]
Episcopal Academy 1785Newtown SquarePennsylvaniaCoeducationalPK-12DayEpiscopal Church [29]
Haddonfield Friends School 1786HaddonfieldNew JerseyCoeducationalPK-8DayQuaker [30]
Friends Seminary 1786New York CityNew YorkCoeducationalK-12DayQuaker [31]
Westfield Friends School 1788CinnaminsonNew JerseyCoeducationalPK-8DayQuaker [32]
Georgetown Preparatory School 1789North BethesdaMarylandBoys Only9-12Boarding/DayCatholic [33]
Alexander Robertson School1789New York CityNew YorkCoeducationalPK-5DayNon-Sectarian [34]
Berwick Academy 1791South BerwickMaineCoeducationalPK-12DayNon-Sectarian [35]
Fryeburg Academy 1792FryeburgMaineCoeducational9-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [36]
Washington Academy 1792East MachiasMaineCoeducational9-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [37]
Lawrence Academy 1793GrotonMassachusettsCoeducational9-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [38]
Cheshire Academy 1794CheshireConnecticutCoeducational9-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [39]
Buckingham Friends School 1794LahaskaPennsylvaniaCoeducationalK-8DayQuaker [40]
Oakwood Friends School 1796PoughkeepsieNew YorkCoeducational6-12DayQuaker [41]
Deerfield Academy 1797DeerfieldMassachusettsCoeducational9-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [42]
Milton Academy 1798MiltonMassachusettsCoeducationalK-12Boarding/DayNon-Sectarian [43]
Westtown School 1799West ChesterPennsylvaniaCoeducationalPK-12Boarding/DayQuaker [44]
Georgetown Visitation 1799WashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaGirls Only9-12DayCatholic [45]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johns Hopkins University</span> Private university in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Johns Hopkins University is a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins was the first American university based on the European research institution model. The university also has graduate campuses in Italy, China, and Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hockessin, Delaware</span> CDP in Delaware, United States

Hockessin is a census-designated place (CDP) in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 13,478 at the 2020 Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phillips Academy</span> Private boarding high school in Andover, Massachusetts, United States

Phillips Academy is a co-educational college-preparatory school for boarding and day students located in Andover, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. The academy enrolls approximately 1,150 students in grades 9 through 12, including postgraduate students. It is part of the Eight Schools Association and the Ten Schools Admissions Organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)</span> Place in the United States

Georgetown is a historic neighborhood and commercial district in Northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751 as part of the colonial-era Province of Maryland, Georgetown predated the establishment of Washington, D.C. by 40 years. Georgetown was an independent municipality until 1871 when the United States Congress created a new consolidated government for the entire District of Columbia. A separate act, passed in 1895, repealed Georgetown's remaining local ordinances and renamed Georgetown's streets to conform with those in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phillips Exeter Academy</span> Private boarding school in Exeter, New Hampshire, United States

Phillips Exeter Academy is a coeducational university preparatory private school for boarding and day students in grades 9 through 12, including postgraduate students. Located in Exeter, New Hampshire and founded in 1781, it is the sixth-oldest boarding school in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New England Preparatory School Athletic Council</span> Sports governing organization in the USA

The New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) is an organization that serves as the governing body for sports in preparatory schools and leagues in New England. The organization has 169 full member schools as well as 24 associate member schools. The associate member schools are from New England as well as outside the region, including Indiana, New Jersey, New York, and Ontario. The organization is headquartered in Hudson, Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of the Pacific (United States)</span> Private university in Stockton, California

University of the Pacific is a private university originally founded as a Methodist-affiliated university with its main campus in Stockton, California, and graduate campuses in San Francisco and Sacramento. It was the first university in the state of California, the first independent coeducational campus in California, and the first conservatory of music and first medical school on the West Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonial colleges</span> Nine oldest institutions of higher education in the United States

The colonial colleges are nine institutions of higher education chartered in the Thirteen Colonies before the founding of the United States of America during the American Revolution. These nine have long been considered together, notably since the survey of their origins in the 1907 The Cambridge History of English and American Literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte Country Day School</span> Private school in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Charlotte Country Day School is a private school in Charlotte, North Carolina, with classes in grades Junior Kindergarten – 12. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Southern Association of Independent Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westtown School</span> Private school in West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States

Westtown School is a Quaker, coeducational, college preparatory day and boarding school for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States, 20 miles west of Philadelphia. Founded in 1799 by the Religious Society of Friends.

The Independent School League (ISL) is an athletic conference of sixteen private college-preparatory schools in Greater Boston. Its parent organization is the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC). Founded in 1948, the ISL sponsors competitions in twenty-five sports.

Ursuline Academy is a private school in Wilmington, Delaware, which offers Early Childhood and elementary school for both girls and boys, Middle, and Upper school classes for girls. Established in 1893 by the Ursulines, it is an independent, Catholic, college-preparatory school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgetown Preparatory School</span> Jesuit college-preparatory school near Washington, D.C.

Georgetown Preparatory School is a Jesuit college-preparatory school in North Bethesda, Maryland for boys in ninth through twelfth grade. It has a 93-acre campus. It is the only Jesuit boarding school in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School</span> Private high school in Washington, D.C., United States

Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School is a private college-preparatory school for girls located in the historic Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Georgetown. Founded in 1799 by the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, it is one of the oldest continuously-operating schools for girls in the country and the city as well as the oldest Catholic school for girls in the original Thirteen Colonies. It is located within the Archdiocese of Washington, but operates independently of the Archdiocese.

The Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS) is a voluntary, non-profit consortium of independent schools in the Delaware Valley area of the United States. With headquarters in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the Association currently has 134 members located throughout eastern Pennsylvania, northern Delaware, and central and southern New Jersey.

The Delaware Independent School Conference (DISC) is a high-school athletic conference, whose members are private schools located primarily in Delaware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hopkins Academy</span> Public school in Hadley, Massachusetts, United States

Hopkins Academy is the public middle and senior high school for the town of Hadley, Massachusetts, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linsly School</span> School in Wheeling, West Virginia, United States

The Linsly School, formerly known as the Linsly Military Institute, is a boarding and day school located in Wheeling, West Virginia. It was founded in 1814 by Noah Linsly and chartered by the State of Virginia in the same year. The school is the oldest preparatory school west of the Alleghenies. It was originally known as the Lancastrian Academy.

References

  1. ↑ "Collegiate School in NY - The Oldest Independent School in the US". Collegiateschool.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "RL Fact Sheet". Roxburylatin.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "Mission & History - Hopkins School". Hopkins.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  4. ↑ "Mission and History - Friends Select School". Friends-select.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "History - Penn Charter". Penncharter.com. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "History - Abington Friends School". Abingtonfriends.net. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  7. ↑ "All About Trinity/History". Trinityschoolnyc.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  8. ↑ "Mission & Values - Ursuline Academy". Uanola.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  9. ↑ "The History of Norfolk Academy". Norfolkacademy.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  10. ↑ "Moravian Academy - Our History". Moravianacademy.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  11. ↑ "History - St. Francis Academy". Sfabally.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "West Nottingham Academy - Then and Now". Wna.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "History of Linden Hall - Linden Hall School For Girls". Lindenhall.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  14. ↑ "Wilmington Friends - Wilmington Friends I PS- 12 Quaker School in Wilmington, DE". Wilmingtonfriends.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  15. ↑ "History & Traditions of Germantown Academy - Pennsylvania". Germantownacademy.net. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  16. ↑ "The Governor's Academy: History". Thegovernorsacademy.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  17. ↑ "History - Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School". Cgps.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  18. ↑ "RPS History - Rutgers Prep School". Rutgersprep.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  19. ↑ "History - Salem Academy and College". Salemacademyandcollege.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  20. ↑ "Newark Academy - Quick Facts". Newarka.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  21. ↑ "History - Phillips Academy". Phillips Academy. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  22. ↑ "Our History - Plymouth Meeting Friends School". Pmfs1780.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  23. ↑ "About Us". Phillips Exeter Academy. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  24. ↑ "History - Derby Academy". Derbyacademy.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  25. ↑ "Friends School - Our Mission". Friendsbalt.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  26. ↑ "Then and Now - Harrisburg Academy". Harrisburgacademy.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  27. ↑ "About MB - Moses Brown School". Mosesbrown.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  28. ↑ "History - Moorestown Friends School". Mfriends.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  29. ↑ "Our History - Episcopal Academy, The". Episcopalacademy.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  30. ↑ "Haddonfield Friends School -- History". Haddonfieldfriends.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  31. ↑ "Friends By The Numbers". Friendsseminary.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  32. ↑ "Then and Now – About Us – Westfield Friends School". Westfieldfriends.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  33. ↑ "Fast Facts - Georgetown Preparatory School". Gprep.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  34. ↑ "ABOUT - Alexander Robertson School". Alexanderrobertson.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  35. ↑ "The History of Berwick Academy - Oldest Private School In Maine". Berwickacademy.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  36. ↑ "Mission & History - Fryeburg Academy". Fryeburgacademy.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  37. ↑ "About - Washington Academy". Washingtonacademy.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  38. ↑ "Boarding School in Groton, Mass. - Boston Area Day School". Lawrence Academy. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  39. ↑ "AT A GLANCE - Cheshire Academy". Cheshireacademy.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  40. ↑ "About Buckingham Friends School - Private School - Buckingham Friends School". Bfs.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  41. ↑ "History". Oakwoodfriends.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  42. ↑ "Fast Facts". Oakwoodfriends.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  43. ↑ "History - Milton Academy". Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  44. ↑ "Westtown School: Fast Facts". Westtown.edu. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  45. ↑ "Georgetown Visitation: History". visi.org. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.